Tag: nfl draft rumors

49ers fill biggest offensive need in 2025 NFL mock draft

OL help is the 49ers top priority in this mock draft:

Finding help for quarterback Brock Purdy needs to be a priority for the San Francisco 49ers in the 2025 NFL draft.

However, that help doesn’t necessarily need to come in the form of weapons. Running back Christian McCaffrey figures to return at full strength. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk should return at some point next season. Tight end George Kittle is still an excellent player, wide receiver Jauan Jennings is having a breakout season and rookie WRs Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing will have another year to get acclimated to the offense.

The offensive line is a different story, and that’s where the 49ers get to work in the first round of a mock draft from Owain Jones at Pro Football Network. San Francisco at No. 17 overall selects Kelvin Banks Jr., a seasoned starting tackle from the University of Texas.

Via PFN:

Kelvin Banks Jr., a three-year starter at the University of Texas, is entering the NFL Draft with valuable experience and potential to secure the starting right tackle position in the Bay Area. As a talented athlete, he demonstrates fluid movement, effectively preventing agile pass rushers from getting around the edge.

However, to improve his draft stock and be considered a top-10 selection, he must refine his hand technique, enhance his footwork, and strengthen his lower body.

Finding a long-term answer at right tackle needs to be a priority for the 49ers in the offseason, and preferably that player would be one who could eventually swap over to the left side when Trent Williams decides to hang up his pads.

Banks has played left tackle his entire tenure with the Longhorns so moving to the right side would be an adjustment, but he has the physical tools to conceivably make the swap temporarily before moving back to his natural position in the post-Williams era.

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NFL draft rumor: Chargers ‘will do what it takes’ to select Blake Corum

The Chargers could have their eyes set on the productive running back from Michigan.

There are a handful of Jim Harbaugh’s former Michigan players who could appeal to him when the Chargers are on the clock, but he could have his eyes set on one specific player.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, it is believed that Harbaugh is expected to target running back Blake Corum.

“No running backs are expected to go in the first round, and there’s a great variety of opinion on which one will be the first back selected this year,” Graziano said.

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“… I’ve spoken to scouts from multiple teams who think Michigan’s Blake Corum might be the best of the bunch and believe Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers will do what it takes to make sure he’s reunited with his college coach.”

Corum was productive for the Wolverines this past season, rushing for 1,245 yards and a program-record 27 touchdowns en route to the school’s national title. He finished his collegiate career with 58 rushing scores.

Corum isn’t the youngest player, set to be 24 this upcoming season and already has plenty of mileage used. But he has the patience, vision, and quickness to be an effective back in the NFL.

Los Angeles signed Gus Edwards and recently, JK Dobbins. But as they look to run the ball at a high level under offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Chargers might feel that Corum is the final piece to the puzzle.

NFL draft: Never rule out 49ers adding DL help

A draft analyst took the 49ers out of the running for one of the draft’s top edge rushers. We are going to go ahead and not do that based on everything we know about the 49ers.

Never underestimate the 49ers’ desire to bolster their defensive line. A handful of free agency moves that saw the club add a pair of defensive ends and a pair of defensive tackles might have pushed the defensive front down their perceived list of needs, but San Francisco’s front office isn’t above continuing to add there.

A recent report from draft analyst Tony Pauline indicated the 49ers would be out on Western Michigan pass rusher Marshawn Kneeland because the club signed Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos in free agency.

We’re going to go ahead and rebut the argument (from Pauline or anyone else) that the 49ers can be crossed off the list of teams that might be interested in Kneeland in the second round (or possibly late in the first round) of this year’s draft, because the 49ers can never have enough pass rush help.

When the club was in pursuit of then-Bears pass rusher Khalil Mack, general manager John Lynch said pass rush was as important to a defense as the quarterback is to an offense. The team has continued prioritizing their pass rush throughout Lynch’s tenure with head coach Kyle Shanahan. They drafted Nick Bosa No. 2 overall in 2019. They traded for DE Dee Ford that same offseason. In 2022 they used a second-round pick on USC DE Drake Jackson. Last year they spent a fifth-round choice on Georgia DE Robert Beal. All the while they’ve added low-risk, high-reward free agents at those spots as well.

Floyd and Gross-Matos should help a 49ers pass rush that sorely lacked in production last year, but history tells us a couple of veteran free agent additions won’t stop San Francisco from adding more depth, particularly if they believe that player can be a starter over the long-term. A player like Kneeland (or pick your favorite DE in this year’s class) wouldn’t have much competition for snaps right away since Gross-Matos figures to play inside some of the time and neither Jackson nor Beal are proven commodities at the NFL level.

