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Which ESPN writer is more on the money about the Cardinals draft approach, Josh Weinfuss or Matt Miller?
Here is what ESPN writers claim to be the Cardinals’ biggest need in the draft and what they believe Monti Ossenfort will do come draft day.
Picks: Nos. 16, 47, 78, 115, 152, 225
The Cardinals absolutely MUST use a pick in the first three rounds on ____.
A wide receiver. Arizona has a surefire WR1 in
Marvin Harrison Jr. and a No. 2 in
Michael Wilson. But another bigger, three-down receiver is necessary to round out a fierce offensive platoon that also includes TE1
Trey McBride and RB1
James Conner. Coach Jonathan Gannon admitted at the league meeting that teams paid quite a bit of attention to Harrison last season, so having two receivers — Wilson and a WR3 — at the ready when Harrison is double-teamed would give quarterback
Kyler Murray more options and the offense another dimension.
— Josh Weinfuss
What we’re hearing about the Cardinals’ draft: With only six selections right now, don’t be surprised if the Cardinals trade back in Round 1 to get more picks. When they do pick, we’ve been told by multiple scouts that the Cardinals will likely go defense early. “They have to get a difference-maker on defense,” an NFC scout said. —
Miller
Commentary
Of all of the positions that Josh Weinfuss, ESPN’s beat writer for the Cardinals, feels is an absolute MUST to address in the first three rounds of the draft, he asserts it has to be adding a “bigger, third-down receiver” to complement Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.
Perhaps Josh is doubling down on Mel Kiper’s latest pick du jour for the Cardinals at pick #16 of Texas’ speedy WR Matthew Golden.
2025 NFL mock draft: Kiper’s pick predictions for Rounds 1-2 - ESPN
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.
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.
Yet, here are some of the reasons why it would and should be unlikely for the Cardinals to select a WR at pick #16:
- Kyler Murray two days ago in his candid interview with Bo Brack and Johnny Venerable of PHNX Cardinals said that he doesn’t view WR as one of the team’s biggest needs. Instead, Kyler was focusing in on the team’s ability to draft a stud defensive lineman or edge rusher in round one.
- Kyler believes whole-heartedly that Marvin Harrison Jr. is destined for greatness as a WR1 and that “Mike (Wilson) is a one-thousand-yard-wide receiver.” That’s a significant vote of confidence in his top two WRs. Thus, in a run heavy offense, for MHJ and M-Willy to be 1,000-yard WRs, they are going to need to get the majority of targets. That would not lead to a steady diet of targets for any of the Cardinals’ third or fourth receivers. And here Kyler was yesterday working on pass route connections with MHJ, Greg Dortch, Christian Kirk and Andre Boaccellia:
- Monti did a thorough job of addressing the WR position in free agency, signing:
- Greg Dortch
- Zay Jones
- Simi Fehoko
- Andre Baccellia
- Quez Watkins
- Trishton Jackson
- Let’s not sleep on 2nd year returnees:
- Xavier Weaver (CFA ‘24)
- Tejhuan Palmer (R6 ‘24)
Conclusion regarding Josh Weinfuss’ claim that adding a WR should be a MUST:
The point is that the Cardinals already have a deep WR room with a mix of youngsters and veterans. If Kyler is adamant that he already has a WR1 and WR2 whom he 100% believes in, then adding a WR again in the first round would be superfluous.
Matt Miller’s trade down prediction:
Matt Miller has a greater understanding of the Cardinals’ choices and outlooks at pick #16 than the Cardinals’ beat writer’s.
Here are few of Matt Miller’s recent high buzz prospects:
Which player are you hearing is having a late surge up teams’ boards?
Miller:
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College. Coming off a season in which he posted 16.5 sacks, Ezeiruaku started his climb with a brilliant performance at the
Senior Bowl practices, which showed off his great use of length and power. He was viewed as a solid middle of Day 2 player given concerns about his leaner 6-foot-3, 248-pound build. However, I’m now hearing he’s a potential top 25 player and getting close to being a first-round lock. Teams are desperate for his type of speedy pass-rushing ability.
What’s the most fascinating thing you heard off pro day workouts?
Miller: Of the hundreds of players who went through pro day workouts, the most rave reviews I’ve heard are for Ole Miss defensive tackle
Walter Nolen. Following a strong pre-draft process, people from some teams now tell me Nolen looks like a Round 1 lock and a potential top 20 player. Ranked No. 20 on my final board, Nolen is the best pure pass rusher in the defensive tackle group. Teams in the middle of the first round like Arizona, Cincinnati and Atlanta could all be targets for him.
