Cardinals take OL in new mock draft after trade for DeAndre Hopkins

They land Tristan Wirfs in new projections.

The Arizona Cardinals have filled a couple of needs early in the period before free agency officially begins and that could affect how they draft in the first round next month. Draft Wire managing editor Luke Easterling has a new mock draft after the early moves of free agency and the trade the Cardinal made for receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Rather than a receiver, he has the Cardinals taking the second offensive lineman off the board.

He has them selecting Iowa tackle Tristan Wirfs with the eighth overall pick of the draft.

The Giants select Louisville tackle Mekhi Becton fourth overall. The Cardinals have their choice of Wirfs, Jedrick Wills and Andrew Thomas.

Wirfs blew up the combine with his performance and had the coaching and the tape. He is probably the most athletic tackle in the draft.

With the addition of Hopkins, many believe the Cardinals will no longer consider a receiver with their first-round pick. Wirfs seems like a slam dunk of a pick, although Wills and Thomas also are solid options.

Wirfs could immediately compete with Justin Murray for the starting right tackle position.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 261

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Ep. 260

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4 things to know about new Jets OT George Fant

Here are four things to know about ex-Seahawks and new Jets offensive lineman George Fant, who signed a three-year deal on Monday.

While the Jets’ first move of the legal tampering wasn’t a flashy one, it was one that needed to be made.

With Joe Thuney and Brandon Scherff franchise tagged by the Patriots and Redskins, respectively, and Jack Conklin and Graham Glasgow signing elsewhere, the Jets needed to add to their offensive line. In came George Fant.

Joe Douglas opted to sign the former Seahawks swing tackle to a three-year deal worth $27.3 million. The Jets can get out of the deal after one-year, so it’s essentially a one-year deal, worth $9.25 million.

Fant is a bit of an enigma. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the 62nd-ranked tackle last year among those that played 20 percent of snaps. However, he’s young, versatile and coming off a season in which he was successful in limited opportunities. Clearly, the Jets are banking on his potential after missing out on their top targets.

With that said, let’s get to know the Jets’ latest addition to the offensive line.

Basketball Background

George Fant had a four-year standout basketball career at Western Kentucky University before transitioning to football.

Throughout his first four years at Western Kentucky, Fant was urged to join the school’s football team, but he refused. He received multiple letters from NFL teams trying to gauge his interest in 2015, but he tossed the letters away.

Fant used his fifth year of collegiate eligibility to play football after weighing his options after college. He joined the Western Kentucky football team to play tight end, where he played one season. He appeared in two games with one reception for seven yards on offense and a pair of tackles on defense.

Following the 2015 season, Fant bulked up, going from 270 pounds to 296 pounds, and become an offensive lineman. He wound up impressing the Seahawks front office at the Hilltoppers’ pro day.

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What should the 49ers do with the 13th overall pick?

After trading DeForest Buckner to the Colts, the 49ers have new flexibility with the 13th overall pick. How should they spend it?

The biggest news on Monday so far has been the Houston Texans trading DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round pick in 2020 to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson and a fourth-round pick in 2021. The wisdom of that deal for the Texans has been hotly debated — well, actually not hotly debated as much as it’s been universally (and rightly) panned.

After that, the second-biggest news was unquestionably the San Francisco 49ers signing defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to a five-year, $85 million contract and then trading him to the Indianapolis Colts for Indy’s first-round pick, which is the 13th overall.

It’s an interesting move for the 49ers, who have Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and Arik Armstead on their defensive line already. Buckner has been a relative multi-gap force since San Francisco selected him with the seventh pick in the 2016 draft, but given what the Colts gave up, this sets the defending NFC champions up nicely to restock an already stacked roster.

So, what should the 49ers do with that 13th overall pick? They also have the 31st overall pick, so they could ostensibly trade up even higher than 13 if they wanted to, but if they stand pat, there are all kinds of interesting options. Let’s look at positional need and draft possibility.

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Report: Giants to host Tristan Wirfs on pre-draft visit

The New York Giants will hold a pre-draft visit and pre-draft workout with Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs.

The New York Giants are allowed 30 official pre-draft visits and one of those will go to Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs.

Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that the Giants will not only hold a pre-draft visit with Wirfs ahead of the Iowa Pro Day, but will also hold an on-field workout with the 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle prior to March 23.

The Giants have plans to host Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs on one of their 30 official pre-draft visits in East Rutherford. And they also have plans to get field work in with him ahead of Iowa’s March 23 pro day. The 6-5, 320-pound junior ran a scorching 4.85 40-dash at the NFL Combine and hails from a Big Ten program that produces studs up front.

Wirfs has been a popular mock to the Giants this offseason and understandably so. Not only is general manager Dave Gettleman said to be enamored with him, but the team is in desperate need of another tackle (if not two).

Here’s a portion of what our friends at Draft Wire had to say about Wirfs (the entire scouting report can be found here):

Wirfs has all of the tools to be a high-end starting offensive lineman for years to come. From his brute strength to his impressive athleticism to his nonstop motor once engaged with a defender, his skill set has much to be excited about. Regardless of whether teams plan on playing him at tackle or guard, he should be an early pick in this year’s class.

