The Arizona Cardinals did not get to draft one of their favorite players. Their presumed favorite targets were all gone within the first 10 picks of the first round of the 2021 NFL draft Thursday night.
Those players were cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain and receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.
They almost did not get another of their targets.
The Cardinals selected Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins withe the 16th overall pick in the draft, but he almost was not available for the Cardinals.
The New England Patriots would have drafted Collins.
However, because quarterback Mac Jones was available, the Patriots selected him.
The Patriots told this to Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill.
Patriots would have taken Zaven Collins at 15 if Mac Jones was not available, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill told @LisaMatthewsAZ on Cards Draft Central.
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) April 30, 2021
Bidwill, appearing on the team’s draft show — Cards Draft Central — said the Patriots would have taken Collins.
So thanks to Mac Jones’ fall, the Cardinals land Collins.
Otherwise, the Cardinals would have had to pivot, make a different pick or perhaps they would have traded out of the pick to move down and target someone else.
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