Arizona Cardinals Seven-Round Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Combine Edition

The Cardinals’ offense and defense gets an infusion of talent

By Andy Kwong@akwong31 Mar 14, 2020, 11:00am MDT

The 2020 NFL Draft is a little over a month away, with it scheduled to take place on April 23rd around the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Though the date may change due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), there is still a lot of time between now and the draft. We can assume it will take place on time for now.

As for Cardinals, they have plenty of holes on their roster and will have a wide selection of talent to choose from to fill their needs.

The NFL Combine has changed the prospect rankings for all 32 teams, which includes the adjustments of mock drafts in every platform.

This mock draft 2.0 is an extension to my priority free agent target list.

So without further ado, here it is.

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - LSU v Oklahoma

Round 1 (11): CeeDee Lamb - WR, Oklahoma (from NYJ) (6-2 198lbs)

Trade Prediction: Cardinals trade their 2020 first-round pick (No. 8) to the Jets for their 2020 first-round pick (No. 11) and third-round pick (No. 79)

Date of Birth: April 8, 1999 (Age: 20)

Career Stats (40 games): 173 receptions, 3,292 receiving yards, 34 total TDs

There are always risks with trading down, especially if the player you have been targeting all this time gets taken a spot or two above you. Fortunately in my mock draft, not only do the Cardinals trade down and get an extra third-round pick, they are still able to land CeeDee Lamb. He has all the intangibles to be a No. 1 wide receiver to replace Larry Fitzgerald in the near future and reunites with Kyler Murray.

Round 2 (40): Lucas Niang - OT, TCU (6-6 315lbs)

Date of Birth: August 19, 1998 (Age: 21)

Justin Murray was solid at right tackle last season but the Cardinals can get a whole lot better. They already drafted Kyler Murray’s No. 1 target and they cannot pass up this chance to improve his protection. In comes Lucas Niang, an offensive tackle that did not allow a sack in 2018 and had a strong 2019 season prior to suffering a season-ending hip injury.

#TCU offensive tackle Lucas Niang, who underwent hip surgery in November, has received positive reports on his hip, source says. No setbacks or issues. Niang re-enters the conversation as one of the top OTs in the class.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2020

According to Pro Football Focus, in 1,027 pass-block snaps of his career, he allowed only 32 pressures. Niang is a powerful and athletic right tackle that the team needs to run Kliff Kingsbury’s style of Air Raid offense. He is one of my favorite prospects of the 2020 draft class that would fit perfectly with the Cardinals and fortifies the right side of the offensive line for the next decade.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 06 Marshall at Boise State

Round 3 (72): Curtis Weaver - EDGE, Boise State (6-2 265lbs)

Date of Birth: August 3, 1998 (Age: 21)

Career Stats (40 games): 128 tackles , 47.5 TFL, 34 sacks, 2 INTs, 3 FFs

The Cardinals get one of the most productive pass rushers in college football of the last three years that can be Chandler Jones’ partner in crime as a formidable pass-rush duo. Weaver reminds me of Markus Golden in terms of his size and ability to overcome their lack of athleticism. He has dominated as both an inside and outside rusher at Boise State.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 19 Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech

Round 3 (79): Amik Robertson - CB, Louisiana Tech (from NYJ) (5-8 186lbs)

Date of Birth: July 6, 1998 (Age: 21)

Career Stats (38 games): 184 tackles, 23TFL, 4 sacks, 14 INT, 34 PD, 2 FF, 3 TDs

Robertson might be small but his instincts are off the charts. He is a playmaker on the defense and is a fearless competitor. Though he has not been challenged by NFL quality talent, he is a player that dominated at his level of competition. It is not everyday when you find a young player with his kind of production. Though Kliff Kingsbury thinks Byron Murphy should move to the slot, Robertson would be the ideal player for that position while keeping Murphy at his natural position on the outside.

Round 4 (114): Davon Hamilton - NT, Ohio State (6-4 320lbs)

Date of Birth: February 1, 1997 (Age: 23)

Career Stats (40 games): 66 tackles, 20 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 FR, 1 TD

Corey Peters is not getting any younger (32) and his contract expires after the 2020 season. Here, the Cardinals draft his replacement and get their nose tackle of the future that brings some pass-rush ability. He is coming off his best season with the Buckeyes, setting career-highs in tackles (28), tackles for loss (9.5), and sacks (6). The defensive line gets stronger and more athletic with the addition of Hamilton.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 01 Sugar Bowl - Georgia v Baylor

Round 5 (152): JaMycal Hasty - RB, Baylor (from CAR) (5-8 205lbs)

Trade Prediction: Cardinals trade LB Haason Reddick and their 2020 seventh-round pick (No. 222) to the Panthers for their 2020 fifth-round pick (No. 152)

Date of Birth: September 12, 1996 (Age: 23)

Career Stats (45 games): 386 carries, 1,998 rushing yards, 15 TDs, 79 receptions, 486 receiving yards, 1 TD

In this trade, the Cardinals reunite Reddick with his former college coach Matt Rhule and the team saves around $4 million in cap space in the process. Hasty is a speedy pass-catching running back. He brings value as a return specialist and is one of the better running backs in this draft class in pass protection. He has not been a full-time starter in his career at Baylor but would fill a need for the Cardinals as they add depth to the running back position.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 29 Toledo at Fresno State

Round 6 (202): Mykal Walker - LB, Fresno State (from NE) (6-3 230lbs)

Note: Cardinals acquired this pick after trading OT Korey Cunningham to the Patriots

Date of Birth: August 28, 1997 (Age: 22)

Career Stats (26 games): 182 tackles, 22.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT, 10 PD, 3 FF, 1 TD

Cardinals get an athletic inside linebacker, who ran a 4.65 40 at the NFL combine, that can contribute on special teams right away.

Here is a short version (* = trade prediction):

Round 1 (11): CeeDee Lamb - WR, Oklahoma (from NYJ)*

Round 2 (40): Lucas Niang - OT, TCU

Round 3 (72): Curtis Weaver - EDGE, Boise St.

Round 3 (79): Amik Robertson - DB, Louisiana Tech (from NYJ)*

Round 4 (114): Davon Hamilton - NT, Ohio State

Round 5 (152): JaMycal Hasty - RB, Baylor (from CAR)*

Round 6 (202): Mykal Walker - LB, Fresno St. (from NE)

Overall, the Cardinals get their No. 1 wide receiver and bolster the right tackle position with their first two picks. They round out their defense by getting a future pass-rushing partner for Chandler Jones, a ball-hawking defensive back, and acquire Corey Peters’ future replacement. The team gets an infusion of talent on both sides of the ball.

Give me your thoughts below.