In addition to Wirfs, the Giants are expected to hold private meetings and workouts with all of the draft’s projected top tackles.

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As the draft nears, Joe Douglas has plenty of offensive linemen to choose from

Joe Douglas has mutiple choices between players like Tristan Wirfs and Austin Jackson in the draft, as he attempts to rebuild the Jets’ OL.

From Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs to USC’s Austin Jackson, the Jets will have plenty of offensive linemen to choose from with the 11th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

A top-heavy tackle class, New York should be in a position to land the third or fourth-best prospect at the position. In addition to Wirfs and Jackson, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. round out an impressive group of tackles.

The Jets are scheduled to have a private workout with Wirfs this week, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. While Wirfs is widely regarded as one of the top-four tackles in the draft, Cimini adds that the consensus around the league is that there is no particular pecking order for the top tackles.

Free agency should help paint a clearer picture, as Joe Douglas will attempt to scour every avenue possible to upgrade one of the weakest units in the NFL last season.

Whether it’s acquiring Trent Williams in a trade, signing Jason Peters as a one-year holdover or making Jack Conklin the highest-paid right tackle in the NFL, the window of possibilities remain wide open before April’s draft.

Making a splash in March would enable Douglas to have more freedom with the first pick he makes at the helm of the Jets’ war room. Taking care of the offensive line in free agency would allow the Jets to target a wide receiver for Sam Darnold, someone like Oklahoma’s Ceedee Lamb or Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs III.

Still, if one of the five tackles mentioned is available, Douglas is going to make the pick in the best interest of the organization. Finding Darnold a No. 1 wideout is a priority this offseason, but it doesn’t matter if the third-year quarterback is not standing upright.

At the end of the day, Douglas, a former offensive lineman at the University of Richmond himself, knows the blueprint for success. As part of two of the most respected front offices’ in the NFL, Douglas has two rings to remind himself that it all starts in the trenches.

What Cardinals’ player visits mean so far

The Cards have met with several prospects – but what does it mean?

The Arizona Cardinals will visit and have visited with many prospects during the next few weeks and the last few weeks. The question that many Cardinals fans want to know is what does it mean?

If we look back at last seasons visits (here’s a reference guide per Walter Football), there is one thing that stands out – they met with several of their offensive picks (except Hakeem Butler, Caleb Wilson and Joshua Miles), but they only met with one of the defensive players they chose: Byron Murphy.

That unfortunately means that the visits we saw don’t mean a ton – Arizona only met with five of the 11 players they drafted. However, they did meet with all three of their first three selections.

Therefore, it’s likely that they have already met with their first-round draft pick already – we outlined the players they visited with here. After all, they met with Kyler Murray at the combine last year.

What that means is that it’s very likely that their first-round draft pick will come from the list of CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Derrick Brown, Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs or Mekhi Becton.

Many fans would love an offensive tackle or a wide receiver, which comprises this whole list outside of Derrick Brown. Any of them would be a great fit and pick it would seem.

There’s also a decent chance that one of the other three listed as visits – Oklahoma DT Neville Gallimore, Utah RB Zack Moss and Louisiana Tech CB Amik Robertson – could be chosen by Arizona in the draft. Although it should be noted that according to the above list, they did not draft any of the other players they met with at the combine last season – Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, or Blake Cashman.

The first two are likely day two picks (although Gallimore could go in Day 1), with Robertson possibly going on Day 3.

On a final note – since Arizona seemed to highly use analytics in their rankings last season (or it would so seem), Thomas, Moss, Jeudy and Brown are the highest rated at their positions according to PFF.

The next few weeks will be ones to watch for Cardinals fans – that is one thing that seems to be for sure.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 260

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Ep. 259

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Daniel Jeremiah outlines the ‘perfect’ draft scenario for Giants

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah outlines what he believes would be the “perfect” 2020 NFL Draft scenario for the New York Giants.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah is one of the top personnel evaluators working in media today. A former scout, he coherently spells out his thoughts on NFL Draft prospects and the teams they may end with.

Speaking with WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on the air this week, Jeremiah spoke about what he felt the best scenario would be for the New York Giants in the first round of next month’s draft.

“It makes all the sense in the world (to trade back),” Jeremiah said. “If Detroit takes (Jeff) Okudah at three and you’re there with Tua on the board at four and teams five and six both covet him, it’s a dream. It’s an absolute dream scenario because you’re going to get free picks and you’re still going to get the player you were going to take. There’s no reason not to do it. In terms of what it would cost? I would try like heck to get their second round pick.”

True. By trading one or two spots back, the Giants can only gain. They could still end up with Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, and if he’s gone, they’ll surely get one of the top offensive tackles. Jeremiah believes that would be the optimal scenario for the Giants and general manager Dave Gettleman, who needs together this draft right.