It’s entirely conceivable the 49ers view DE as one of their top needs for this year and in the future. They might even use a first-round pick there depending on how the board shakes out. Of course, there are other positions San Francisco could spend its first couple selection on, but the defensive line is always a spot they’ll look to improve and ruling them out of the sweepstakes for one of the draft’s top edge rushers isn’t something we’re willing to do.

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Following NFL draft, Cardinals’ offensive ceiling has exponentially increased

Following the recent acquisitions of Trey McBride and Hollywood Brown, the Cardinals offense features a ridiculous group of playmakers.

Following a quiet free agency, many Arizona Cardinals fans were growing frustrated with the team’s lack of signings and additions. While they were able to re-sign most of their core free agents, they let two key players from last season go without replacing them, those being Chandler Jones and Christian Kirk.

In the past week, however, those sentiments have quickly changed for many. The Cardinals made a shocking trade Thursday night when they sent the 23rd overall pick for Ravens star receiver Hollywood Brown.

Perhaps an equally surprising move was their second round selection of Trey McBride, the consensus top tight end prospect from this year’s class. In a tight end room that already features Zach Ertz and Maxx Williams, it was initially shocking to see the Cardinals technically spend their first draft pick on a tight end.

Following the surprise and discontent from some fans, however, the McBride’s potential was very obviously too good to pass up. Many are comparing his game to that of 49ers’ star George Kittle.

The addition of two standout receiving threats gives the Cardinals a better group of offensive skill position players than they had in 2021, which is saying a ton considering they were the No. 1 statistical offense in the league prior to injuries to both Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins.

The wide receiver room now features Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, Rondale Moore and A.J. Green. Having Green, who had over 800 yards receiving last year (with some missed time) as WR4 illustrates the surplus of firepower general manager Steve Keim is providing the offense. Antoine Wesley, who flashed towards the end of last season, is also a notable name there.

The running back group took a hit with the loss of Chase Edmonds to Miami, but the lead man is still Pro Bowler James Conner. Third-year pro Eno Benjamin figures today to be the No. 2 back, though the team has recently looked at free agent RB Darrell Williams.

The tight end room is arguably as impressive as the receiving room, with 3x Pro-Bowler Zach Ertz leading the charge. Maxx Williams, who was playing great football prior to injury is an excellent complement in both the passing attack and run game. Both of those two should be great help to the newest member of the room in Trey McBride.

The group of skill position players is, as of right now, absurdly talented. Defenses will still focus primarily on containing Hopkins, but the plethora of other playmakers makes that so difficult to do. And if they do shift coverage away from Hop, leaving him one-on-one, that’s where the ball is going.

If the group can maintain relative health through next season, the Cardinals offense has the potential to be even better than they were prior to injuries last season.

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How to watch, stream Day 2 of 2022 NFL draft; draft order; when the Cardinals pick

Here is all the information you need to know about Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft.

The first round of the 2022 NFL draft has come and gone and it certainly did not disappoint fans on the excitement level. There were quite a few surprises and two blockbuster trades that sent star receivers to new teams. One of those trades, of course, is the Cardinals acquiring Ravens receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown for the 23rd overall pick.

The Cardinals will have three picks to make on Friday as day two of the NFL Draft includes both the second and third rounds.

Here’s all the key information you need to know:

How to Watch Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft:

The second and third rounds of the Draft kick off at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. Arizona time). It will be televised on ESPN, NFL Network and ABC.

The ESPN broadcast will be highlighted by Mel Kiper Jr., Louis Riddick, Booger McFarland and hosted by Mike Greenberg. Insiders Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen will report on trades and other breaking news.

The NFL Network crew will feature Rich Eisen, Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah. Insider Ian Rapoport will cover all the breaking news. There will be appearances from college football analyst Joel Klatt and former Cardinal great Kurt Warner.

How to stream, listen to Day 2 of the draft

The NFL Draft will be available to stream on NFL.com and ESPN.com. Check your cellular plan and cable accounts associated with the app prior to 7:00 p.m. to make sure you have no issues streaming the draft once it goes live.

Remember, since the league has to get through two rounds the picks will move much faster than they did on Thursday night. Teams have seven minutes to make their pick in the second round and five in the third round.

The draft will also be available on Sirius XM, Westwood One and ESPN Radio.

