News Cards Team Notes

Opinion: Most impressive 2024 college game tapes per position

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 14 Heisman Trophy Ceremony

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Will any of these outstanding NFL prospects be selected by the Cardinals?

Opinion: Most impressive 2024 college game tape per position (per 12 personnel and 34 defense):

  • QB Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
  • RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise St. (lightning)
  • RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (thunder)
  • WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa St.
  • WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
  • TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
  • LT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
  • LG Tyler Booker, Alabama
  • C Jared Wilson, Georgia
  • RG Tate Ratledge, Georgia
  • RT Armand Membou, Missouri
  • TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
  • OLB Abdul Carter, Penn St.
  • DT Mason Graham, Michigan
  • NT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
  • DT Walter Nolen, Mississippi
  • WLIB Jalon Walker, Georgia
  • SILB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
  • OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
  • CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
  • SS Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
  • FS Malaki Starks, Georgia
  • CB Trey Amos, Mississippi
  • NC Jahdae Barron, Texas

Would love to see the Cardinals snag 1 or 2 of these outstanding players with picks #16 and #47.

Your thoughts?

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2...pressive-2024-college-game-tapes-per-position
 
Jihaad Campbell sliding, or could the Arizona Cardinals get a steal?

2025 NFL Scouting Combine

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The talented Alabama linebacker

One of the great unknowns of every NFL Draft is that special inside information.

We get leaks of it here and there and then have to parse out the information if it is good, bad or even noteworthy.

Then have to weigh it against what we do know.

We have heard rumors about concerns for character in James Pearce Jr., Walter Nolen and Mike Green. Some more serious than others. Yet the Cardinals have had a top 30 visit reported with JPJ.


After the initial mix of top 30 visits, the Arizona Cardinals are bringing in some heavy hitters that absolutely warrant the 16th overall pick.

✅Jalon Walker
✅James Pearce Jr. pic.twitter.com/NF1MdEXOYe

— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) April 4, 2025

Now a bigger question has been raised.

Likely first round pick, probable top 20 pick and someone many like for the Arizona Cardinals with the 16th pick Jihaad Campbell has found himself in the rumor mill.

Nothing off the field though, instead another aspect of the draft cycle has reared its ugly head… injuries.

Mel Kiper Jr. has said he’s heard that Campbell could fall all the way to round two.

Typically an inside linebacker type sliding to day two isn’t news, but Campbell is one of the premier talents in this draft.

Campbell had surgery on a torn labrum after the combine, and that surgery isn’t far enough out for teams medical staffs to make an evaluation.

Also, the recovery timeframe could mean Campbell misses all offseason training and could potentially miss part of camp.

So, are the Cardinals a team who could be out on Campbell early? That will be an interesting situation to follow.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2...pbell-injury-2025-nfl-draft-arizona-cardinals
 
Donovan Ezeiruaku is the unheralded edge rusher who could be a great fit for the Arizona Cardinals

BC football finishes on winning note in regular-season finale vs. Pittsburgh

Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The pass rusher could be a great fit for the Arizona Cardinals.

We are through with the first part of our 2025 NFL Draft Big Board for the Arizona Cardinals.

We will start to build out from the consensus big board next week as we introduce more prospects ahead of the draft.

Hopefully capturing a ton of different prospects that could be in play for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2025 NFL Draft.

However, to close things out another one of my favorites, Donovan Ezeiruaku an edge rusher from Boston College will be how we end this portion of things.

From Kyle Crabbs:

Ezeiruaku projects best as a rush linebacker at the NFL level. Releasing from wide alignments and 2-point stances will afford him advantageous angles and space to set up his vast array of pass-rush counters.

With his stature and length, leaving him out of tight alignments will be best to allow his instincts and second-reaction ability to kick in and press to daylight off the edge. Additionally, he will have leverage baked into his run fits with these angles as well to help compensate for his lack of mass. A viable Day 1 starter.

Agile and aggressive is how I would define Ezeiruaku, he possess elite change of direction times, with an ability to dip and bend against offensive linemen.

