McShay: Cardinals select Ohio State CB Sevyn Banks in 2022 mock draft
May 6, 2021, 4:25 PM
Ohio State cornerback Sevyn Banks, right, breaks up a pass intended for Ohio State wide receiver K.J. Hill during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Cardinals may have addressed their cornerback depth in this year’s NFL Draft, but ESPN’s Todd McShay predicts Arizona will continue to add to its secondary in 2022.
In the analyst’s latest way-too-early 2022 mock draft, the Cardinals use their 14th overall pick on Ohio State cornerback Sevyn Banks.
The Cardinals’ draft position was determined by early 2022 power rankings from analysts Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Mina Kimes, Seth Walder and Field Yates.
McShay’s reasoning behind the Cardinals’ pick:
The Cardinals lost Patrick Peterson to free agency, and both their starters outside — Robert Alford and Malcolm Butler — are on one-year deals. I did like the Day 3 selections of Marco Wilson and Tay Gowan, but I think Arizona could look at the cornerback pool next April. Banks has good size, length and speed.
In eight games as a junior last season, Banks recorded 23 tackles, an interception and six pass deflections as he helped Ohio State punch its ticket to the national championship game against Alabama.
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For the coming season, the addition of Wilson and Gowan provide Arizona with some much-needed depth, especially with Alford looking to get his bearings back after missing the past two years with season-ending injuries suffered in training camp.
The pair of 2020 draft picks, however, come with a few question marks.
Gowan opted out of last season due to concerns over his daughter’s health, playing just one season at UCF. While he recorded two interceptions, eight pass deflections, and 31 tackles over 12 games in 2019, getting him up to speed and in NFL game shape after a year off could be a process.
Wilson started eight games for the Florida Gators last season but struggled relative to his previous season, recording 29 tackles and four pass deflections after a three-interception year in 2019.
