This is the time of year, still weeks before the NFL draft, where people begin to create scenarios for trades. The Arizona Cardinals are in the middle of all that buzz because, with the fourth overall pick in the draft, quarterback-needy teams appear to be targeting that pick to get their guy.
However, in a new three-round mock draft from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon, it isn’t the fourth pick that is involved with a deal. The Cardinals instead move up from the 27th pick, the selection they got in a trade with the Houston Texans.
Let’s look at what these projections have for the Cardinals.
Round 1 (No. 4 overall): Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
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Harrison is the perfect fit and talent for the Cardinals, who are lacking an alpha at receiver. They stay put and get a prospect who seems to be as sure a thing there is.
Trade up from No. 27 to No. 22
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The Cardinals move up five spots, giving up their second-round and sixth-round selections. They pick up a fifth-round pick.
Trade details: Cardinals trade No. 27, No. 35 and No. 186 to the Eagles for No. 22 and No. 161
Round 1 (No. 22 overall): Georgia CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
The Cardinals added Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency and drafted Garrett Williams a year ago, who looked good in the half season he played. McKinstry would give them a solid top three with their other young guys (Kei’Trel Clark, Starling Thomas, Divaad Wilson) left to battle for depth roles.
Round 3 (No. 66 overall):
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Paul will sound familiar. He is a long, athletic tackle who started four years at left tackle at Houston.
The Cardinals drafted Josh Jones in the third round four years ago, a long, athletic tackle who had started four years at left tackle.
Paul was the guy to step in after Jones was drafted.
Round 3 (No. 71 overall): Kentucky RB Ray Davis
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The Cardinals have a solid running back room but both James Conner and Michael Carter will be free agents after the season.
Davis is not a burner. He is 5-foot-8 and 211 pounds. He played for Tempe, Vanderbilt and Kentucky over five years. Last season for Kentucky, he rushed for 1,129 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. He also caught 33 passes for 323 yards and seven touchdowns, so he gives Arizona some potential in the passing game as well.
Round 3 (No. 90 overall): South Dakota State OL Mason McCormick
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The Cardinals double up on the offensive line in the third round, adding the freakishly athletic McCormick, who ran the 40 in 5.08 seconds and had a 4.45-second short shuttle at 6-4 and 322 pounds.
