Cardinals land Will Anderson, go heavy on defense in ESPN 7-round mock draft

ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the Cardinals selecting five defensive players and two offensive linemen in their eight selections in this year’s draft.

The NFL draft is four weeks away and mock drafts are everywhere. Some go only one round. Others go a full seven rounds.

In a seven-round mock draft by Jordan Reid for ESPN, the Arizona Cardinals land top pass rusher, Alabama’s Will Anderson, and go heavy on defense with their eight selections.

There are the picks:

  • Round 1: Alabama EDGE Will Anderson
  • Round 2: South Carolina CB Cam Smith
  • Round 3: Baylor DL Siaki Ika
  • Round 3 (compensatory): Maryland OT Jaelyn Duncan
  • Round 4: TCU EDGE Dylan Horton
  • Round 5 (compensatory): Notre Dame OL Jarrett Patterson
  • Round 6: BYU WR Puka Nacua
  • Round 6 (compensatory): Florida S Trey Dean

Of their eight selections, five are on defense. Two are offensive linemen, Two are defensive backs.

Anderson is a home run. Smith should be a starter. Ika should be able to play a lot as a rookie. After that, it is roster depth and guys who potentially could contribute down the line.

It doesn’t look like a bad draft.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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