Cardinals select offensive lineman Mason Cole in third round of NFL Draft
Apr 27, 2018, 8:01 PM
Michigan offensive lineman Mason Cole runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The Arizona Cardinals selected offensive lineman Mason Cole out of Michigan in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Cole, the 97th selection, started 51 straight games for the Wolverines and was the first true freshman in school history to start the season opener.
He moved from left tackle to center in 2016, where he was all-conference, but moved back to left tackle last season and was second team All-Big Ten after starting all 13 games.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein has concerns about Cole’s reliance on athleticism.
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“Consistent center prospect with some position flex and incredible durability dating all the way back to his high school days. Cole relies on athleticism over power and will have to improve his hand usage and balance in order to match up against the talent he will see on the next level,” Zierlein said. “While he has two years of starting experience at tackle, he’s too inconsistent in protection to hold up there for very long. Cole could become an early starter, but his ceiling might not be higher than average starter.”
Cole joins quarterback Josh Rosen and wide receiver Christian Kirk as the selections made by the Cardinals in the first two days of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Arizona has three more choices left in the draft, Nos. 134, 182 and 254.
