If the 2023 season ended today, the Arizona Cardinals would have two top 10 picks, but contrary to what we were told earlier in the season, the Chicago Bears, and not the Cards, would have the top two picks. Now, only five weeks have passed, so there is a lot of football yet to be played, so anything can happen.
But, with the Cardinals picking in the top 10 with the first 33% of the season coming to a close following Week 6, this is the opportune time to make up a quick mock draft. And here is the only rule: There are no trades in this one - we will have plenty of time for that when we get a better understanding of who will ultimately pick where.
2024 Arizona Cardinals mock draft has Redbirds taking…
1 - Chicago Bears (from Car): Caleb Williams, QB/USC
Unless Justin Fields proves he can be consistent (as he’s been over the past couple of weeks), the Bears will go in another direction at quarterback. Caleb Williams is still the undisputed number one prospect, so the Bears roll with the USC product and put Fields on the trade block.
2 - Chicago Bears: Marvin Harrison, WR/Ohio State
If the Bears hang onto the second pick, then it will be a godsend to Williams in this scenario, who should immediately have a go-to receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. And at long last, Chicago might just have a franchise quarterback and a future star at receiver, totally changing the franchise’s dynamic.
3 - Denver Broncos: Laiatu Latu, EDGE/UCLA
You could say the Broncos will take a tackle here, but I’m not convinced. Their defense has talent, but it’s one of the worst in the league, so why not go with arguably the top EDGE rusher and defensive player in the draft at this point?
4 - Minnesota Vikings: Shedeur Sanders, QB/Colorado
Kirk Cousins has been a solid starter, but he’s never taking a team to the top, something he’s proven time and again. Minnesota will have their choice here between Drake Maye and Shedeur Sanders, but the latter could bring more much-needed enthusiasm to a long-suffering Vikings fanbase.
5 - New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB/North Carolina
The Patriots have GOT to push the reset button on Mac Jones, who is looking more like a bust with each passing week. Luckily for Bill Belichick and Company, Drake Maye could be available with the fifth pick. If he is, then Belichick shouldn’t hesitate to turn in the draft card.
6 - New York Giants: Jared Verse, EDGE/Florida State
The New York Giants have gotten themselves into quite a bind, as they logistically would trade up (or down) to draft another quarterback. Instead, they’ve committed themselves to Daniel Jones, so the best they can do at this point is to take the top player left on the board to try and salvage what is looking like a critical error on their part.
7 - Arizona Cardinals: Jer’Zhan Newton, DL/Illinois
This should be an easy pick for the Arizona Cardinals - roll with a defensive lineman, and start making the talent-starved unit more respectable. Arizona could have something in Dante Stills, but they need more than just one young player along the defensive front.
8 - Green Bay Packers: Olu Fashanu, OT/Penn State
David Bakhtiari is aging, so the Packers will take the best offensive tackle on the board in Olu Fashanu in this mock. If Fashanu is gone when the draft rolls around six-and-a-half months from today, then they need to go with the next-best lineman in the draft.
9 - Las Vegas Raiders: JJ McCarthy, QB/Michigan
Yes, this is a massive reach, and the Raiders would be smart to just trade down. But, they need a young quarterback of the future. Ideally, they’ll take JJ McCarthy much later, but if they feel he can be the guy, then they should have no qualms reaching for him.
10 - Arizona Cardinals (from Hou): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB/Alabama
I can’t stress enough how badly the Arizona Cardinals need a corner with an underperforming Marco Wilson and an aging Antonio Hamilton. Kei’Trel Clark should be in the slot, and Garrett Williams could take one of the spots on the corners, so Kool-Aid would complete the young trio at the opposite end.
Source: 2024 NFL Mock Draft: New 2-Round Projections Heading into Week 6 by Luke Easterling, SI.com