A 2-4 start for the Arizona Cardinals has showcased evident holes in what is now year two of the Jonathan Gannon experiment. Losers in three of their last four despite taking down the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5, the Cardinals remain a team with intriguing pieces but are still a group searching to find its true identity.
Here is an early look at where Arizona could go come April in this Cardinals 7-round mock draft.
Round 1 (No. 9 overall): Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan
One of the draft's premier defenders, Mason Graham's twitch and technique will force double teams early in his NFL career. Considering Gannon's experience with high-level IDLs during his time in Philadelphia, this fit makes a ton of sense for a roster that is desperate for talent within the front seven.
Round 2 (No. 40 overall): Kevin Winston Jr., SAF, Penn State
Budda Baker isn’t getting any younger, and adding more talent to an already young and intriguing secondary could be good process from GM Monte Ossenfort. Kevin Winston Jr. has battled injuries so far this year, but he is an electric multi-level defender whose IQ and instincts set the stage for a highly impactful player at the next level. For me, he has All-Pro potential down the road.
Round 3 (No. 71 overall): Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
A torn ACL has thrown a wrench into the process for Shavon Revel Jr., who was projected to be the top Group of Five prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. Revel was expected to show up at one of the premier pre-draft showcases to silence any concerns about competition—similar to Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell last year—but injury will hold him out until late next summer. It’s unfortunate for the athlete, but in this case, Arizona gets an uber-talented defender with his best football down the road. It’s nearly the same approach the team took after drafting Garrett Williams out of Syracuse a few years ago.
Round 4 (No. 112 overall): Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
Paris Johnson Jr. is the future at left tackle, but the same can’t be said for Kelvin Beachum on the opposite side. In this scenario, Arizona adds a natural fit at right tackle to come in and bolster Kyler Murray’s arm side. Ajani Cornelius is a highly projectable athlete who, with the right development, could be a long-term piece for the Cardinals’ offense.
Round 5 (No. 148 overall): Debo Williams, LB, South Carolina
Debo Williams plays with a throwback type of chip on his shoulder for the Gamecocks. A longtime contributor in the SEC, Williams doesn’t project as an every-down ‘backer with pop in coverage, but he’s an excellent downhill run defender whose physicality and style of play would boost a defense. I like the fit here in the fifth round, where teams begin to add multi-phase contributors.
Round 6 (No. 184 overall): Anto Saka, EDGE, Northwestern
With it being so early in the process, I like to use these selections to introduce players to the audience that are currently unknown to the public eye. For Anto Saka, 17 pressures in five games have drawn some attention early in 2024. He’s won primarily due to his ability to win with speed to the outside shoulder, but if Saka can continue to refine his game on early downs, his stock will kick into high gear. Each cycle the Northwestern program produces NFL talent, and Saka could be its headliner should he declare (redshirt sophomore).
