Mike Tannenbaum was the New York Jets general manager for seven years. He’s been in the “war room.” He’s pushed the button on the Jets’ draft picks.
Tannenbaum is currently a panelist on ESPN’s “Get Up." He has definite ideas about the players that teams should draft … and why. On the air, his commentary is smart and reasonable. He appears more interested in informing the viewers than shouting out hot takes.
ESPN published Tannenbaum’s mock draft this week. He said he took the role of each team’s general manager and made his selection accordingly.
Tannenbaum shockingly went against conventional wisdom for which player the Cardinals should select.
Most mock drafts have Arizona going with defensive help — their most notable need. An occasional mock draft has Arizona taking an offensive lineman. But Tannenbaum not only went offense for the 16th overall pick, but he enhanced a position already considered a strength for the Cardinals.
With the 16th overall pick, Tannenbaum picked Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden for the Cardinals.
Mike Tannenbaum defends his Cardinals mock selection of Matthew Golden
“Despite adding Marvin Harrison Jr. in the top five last April, Arizona was 16th in passing yards per attempt (7.1) and tied for 20th in touchdown catches (21) last season,” said Tannenbaum, who was the Jets’ general manager from 2006 to 2012.
“Adding another blue-chip receiver to go with Harrison and tight end Trey McBride would take this offense to the next level. Golden’s incredible timed speed (4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash) translates well to game play, and he is an excellent route runner with good hands. I think Golden has a chance to be a better pro than college player," he wrote.
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Golden played at Houston in his first two collegiate seasons, then Texas last season. He had 58 catches for 987 yards (17.0 yards per reception) and an SEC-leading nine touchdowns in 16 games in 2024. In his career, he played 36 games and had 134 catches for 1,975 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Tannenbaum has Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant going to the Falcons at 15. Grant is a fan favorite to land in Arizona and several mock drafts have him slotted for the Cardinals.
The draft will be held in Green Bay on April 24 to 26. The intrigue about the Cardinals’ selection continues, and likely won't stop anytime soon.
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