Round 2 draft order

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from JAX)
  2. Minnesota Vikings (from DET)
  3. Tennessee Titans (from NYJ)
  4. New York Giants
  5. Houston Texans
  6. New York Jets (from CAR)
  7. Chicago Bears
  8. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN)
  9. Seattle Seahawks
  10. Indianapolis Colts (from WAS)
  11. Atlanta Falcons
  12. Cleveland Browns
  13. Baltimore Ravens
  14. Detroit Lions (from MIN)
  15. Washington Commanders (from IND)
  16. Chicago Bears (from LAC)
  17. New Orleans Saints
  18. Kansas City Chiefs (from MIA)
  19. Philadelphia Eagles
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers
  21. Green Bay Packers (from LV)
  22. New England Patriots
  23. Arizona Cardinals
  24. Dallas Cowboys
  25. Buffalo Bills
  26. Atlanta Falcons (from TEN)
  27. Green Bay Packers
  28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  29. San Francisco 49ers
  30. Kansas City Chiefs
  31. Cincinnati Bengals
  32. Denver Broncos (from LAR)

The Cardinals’ Picks on Day 2:

Round 2: 55 overall

Round 3: 87 overall

Round 3: 100 overall

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Daniel Jeremiah’s final mock draft has Cardinals adding pass rusher

Daniel Jeremiah’s final mock draft of the year has the Cardinals bolstering their pass rush.

The first round of the 2022 NFL draft begins Thursday night at 5 p.m. Arizona time and the final mock drafts from all the major media outlets are in. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, one of the best in the business when it comes to the NFL draft, released his final mock draft of the year.

With the 23rd overall pick in the draft, Jeremiah projects the Cardinals will go with the polarizing edge prospect out of Purdue, George Karlaftis. He’s one of the most associated names with the Cardinals and has been linked to them throughout the entire draft process. Much of that is based on them visiting with them coupled with the obvious need at the position.

The Cardinals need to address their pass rush in this draft. Karlaftis can win on the edge or inside. 

It appears the majority of Cardinals fans are set on going offense with the first pick in the draft. The team has taken defensive players in the first round of the last two drafts and both of them did not receive much playing time in their first years.

In this mock draft from Jeremiah, most of the Cardinals’ top prospects are off the board at 23, likely contributing to the pick of Karlaftis. The two picks in front of the Cards are G Zion Johnson to the Patriots and WR Treylon Burks to the Packers, both of whom are also possibilities for later today.

The big four of the receiver class are long gone in this scenario. Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, Drake London and Garrett Wilson are all off the board by pick No. 11, giving the Cardinals virtually no chance to make a move up for one of them.

The pick after the Cardinals, however, is WR Jahan Dotson to the Cowboys. That is a name that has been heavily linked to Arizona. Steve Keim and company would have an interesting decision on their hands should both Karlaftis and Dotson be on the board.

What would you do in this scenario?

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New mock draft has Cardinals bolstering their receiving corps in first round

The Arizona Cardinals and Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks are once again being connected as the NFL draft is just one day away.

The NFL draft is Thursday night and there are only a few mock drafts left to look at. With just one day to go, it’s fun to look at what NFL analysts think the Cardinals will do.

NFL Network Analyst Charles Davis released his final mock draft of the year. He has the Cardinals selecting Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks with the No. 23 overall pick.

Arizona’s receiving corps took a hit with the loss of Christian Kirk in free agency. Adding the power-forward-esque player to QB Kyler Murray’s arsenal is a strong move. Burks can be the Cardinals version of what Deebo Samuel has been for the 49ers.

The Deebo Samuel comparisons have been made to Burks’ game before. He was electric after the catch, a trait that would be invaluable in Kliff Kingsbury’s heavy screen and short pass offense.

Burks played primarily in the slot at the collegiate level but his size and build project as an outside receiver at the next level. At 6-3 and 225 lbs, Burks has the size the Cardinals have sought to add with Kyler Murray’s game. The team may want to be cautious, however, as playing players out of position has hurt them before.

Burks had 1,104 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns last season. One of his standout performances came against elite-level defensive talent when he racked up 179 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama. He was dominant despite a lingering injury. It’s always worth noting when a prospect plays that well against future NFL talent.

Officially, Burks ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, but he plays the game much faster than that. General Manager Steve Keim mentioned the need to pay attention to game speed over combine speed during his press conference, citing Rams All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp as an example.

Here’s an example of Burks’ ability, as he quite literally runs away from the entire Crimson Tide defense.

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13th overall pick could be available to Cardinals if they want to trade up

A potential trade up scenario for the Cardinals has emerged as the team looks to add an explosive playmaker.

With 24 hours to go until the first round of the NFL draft, we’ve heard just about every scenario for the Arizona Cardinals at some point. The Cards’ names have come up in quite a few trade up rumors in the past few weeks, while others believe a move down is more likely.

In such a top-heavy first round, it’s impossible to ignore the trade-up rumors, particularly after such a quiet free agency period for the Cards. Perhaps the team has been waiting to make their big splash in the draft.

One possibility for the Cardinals, should one of their coveted first-round prospects fall out of the top ten, is the Houston Texans. Sitting at pick 13, the Texans’ pick is within striking distance of landing a top prospect, while avoiding giving up a king’s ransom to move into the Top-10.

NFL Media’s Jim Trotter reported a conversation he had with Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio. When asked about pick No. 13, Caserio said there’s “maybe a 50-60% chance” they use the selection.

