Arizona Cardinals 2018 Mock Draft - 7 Rounds

Another mock draft for the masses, with a week left until the draft, and I am happy to present another one. Same as before: I did a full mock and did some trades. Like it or hate it.

1st Round (19th Overall Selection from Dallas Cowboys)
Lamar Jackson - Quarterback
Louisville - Junior
6’2’’, 216 Pounds

This was ALL luck, in this mock draft I was able to trade back (unconfidently) and still get the quarterback of the future. We could say that the vouch of Bruce Arians could pressure us into selecting him at 15, and the talent is obvious. He can sling it wherever he wants to, but needs to improve on his long-ball accuracy. He’s a playmaking quarterback, someone who can make great throws on the run, and can escape the pocket.

2nd Round (47th Overall Selection)
Tarvarus McFadden - Cornerback
Florida State - Junior
6’2’’, 204 Pounds

In the second round, this is a perfect range for Tarvarus McFadden, who’s great at both outside corner and leverage in special teams. Like most football players, I’m not concerned about a corners foot speed, more about the stride. Can the corner keep up his stride against Doug Baldwin or Brandin Cooks? I think McFadden could. He could come in day one and play opposite Pat P.

3rd Round (68th Overall Selection from Houston Texans)
Frank Ragnow - Center
Arkansas - Senior
6’5’’, 312 Pounds

Is a trade-up really necessary for the Cardinals to secure the services of Frank Ragnow? Yes, I really wanted Ragnow at this range, and the Texans are a willing trader since they have no picks in the two previous rounds. Ragnow is a powerful center you’d feel comfortable playing immediately, as he’s strong in the passing game, and plays with a strong and steady base. No knocking him off a block. And don’t forget it took intelligence to lead a Bret Bielema-led offense. Still can keep A.Q. Shipley until Ragnow learns the role, but Ragnow is my plug-in player.

3rd Round (97th Overall Selection via Compensatory)
Nick Chubb - Running Back
Georgia - Senior
5’10’’, 227 Pounds

If the Cardinals want a second option in the run game, or someone who could carry the ball while David Johnson splits out wide to make the air-game worse on the defense, Nick Chubb is the person for us in the third round. Great value pick in the compensatory area, as Chubb is a downhill runner with a special skill-set. Let’s not get carried away, he doesn’t catch the ball as well as David Johnson, but he does everything very well on the football field.

4th Round (116th Overall Selection from Dallas Cowboys)
Dane Cruikshank - Cornerback
Arizona - Redshirt Senior
6’1’’, 209 Pounds

I’m doubling down on big corners in this draft, taking a local talent in Dane Cruikshank. DC (that’s what I’m calling him) is a long corner who really didn’t get discovered until the East-West Shrine Game. Since then, Cruikshank has been a tear, and has garnered some NFL attention as a shutdown corner. Having Dane Cruikshank and Tarvarus McFadden (maybe Brandon Williams?), the future of the position needs to be solved then.

5th Round (152nd Overall Selection)
Marcell Frazier - Defensive End
Missouri - Senior
6’5’’, 255 Pounds

To be able to pair up Marcell Frazier in this defense, it’s great. A speed-rusher like Marcell Frazier would help the Cardinals develop some pieces on the defensive line. Markus Golden and Chandler Jones are the mainstays on the line, and the recent signing of Benson Mayowa has made this less of a priority, but I decided to throw a dart at the wall to see if Frazier would stick. Plus, at 255 pounds, he ran a 4.60 at his pro day. He’s got the juice. I love a 6’5’’ guy who can get after the quarterback. 6th Round (178th Overall Selection from Indianapolis Colts)Ja’Whuan Bentley - Outside LinebackerPurdue - Senior6’2’’, 237 Pounds

One of the hardest working players on the field, Ja’Whuan doesn’t have the top flight speed, but Bentley does play with a certain nastiness. In the 6th round, I feel comfortable looking for a comfortable linebacker for my defense, someone who I could groom as a possible alternative for Haason Reddick on the weakside. Bentley was also a team captain, and a recipient of Purdue’s ‘Most Outstanding Award’.

7th Round (254th Overall Selection via Compensatory)
Dre Hall - Wide Receiver
North Alabama - Senior
6’1’’, 205 Pounds

Had a strong junior season that would have led scouts into thinking that Dre Hall would be a draft-day steal. He fell off his senior season, but the strong-based receiver is bound to make a rebound. Physical at the point of attack, he can beat man-stick, and plays very strong with his hands. Needs to develop a base to absorb hits at the next level, he does have a solid height, but it’s different at the next level. And his foot speed might be a tad off, but believe in Dre.

Trades:

1. Arizona Cardinals receives:
19th Overall Selection (Lamar Jackson - Louisville)
116th Overall Selection (Dane Cruikshank - Arizona)
2019 4th Round Selection

Dallas Cowboys receives:
15th Overall Selection (Calvin Ridley - Alabama)

2.Arizona Cardinals receives:
68th Overall Selection (Frank Ragnow - Arkansas)

Houston Texans receives:
79th Overall Selection (Deontay Burnett - Southern California)
134th Overall Selection (Hercules Mata’afa - Washington State)

3. Arizona Cardinals receives:
178th Overall Selection (Ja’Whuan Bentley - Purdue)

Indianapolis Colts receives:
182nd Overall Selection (Javon Wims - Georgia)
Evan Boehm - Center