He could be an ideal pass rusher in year one, and grow into a full-time role moving forward.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2...eport-boston-college-eagles-arizona-cardinals
 
Derrick Harmon could be a staple along the defensive line for the Arizona Cardinals

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 01 CFP Quarterfinal Rose Bowl Game - Ohio State vs Oregon

Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Oregon defensive lineman offers dominance and versatility along the defensive line.

We are finishing things up in our first round board, and will start next week to begin getting into the day two and maybe even the day three prospects that could fit what the Arizona Cardinals are looking for.

With our second of three prospect profiles today, we take a look at Oregon Ducks defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, the big man who helped make the Ducks one of the best defenses in the country in 2024.

From PFF:

Harmon wins with quickness — a quick first step, quick hands into the body and an ability to dictate contact. He can get low and maintain a low pad level in a four-point stance, but his highwaisted build is more obvious in a three-point stance, making it tough for him to get low and not pop up immediately after the snap. He pairs his long arms with upper-tier hand speed to make initial contact or execute a pass-rush move. He always finishes his gap-shooting and cross-face moves with a rip to get clean. His hand work is where he disrupts; he is difficult to stay in front of and latched onto. He displays a high football IQ and the “why” of defensive line play. Harmon constantly communicates pre-snap and has a good motor and a competitive attitude through the whistle.

Lance Zierlein gave an interesting quote from an NFC Executive:

“He plays like a Raven or a Steeler. Off the tape, he reminds me of a young Cam Heyward but bigger.”

Harmon is one of my favorite players in the 2025 NFL Draft. He reminds me of a Christian Barmore or Leonard Williams type of player. He can play anywhere along the defensive line and win in different ways.

He looks like he will be an anchor along the defensive line for a team for a decade.

Cam Heyward level of success would be an absolute dream, but I think Harmon is going to be a good player for a longtime in the NFL.

Could that be with the Arizona Cardinals?

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2...-draft-profile-oregon-ducks-arizona-cardinals
 
Arizona Cardinals move back, land star cornerback in new 2025 NFL Mock Draft

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 19 Michigan at Illinois

Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals somehow move back and land a player who could be the anchor in their secondary.

Happy Monday one and all.

As we get through the last couple of weeks waiting on the 2025 NFL Draft I find myself wanting to see more and more mock drafts with different scenarios playing out.

This one from PFF is one of my favorites I have seen.

Let’s take a look.

22. *TRADE* Arizona Cardinals: CB Will Johnson, Michigan

Trade terms: Cardinals receive Pick Nos. 22, 86 and 181; Chargers receive Pick No. 16

Being able to trade back and acquire more draft capital while remaining well positioned to take a serious talent at a position of need is the purest form of draft day trades, something general manager Monti Ossenfort is well aware of. Pairing Johnson with breakout cornerback Garrett Williams would upgrade a coverage unit that had allowed the second-highest rate of plays with positive expected points added (50.3%) last season.

Getting an extra third and day three pick while still landing Johnson would be quite a haul.

Think about this as well, still on the board in this scenario:

Will Johnson
Walter Nolen (pick 17)
Grey Zabel (pick 18)
Shemar Stewart (pick 23)
Donovan Ezeiruaku (pick 24)
Josh Simmons (pick 25)
Kenneth Grant (pick 27)
James Pearce Jr. (pick 28)
Mykel Williams (pick 29)
Derrick Harmon (pick 31)

So the Cardinals really have a plethora of options.

A little later today we will finish up this mock draft with this trade in mind and see what we get, but what do you think of the trade down, and who would you pick in this scenario?

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2...-angeles-chargers-trade-will-johnson-michigan
 
Five round 2025 NFL Mock Draft for the Arizona Cardinals

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 20 CFP National Championship - Notre Dame vs Ohio State

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Finishing the work that PFF started to get a 2025 NFL Mock Draft for the Arizona Cardinals.

Earlier today we discussed the 2025 NFL Mock Draft from PFF that had the Arizona Cardinals trading from their pick at 16 to pick 22 and adding picks 86 and 181.

With the 22nd pick the Arizona Cardinals take Will Johnson the dynamic, playmaking cornerback out of Michigan.