What is the biggest injury uncertainty that teams are still trying to sort through? (including the buzz on other prospects linked/mocked to the Cardinals)
Miller: Edge rusher
Mykel Williams played through an
ankle injury suffered early in the season and
told reporters at the combine he was at 60% in-season. Williams’
disappointing showing at Georgia’s pro day, which included a 4.75-second time in the 40, has scouts wondering just how healthy he is right now. Williams was expected to rise throughout the pre-draft process because of his athletic tools, but his range is all over the place. The latest intel says he’s likely to be selected in the final third of the first round.
Yates: Alabama linebacker
Jihaad Campbell’s labrum recovery is something teams are still sizing up. It’s not because the injury is complex or an overly concerning procedure, but Campbell had the surgery right after the combine. Teams are still working to get as much information as they can about how ready Campbell will be for training camp or even the regular season. At full strength, I believe he’s a top 20 player in this class, but don’t be surprised if he slides into the late first or early second round.
Reid: Teams have mixed opinions about offensive tackle
Josh Simmons’
patellar tendon injury. He performed on-field drills at Ohio State’s pro day, but the timeline still remains uncertain for when he’ll be fully cleared. If he managed to stay healthy throughout the 2024 season, Simmons was trending toward being the top offensive lineman in this class. Some scouts I talked to have a hard time seeing him getting out of the top 20, while others think he could fall to the late first round or even into the early parts of Day 2 because of the injury. At 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, he is one of the few OL prospects who is purely a tackle.
A couple of weeks ago, Matt Miller posted his 257 player 7-round mock draft. Here were his picks for the Cardinals:
- 16. Mike Green, ED, Marshall
- 47 Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa St.
- 78. Emery Jones, Jr., G, LSU
- 115. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
- 152. Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
- 225. Shemar Jones, Florida
I just selected these picks on the PFF Mock Simulator and every player was available except for DT Deone Walker, so I select the top DT still remaining on the board in Walker’s place. Here’s what it looks like:
My critique:
- The Cardinals have seemingly brought in every top edge rusher for a Top 30 visit, except Mike Green. Monti may have already placed a red flag on him.
- Noel is a nifty player and won’t be an F grade for anyone who takes him in Round 2, but again, selecting a WR this high after spending 1st, 3rd and 6th round picks on WRs the past two years is superfluous.
- Emery Jones Jr. may be a good candidate to switch from tackle over to guard as rookie but taking him in 3rd round would be preposterous. Mel Kiper has him ranked as the #9 G prospect. Typically, #9 guards go in round 6. Not round 3.
- Keone Walker in round 4 would be a good choice but passing on such superior talents at the DT position in the three rounds preceding this pick would be extremely disappointing.
- We don’t need more CBs after drafting 5 the last two years and getting 2023 waiver claim gem STV.
- Good for Matt Miller for seeing the Cardinals’ coaching connections to the Florida Gators but Shemar James’ coverage grade last year was 45.6 (ORANGE DOT) with a run grade of 68.4, (GREEN DOT) yet a missed tackle rate of 17.1% (ORANGE DOT).
Taking advantage of which players are still available in Matt Miller’s 7-round mock, here would be my preferences: (imo these were the available players who were too good to pass up)
- 16. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
- 47. James Pearce, ED, Tennessee
- 78. Jack Sawyer, ED, Ohio St.
- 115. Chris Paul, Jr., LB, Mississippi
- 152. Hollin Pierce, T/G, Rutgers
- 225. Seth McLaughlin, C, Ohio St.
Taking Matt Miller’s suggestion of a trade down from #16, I have the Cardinals trading the pick to the Steelers for picks #20 and #85 and was able to select:
- 20. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
- 47. Prince Umanmielen, ED, Mississippi
- 78, Tate Rutledge, G, Alabama
- 85 Antony Belton, T, North Carolina St.
- 115. R.J. Mickens, S, Clemson
- 152. Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
- 225. Sean Dolac, LB, Buffalo
Conclusion regarding Matt Miller’s trade down in round one prediction and that the Cardinals will likely go defense early.
Yes, I think it’s quite possible given all of the prospects Monti brought in for Top 30 visits. And yes, just as the NFC Scout said, “They (Cardinals) have to get a difference-maker on defense.” I think his prognostications are very good.
What are your thoughts on Josh Weinfuss’ and Matt Miller’s forecasts?
Jalon Walker
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