It is the final Saturday before the NFL draft and we have one final mock draft simulation. In this one, the Arizona Cardinals make three trades. They move back in the first round and once in the second round, and then they make the DeAndre Hopkins trade.
In all, they make 11 selections in the draft and acquire two picks in the 2024 draft.
Let’s see how it goes.
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TRADE!
Cardinals trade no. 3 pick to Raiders
Cardinals receive No. 7 pick, No. 38 pick (Round 2), No. 100 picks (Round 3), 2024 second-round picks
Ohio State QB CJ Stroud is available and the Raiders take advantage.
Round 1 (No. 7 overall): Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
If Will Anderson is not the pick, Gonzalez is perhaps the most intriguing player with his length and elite athleticism. Plus, he had a monster year in 2022.
Round 2 (No. 34 overall): Minnesota C John Michael Schmitz
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
It would be a surprise to see Schmitz available at No. 34. If he is, he is an easy selection and locks the Cardinals’ starting center job for years.
Trade!
Cardinals trade no. 38 picks to Patriots
Cardinals receive No. 46 pick, No. 107 picks (Round 4), 2024 fourth-round picks
The Pats want Georgia Tech pass rusher Keion White. The Cardinals pick up an extra fourth-rounder in this draft and an extra one in 2024.
Round 2 (No. 46 overall): Georgia TE Darnell Washington
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Cardinals don’t really need a tight end, especially after taking Trey McBride in the second round last year. However, Washington is a great blocker and has really good upside as a pass catcher.
TRADE!
Cardinals trade DeAndre Hopkins, No. 180 pick (Round 6) to Chiefs
Cardinals receive No. 63 picks (Round 2)
The long-awaited Hopkins trade happens. The Cardinals get the second-round pick they want and have to throw in a sixth-rounder to get it.
Round 2 (No. 63 overall): Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman
The Cardinals use the pick they get for Hopkins to draft a receiver. He is 6-foot-3 and ran the 40 in 4.54 seconds. He was limited to only six games last season but caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021.
Round 3 (No. 66 overall): USC EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Tuipulotu gives Arizona a third edge defender in the third round in two years.
After thinning down from 290 to 266 and moving from the interior to the edge, he exploded with 13.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss last season for USC.
Round 3 (No. 96 overall) Texas DL Moro Ojomo
Aem Texas Vs West Virginia 6
Ojomo is 6-foot-2 and 292 pounds. He had three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2022.
Round 3 (No. 100 overall): UAB RB DeWayne McBride
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
McBride is a workhorse who was not used at all in the passing game at UAB. He might be able to catch the ball. we just don’t know. He is 5-10 and 209 lbs.
He had over 1,700 yards on 7.4 yards per carry last season.
Round 4 (No. 105 overall) Tulane LB Dorian Williams
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Williams is a very athletic linebacker who, built like a safety, can do a number of things in coverage. He can develop and perhaps replace Kyzir White in a couple of years.
Round 4 (No. 107 overall): Alabama DL Byron Young
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Young is 6-foot-3 and 294 pounds. He is, at least, going to be a solid run defender.
Round 5 (No. 168 overall): Cal S Daniel Scott
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Scott is a freak athlete who played in all four phases of special teams in college.
Round 6 (No. 213 overall): Chattanooga OL McClendon Curtis
Curtis likely will be drafted before the sixth round but has length and the ability to play multiple positions.
Story originally appeared on Cards Wire