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)

BY KELLAN OLSON

Suns reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

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.

“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.

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UCLA's Kolton Miller poses with his Oakland Raiders jersey after being selected by the team during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Virginia Tech's Tremaine Edmunds poses with his Buffalo Bills jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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UCLA's Kolton Miller, center, celebrates with Oakland Raiders fans after being selected by the team during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Virginia Tech's Tremaine Edmunds, center left, celebrates with fans after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

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UCLA's Josh Rosen, right, poses with commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

UCLA's Josh Rosen, right, gestures next to commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Wyoming's Josh Allen, center, takes a selfie of himself with Buffalo Bills fans after being selected by the team during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

North Carolina State's Bradley Chubb, center left, greets fans after being selected by the Denver Broncos during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Notre Dame's Mike McGlinchey is shown on the screen at AT&T Stadium after being selected by the San Francisco Forty Niners during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, presents Georgia's Roquan Smith with his Chicago Bears jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

USC's Sam Darnold takes a selfie as he poses with fans after being elected by the New York Jets during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Wyoming's Josh Allen, left, is presented with his Buffalo Bills jersey by Commissioner Roger Goodell during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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USC's Sam Darnold is shown on the video screen after being selected by the New York Jets during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at the podium after the Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield as their pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Penn State's Saquon Barkley greets commissioner Roger Goodell on the stage after being selected by the New York Giants during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Wyoming's Josh Allen walks onto the stage after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Wyoming's Josh Allen poses with his Buffalo Bills jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

USC's Sam Darnold is shown on the video screen as he is greeted on stage by Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked by the New York Jets during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Commissioner Roger Goodell announces the Cleveland Browns selection of Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Penn State's Saquon Barkley, right, poses with commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the New York Giants during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Ohio State's Denzel Ward poses with his Cleveland Browns jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

A fan poses with a team jersey and Commissioner Roger Goodell after Notre Dame's Mike McGlinchey was selected by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Ohio State's Denzel Ward, right, poses with Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, greets USC's Sam Darnold after he was selected by the New York Jets during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, poses with North Carolina State's Bradley Chubb after Chubb was selected by the Denver Broncos during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Prospects in attendance stand on stage at the start of the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Penn State's Saquon Barkley poses after being selected by the New York Giants during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

USC's Sam Darnold, right, poses for photos with commissioner Roger Goodell after he was selected by the New York Jets during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Cleveland Browns fans react to Ohio State's Denzel Ward being selected by their team during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

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