2021 NFL Draft: Trade down targets begin to take shape for the Arizona Cardinals

We are still 71 days away from the 2021 NFL Draft, but rumors abound.

This week, Bleacher Report looked at a number of rumors that are being floated out there and the question becomes could the Cardinals be involved in some of those rumors?

No, not as teams looking for specific positions, although we know this team is in desperate need of cornerbacks, but look at one of the main rumors that are leaking early.

Teams Willing to Trade Up for QB Mac Jones?

He met with multiple teams, including the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans, per NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread.

While the Patriots pick before the Cardinals and the Texans don’t pick forever barring a Deshaun Watson trade there are four teams in the 20’s who could be looking to move up if the Patriots don’t snag him.

The Washington Football Team (19), Chicago Bears (20), Indianapolis Colts (21) and Saints (28) all could be interested in Jones.

WFT has a second round pick and two third round picks, the Bears have a second and third round pick, the Colts have a second and third round pick and the Saints have only a second round pick.

Could the Cardinals snag an extra second in a mad dash? If they move down to 20 or less they can definitely get the third.

Moving down to 21 and getting 84 could be a big get for the Cardinals.

Using the PFF Mock Draft from Monday the Cardinals could still get someone in the first round like:

Rondale Moore, WR Purdue
Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota
Azeez Ojulari, Edge Georgia
Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL USC

Look at that and imagine now the Cardinals have pick 49, 79 and 84 left.

That could lead to Tyson Campbell, Tay Gowan, Landon Dickerson or Alim McNeill at 49.

You could come back at 79 and 84 and get a Eric Stokes, Greg Newsome II, Khalil Herbert, Shakur Brown, Tyler Shelvin or Brevin Jordan.

Imagine a draft class that looks like:

Rashod Bateman, WR
Landon Dickerson, OL
Tyler Shelvin, DL
Eric Stokes, CB

That is what the Cardinals could potentially do if a trade back comes to fruition.

Let’s hope this is a potential scenario the Cardinals could take advantage of.