Arizona Cardinals get CB, WR, QB in ESPN’s three-round 2018 NFL Mock Draft

We are 16 short days away from the 2018 NFL Draft, which means more information, good and bad, will be coming out at light speed.

Meanwhile, the Mock NFL Drafts will be coming out like Lil Caesar’s Hot n Ready pizza’s. They may not be high quality, but they’re still mock drafts and we consume them with the same gusto as we do the draft recap and grades from the night of.

That’s why when Todd McShay drops his first three-round 2018 NFL Mock Draft, we listen.

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1 (15): Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
Round 2 (47): Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Round 3 (79): Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
Round 3 (97): Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas

Arizona still needs a QB, but I’m not sure the Cardinals want to give up the draft capital to move up and get one of the top four. Alexander looks like he could be the second CB off the board. He’s a fluid CB, and can play both in the slot and on the outside. Sutton had a ridiculous combine and Arizona desperately needs help at wideout. There’s not a lot there behind Larry Fitzgerald. Rudolph is a good developmental QB in the third, and has a chance to develop into a starter down the line. Ragnow plays with an edge and is a good run-blocker.

This would clearly be an ideal draft. I am not a huge Alexander fan, but he plays with an edge and has a relentless style to him. From there, I think this is a homerun on paper. Sutton is the best receiver in the draft, the Cardinals somehow manage to get Mason Rudolph in the third round and get maybe the best interior offensive lineman outside of Quenton Nelson with their Calais Campbell comp pick.

Moreover, if we use my method of taking names out and just putting the positions up there:

Round 1 - CB
Round 2 - WR
Round 3 - QB
Round 3 - C/OG

The Cardinals would hit all of their needs at a flurried pace on the first two days of the draft.

Would you be happy with this draft for the Arizona Cardinals?

McShay’s first 14:

1. Sam Darnold
2. Bradley Chubb
3. Josh Rosen
4. Saquon Barkley
5. Denzel Ward
6. Quenton Nelson
7. Minkah Fitzpatrick
8. Roquan Smith
9. Calvin Ridley
10. Tremaine Edmunds
11. Josh Allen
12. Baker Mayfield
13. Vita Vea
14. Derwin James

QB Picks -

Browns - Sam Darnold (1)
Jets - Josh Rosen (3)
Dolphins - Josh Allen (11)
Bills - Baker Mayfield (12)
Jaguars - Lamar Jackson (29)
Cardinals - Mason Rudolph (79)
Patriots - Kyle Lauletta (95)