Mel Kiper Jr's 2020 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 is here and has the Arizona Cardinals taking an offensive lineman

As the offseason unfolds things will change dramatically.

One thing that is certain to change every week is the player picked for the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 NFL Mock Drafts.

However, the idea of who the Cardinals pick is less important than the idea of what position the Cardinals are picking.

The who will sort itself out, but the position and how it fluctuates is always the most important thing, especially this time of year when free agency has not even started.

The other important thing is who is doing the mocking.

One person that is always important and dialed in is Mel Kiper Jr. the Godfather of the draft universe.

Kiper dropped his Mock Draft 1.0 on E$PN today and it has the Arizona Cardinals getting help to replace free agent D.J. Humphries.

8. Arizona Cardinals

Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

This is about the range in which we could see a run on offensive tackles, and Thomas, who has played on both the left and right, is No. 1 on my board. I debated going with a receiver here; wouldn’t Kyler Murray’s former teammate CeeDee Lamb enjoy catching a few more long touchdown passes from his friend? But this comes down to protecting the franchise quarterback, and Arizona desperately needs help along its line, particularly at left tackle, where starter D.J. Humphries is a free agent. The Cardinals also have some defensive deficiencies, so keep an eye on a defensive back, too.

This makes a bit more sense to me than Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft we discussed this morning.

Kiper has Thomas pegged as a left tackle.

If the Cardinals are moving on from Humphries he’s probably the guy to know at eight if they go the draft route.

Thomas is a bit heavy footed in pass pro, but he’s got the ideal size, length, strength to man the blind side.

If the Cardinals are replacing Humphries in the draft, it has to be a player you project as a left tackle. The only two being discussed this high are Thomas and The Mountain Mekhi Becton who Kiper mocked 10th to Cleveland.

I’m not sure who I am taking out of those two at this point, but if it were me I’d probably take Josh Jones from Houston before any other “replacement” for Humphries.

Jones is going at 25 right now.

However, with the left tackle position in mind, I think the name being mocked this week makes sense.

For reference: Kiper had Nick Bosa at one this time last year. He also had Greedy Williams, Cody Ford, Jawaan Taylor, Jachai Polite, Greg Little, Oshane Ximines, A.J. Brown, Byron Murphy, Montez Sweat, Irv Smith Jr, Dre’mont Jones, Deionte Thompson and Parris Campbell going in the first round.

So remember, names matter less than positions at this juncture of the offseason.