So, how would you round out the 2025 NFL Draft with the extra bullets? Let’s just do five rounds.

22. Will Johnson, CB - Michigan
47. Donovan Jackson, OL - Ohio State
78. Kyle Williams, WR - Wash St
86. Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge - UCLA
115. Jamaree Caldwell, DT - Oregon
152. Danny Stutsman, LB - Oklahoma

Here is one way it could go. I am not saying this is the best thing, but I used the algorithm to get this result. It took a couple run throughs to get Johnson to 22, and that was definitely the most difficult part since I can’t make random picks for each team.

So, this is how it played out.

The hard part was going to these players after the first two picks were available. Getting Johnson and Jackson was the easy call.

From there the questions became... Williams or Chris Paul Jr.?

Oladejo or Joshua Farmer.

I like the way this played out from a position standpoint, but not sure how I feel about all the players.

However, adding speed like Williams, and edge that has been on a top 30 visit, then the day two players make the most sense to me.

Stutsman is especially interesting, since there are some like Lance Zierlein who has Stutsman slightly ahead of Paul Jr. The one I really had a hard time with was Smael Mouldon Jr. who I think could be an answer to the question about who is inside for the Arizona Cardinals.

I give you good luck in creating your own scenario and getting the picks and Johnson to play out, but it is a fun exercise.

Note, I also did not make another move even though there were plenty that made sense.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2...nals-will-johnson-donovan-jackson-olu-oladejo
 
Cardinals Reacts Survey: Arizona Cardinals win totals released by FanDuel

San Francisco 49ers v Arizona Cardinals

Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images

Are you taking the over or under on the Arizona Cardinals win total in 2025?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Arizona Cardinals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.



Happy Tuesday one and all.

The NFL season is a long ways away still, hell the NFL Draft first round is over two weeks away.

Yet, the books cannot get enough.

FanDuel Sportsbook has released their initial over/under wins for the 2025 NFL season and for the Arizona Cardinals, they are going back to where they were last season.

FanDuel has set the Cardinals over/under at 8.5 wins on the season.

Last season, they finished at 8-9, with losses in the final minutes to Minnesota, Carolina and the second Rams game.

So, they were close to 11 wins, and on the flipside they were close to losing three games that they won.

So, they basically went .500 in close games.

Impressively average.

Meaning there isn’t exactly one way to go or the other. So you are either seeing this team getting better, or staying the same getting worse to make this call.

Where are you going?

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2...zona-cardinals-win-totals-released-by-fanduel
 
Mel Kiper mock draft: Arizona Cardinals load up on offense in newest 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Ohio State v Texas

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals add more talent along the offensive side of the ball.

Happy Tuesday one and all.

For your lunch, well those on the west coast, let’s take a look at Mel Kiper Jr’s two-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft.

From E$PN+:

16. Arizona Cardinals

Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Despite using the No. 4 pick on receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. last year, the Cardinals’ 2024 offense leaned on its explosive run game. If Arizona can find another top-tier pass catcher to help the aerial game catch up, this offense would be hard to stop. Golden is a great route runner, and he has 4.29 speed to run underneath some Kyler Murray deep balls. He had 58 catches for 987 yards and nine TDs last season, and he’d give the Cards a solid 1-2-3 punch in Harrison, Golden and tight end Trey McBride.

It is interesting to see another wide receiver, but if the Cardinals think that is the missing piece, than it makes sense.

They invested at guard and tackle in last years draft... maybe they believe in those players?

Oh wait:

47. Arizona Cardinals

Tyler Booker, G, Alabama


No one gets by Booker in pass protection, and he is also a solid run blocker thanks to his power. He allowed one sack over three seasons at Alabama. This is strong value in the middle of Round 2, and Booker could start as a rookie at right guard.

Booker would be a nice day two pick after seeing him mocked in the first round earlier in the process.

Booker, with Golden would be an interesting pairing of picks early. Maybe the Cardinals are confident in their defensive additions, but it feels like going offense with both picks, at least in Mel’s draft, would be a little far-fetched.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2...arizona-cardinals-matthew-golden-tyler-booker
 
Back
Top