“Talking to people around the league, they’ve heard Gettleman was very enamored with Tristan Wirfs from Iowa,” Jeremiah said. “You talk about a freak at 320 pounds, ran a 4.86, jumped 35.5 inches. He’s played on the right side and the left side there at Iowa. That’s been a really good factory for offensive linemen so they’re in the same boat as the Jets. You could say, ‘man, they need some playmakers on defense’ but when you have a young quarterback, that trumps everything. You’ve got to get better up front.”

Agree. I’ll never say no to a franchise left tackle. This has to be Gettleman’s signature drafts he one that puts the Giants back on the map. By trading back, getting his man and accumulating more high picks, he can make it so.

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2020 NFL Draft: Tristan Wirfs falls to Jets in NFL Network 3-round mock

In NFL Network’s post-combine mock draft, the Jets are able to re-tool their offensive line with their first two selections.

With the NFL Scouting Combine ending last weekend, the NFL is in a holding pattern of draft buzz until the start of the new league year. With that, NFL Network’s Chad Reuter released his latest mock draft, a three-rounder.

In this hypothetical, the Jets are able to reload the offensive line while finding potential replacements for both Robby Anderson and Jordan Jenkins on Day 2. At the same time, the Jets whiff on the copious amount of wide receiver talent in this draft.

Free agency will be telling of what the Jets plan to do round-by-round. For now, projections are the best measurement until it is understood what the front office wants to do with the offensive line.

With that said, here’s a look at the players selected by Reuter in each round for the Jets.

First Round: Tristan Wirfs | OL | Iowa

It’s unlikely that Tristan Wirfs is still on the board with the 11th pick, but with Cleveland trading out of No. 10 and four quarterbacks going within the top-10 picks, it opens up a window for New York.

Here’s the explanation for the pick from Chad Reuter:

The Jets’ O-line is a mess right now. Wirfs gives them a stout protector whether he’s at guard or tackle.

While the Jets seem interested in trading for Trent Williams, who the Redskins have made available via trade, that doesn’t take them out of the running for OL in the first round.

Wirfs is athletic enough to play both tackle spots. He started 10 games at right tackle and three games at left tackle for the Hawkeyes in 2019. Daniel Jeremiah believe Wirfs has All-Pro potential at guard, too.

Wirfs would make an immediate impact on the Jets wherever he lines up. He is a big, powerful offensive tackle who shows off a solid balance of size, speed and strength. The 6-foot-5, 322-pound product from Iowa would be a homerun first pick for Joe Douglas and company.

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Ranking the best prospects for the No. 8 pick for the Cardinals

Who are the best prospects for the Cardinals to take at No. 8 overall, based on what we know a month before the draft?

The NFL draft is still more than a month away and the Arizona Cardinals are still evaluating players and ranking them to prepare for when they make their selection.

But who are the best players for the No. 8 pick in the first round?

Assuming Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young and Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah are both going to be unavailable, here are my rankings for who I would select and why.

1. Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons

The more I think about it, Simmons is my favorite player here. My only concerns about him have nothing to do about him but about whether or not defensive coordinator Vance Joseph would use him right.

The Cardinals have glaring needs at inside linebacker and off the edge. They struggle to cover tight ends and running backs.

Simmons would fit in either as an edge rusher or as an off-the-ball defender. He has better length and better speed than Haason Reddick. He has actually played in coverage and has excelled at it. He is what a refined Reddick would look like.

Used off the edge, he can rush and drop in coverage, meaning Chandler Jones never has to drop. He can play inside. He can be moved out of the box to cover. If Joseph can figure out to maximize his abilities, meaning they need other players at other positions to fill in when he moves around, he is the best player. Of course, he might already be off the board.

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Mock draft: Could Browns trade up to Cardinals’ spot?

The Cardinals pick up a top receiver and an extra draft pick.

Mock draft season is all about scenarios. What would happen in particular situations? The Arizona Cardinals have the eighth pick in the draft this year and are in position to potentially select an impact defender, offensive lineman or receiver.

Are there scenarios where the Cardinals trade back?

In CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso’s latest mock draft, it appears the Cardinals were hoping to land Iowa tackle Tristan Wirfs.

However, he is selected seventh overall. The Cleveland Browns are desperate to land an offensive lineman and might covet huge Louisville tackle Mekhi Becton.

In this scenario, they move up two spots to No. 8 and give the Cardinals a fourth-round pick to move back to No. 10 overall.

Becton might not be as good a fit for the Cardinals, but he is a perfect fit for the Browns’ scheme, according to Trapasso.

Given Becton’s insane athleticism at his size at the left tackle spot, he’s a perfect fit in Kevin Stefanski’s zone-blocking run scheme, and the Browns can’t afford for him to go one pick ahead of them to the Jaguars.

The Jags take Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas and then the Cardinals select Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy.

Given this scenario, it could happen. However, with every receiver available, it seems more likely that the Cardinals would take quarterback Kyler Murray’s old teammate, Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb.

If the Cardinals get an impact receiver and also pick up an extra mid-round pick, that is a win, especially if they aren’t as sold on the other tackles as Wirfs, who was no longer available.

Landing Jeudy could be just as impactful, but when Murray is publicly pushing for the Cardinals to draft Lamb and he is available, it would feel like a bit of a disappointment.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 260

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Ep. 259

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