The Arizona Cardinals will most likely go defense in the 2023 NFL Draft. But that doesn’t mean they won’t shock the world and look elsewhere.
The NFL Combine technically started today, but you won’t see the players take the field until March 2nd when the defensive linemen and linebackers show off their skills. As for the offensive players, they will run drills in front of scouts between March 4th and March 5th.
Before the on-field excitement begins, Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and assistant general manager David Sears are going to be keeping their eye on a few specific players. And while the Cards will likely draft defense early, there’s always a possibility they go offense either later in the first round, or in the early second.
So who should they have their eye on? Below, you will find five names Ossenfort and Sears must take note of.
5 offensive players Arizona Cardinals must watch at NFL Combine
Bijan Robinson, RB/Texas
James Conner will be 28 this year, and Bijan Robinson could be available late in the first round, or even early in the second per several mock drafts. Of course, the Cards could go with Robinson if they trade DeAndre Hopkins for a first round pick, or if they scoop him up at 34th overall, considering he falls that far.
At 6’0 and 215lb, Robinson could easily step in and split carries with Conner if the Arizona Cardinals opt not to sign an RB2 in free agency. In college, he logged 6.3 yards per carry, 3,410 rushing yards, and 33 rushing touchdowns, including 18 in 2022. In time, Robinson could evolve into the RB1 while Conner takes a back seat.
Kenny McIntosh, RB/Georgia
We’re staying right with the running backs, with Kenny McIntosh clocking in as another one to watch. The Georgia product only had 279 rushing attempts in college, so he could have some fresh legs coming into the NFL.
One thing that jumped out at me regarding McIntosh, however, is his sure handedness. He had 76 receptions at Georgia and 861 receiving yards. Impressive, to say the least. In Arizona, he could be a good fit even if the Cards decided to go after an RB2, thanks to his pass-catching skills.
Quentin Johnston, WR/TCU
If the Arizona Cardinals trade DeAndre Hopkins AND trade back in the 2023 Draft to acquire more picks, there is a good chance they could select Quentin Johnston somewhere between the eighth and twelfth selection. After logging just 55 receptions in his first two seasons with the Horned Frogs, Johnston turned heads in 2022, amassing 60 catches, 1,069 yards, and 6 touchdowns.
Hopkins is a big target for the Cards, and it would cause a major void if the Redbirds moved him. At 6’4 and 193lb, Johnston would immediately fill that need. Plus, he would complement well with the 5’9 Marquise Brown. Overall, he’d be an outstanding fit in the desert.
Broderick Jones, T/Georgia
The Arizona Cardinals may opt to build the offensive line through free agency or even by re-signing their own players. Those like Kelvin Beachum could easily wind up back in a cardinal and white uniform, but in the event it doesn’t happen, Monti Ossenfort and David Sears must turn to the NFL Draft.
One player they must look at is Broderick Jones. He protected Stetson Bennett’s blind side with the Bulldogs, but with D.J. Humphries still with the Redbirds, expect the Cards to slide Jones to the right side if they snag him. Like Johnston, Jones would only be a possibility if the Cards traded back to the middle of the first.
John Michael Schmitz, C/Minnesota
While the Arizona Cardinals could sign a big time center in free agency, they may opt for the type of player you start from Day One and beyond. John Michael Schmitz is one of those players, and he will be there at the beginning of the second round.
If the Cards feel he can be an adequate replacement for Rodney Hudson, they should snag him without a second thought. No, it’s not a glamorous pick, but from as poor as play has been at center over the past few seasons, not a single fan in the Red Sea will be disappointed here.
Clearly, this list is just a starting point. After the NFL Combine concludes, we will be able to dock a few offensive players from this list and add some newbies, considering on how things play out. In short, it's going to be one interesting week.
(Statistics provided by Sports-Reference)
Source: Pre-Combine Offensive Positional Rankings by Andrew Harbaugh, SI.com
Source: Two-Round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: 4 QBs land in top 10, trenches dominate top half of order by Trevor Sikkema, PFF.com