Pick No. 13 is an ideal selection for the Cardinals, especially if Alabama WR Jameson Williams (whom they view as a future star) is on the board. The Philadelphia Eagles, sitting two spots later at pick No. 15, are major threats to take a wide receiver. The Cards’ interest in this class of wideouts has been made very clear and it would be wise to move in front of the teams in need of help at the position. The Saints and Chargers, picking after the Eagles, are also in need of another receiving presence.

The Cards could also opt to move up for an edge rusher, should one fall. There’s still a huge void at that position following the loss of Chandler Jones. Given the team’s pursuit of former Cardinal Haason Reddick in free agency, it’s evident they are looking for premier help at the position prior to kickoff in September.

What would a trade look like for the Cardinals to move up ten spots?

  • They give up pick No. 23 and 87 (third round) and their 2023 second-round selection to get pick No. 13.

When in need of receiver help, call up the Houston Texans. It’s certainly worked before.

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Cardinals bolster their pass rush in Bucky Brooks’ latest mock draft

NFL Analyst Bucky Brooks has the Cardinals selecting George Karlaftis with the 23rd overall pick in his final mock draft of the year.

With the NFL draft just two days away, we’re going to take a look at what all of the top mock drafts have the Arizona Cardinals doing in the first round. At this point, no one’s guess is going to get any better and the mocks a few days out are typically the most accurate.

With that in mind, we start with the latest projections from NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks. In this scenario, many of the top prospects coveted by the Cardinals are selected far before pick No. 23. Wide receiver Jameson Williams is taken by the Vikings. Drake London goes to the Jets at pick No. 10 and Chris Olave lands in Philadelphia at 15.

Even the likes of defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and receiver Treylon Burks are long gone before the Cardinals make their selection. With the 23rd pick, they opt to select Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis.

The high-motor pass rusher could fill the void created by Chandler Jones’ departure. 

Karlaftis is a polarizing prospect, but certainly plays a position of need following the departure of Chandler Jones to the Raiders. Some view Karlaftis to be a future star, while others would avoid him completely in the first round. His sack numbers aren’t amazing but has elite strength and bull rush abilities at the next level.

General manager Steve Keim was asked about Karlaftis during his predraft press conference a few days ago.

“Karlaftis is a guy who maybe doesn’t have bells and whistles in terms of bend and end rush abilities, but you know what you’re getting,” he said. “You know you are getting a man that is grown and he absolutely loves the game.”

Keim’s comments certainly aren’t bullish on the Purdue product, but Karlaftis is a real option for the Cardinals at 23.

Nicknamed ‘The Greek Freak’ by Purdue fans, Karlaftis tallied 14 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in 26 career games. Many project him to be a very good pass rusher at the next level.

With the draft nearly upon us, George Karlaftis is certainly a name to watch for the Cardinals.

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Cardinals NFL draft player preview: Penn State WR Jahan Dotson

The Cardinals continue to be linked to wide receiver prospects , one of the more recent being the former Nittany Lion Jahan Dotson

Despite re-signing wide receiver A.J. Green to a one-year deal late last week, the Arizona Cardinals are rightfully continuing to search for long-term help at the position.

A name many Cardinals fans may not have heard of a month ago has exponentially increased in draft stock. Jahan Dotson out of Penn State has seen his draft stock increase dramatically, projected by many to now be a late first-round pick.

The former Nittany Lion had 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season with the university. He emerged as one of the premier wideouts in the Big 10, earning an 87.5 grade from Pro Football Focus, which is the highest grade given to an offensive player from Penn St. since 2014.

While Dotson is projected by some to be an excellent slot receiver at the next level, he was primarily an outside threat during his time at Penn St. He did spend time at all three primary positions, those being the slot, the X and the Z. His positional flexibility would allow Kliff Kingsbury to create different packages week-by-week based on the weaknesses of opposing defenses.

Listed at 5-11, Dotson doesn’t possess the height the Cardinals have sought in the past few seasons, but his high separation rates make him an intriguing fit nonetheless. When DeAndre Hopkins went down with an injury, the offense struggled heavily to get separation against press coverage.

Given the recent hype about the top receiver prospects going earlier in the draft than originally anticipated, Dotson makes a lot of sense for the Cardinals.

Dotson has been heavily linked to the team, particularly by Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager.

Schrager has been money in accurately predicting the Cardinals’ first round picks, based on his mock drafts. In his final mock draft over the past three seasons, he had the team selecting Kyler Murray, Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins. It’s always worth paying attention to his mock drafts, especially given his history and close relationship with Kingsbury.

An NFC executive sat down with FanSided a few months back and raved about Dotson’s ability.

“I saw him catch one of those smoke routes…and he made three guys miss, they couldn’t even touch him. He looked like Barry Sanders.”

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