You can officially put these Ohio State prospects on Cardinals’ NFL Draft radar
Feb 4, 2025, 6:07 AM | Updated: 8:04 am
The Arizona Cardinals are going to have plenty of options sitting at No. 16 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
They can stick and pick, potentially opting for a young pass rusher or defensive lineman to pair alongside second-year pro Darius Robinson.
They could also follow a similar plan like 2023’s that resulted in starting left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. following a couple of moves by general manager Monti Ossenfort.
Given where Arizona currently sits in the heart of the middle of the draft, there’s a good chance Ossenfort tries to work his trade magic once more to acquire additional picks while still landing the player the Cardinals desire for their future plans.
And after Saturday’s reported hire of former Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye to the same position, fellow Buckeye Josh Simmons could be swimming in the player pool Arizona is eyeing.
It’s clear head coach Jonathan Gannon covets familiarity in the hire of Frye, who comes over with an already established relationship with Johnson from their Ohio State days. The same goes for interior lineman Jon Gaines II having spent time with Frye at UCLA.
So why not bring in one of the high-caliber dudes Frye just got done coaching during Ohio State’s National Championship run?
Makes sense even before diving deeper into how Simmons could help solidify the right tackle spot opposite Johnson.
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle logged 19 games with the Buckeyes across two seasons before a knee injury wrecked his 2024.
Even with the six-game sample size in his final season at Ohio State, Simmons is still getting first-round grades from many.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Simmons as his 30th ranked prospect. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had Simmons going No. 25 overall to the Houston Texans in his first mock draft of the year.
If those projections remain close the rest of the way (definitely not a given), not only could the Cardinals nab Simmons, they could also move down the draft order to do so while further stockpiling picks.
It’s a role Simmons would know well, too, having served as San Diego State’s right tackle in 2022 before transferring to Ohio State the following year.
And with Jonah Williams coming off an injury filled season and Kelvin Beachum a free agent, Arizona is limited in its current options. Additions are needed this offseason, however they come about.
Another Ohio State Buckeye to keep tabs on this NFL Draft
Simmons might be getting more of the first-round-projection love, but he’s not the only Buckeye who could be on the Cardinals’ radar come April.
Donovan Jackson, who took over for Simmons when he went down this past season, brings the type of versatility Gannon and the coaching staff love, playing both guard and tackle.
He’s also just one spot down from Simmons in Jeremiah’s top 50 prospects.
In the pass game, he sets with a firm anchor, bends his knees and stays attached. He can slide and redirect smoothly. He is keenly aware on twists and stunts. In the run game, he creates movement on down blocks. He has the quickness and athleticism to kick out defenders on outside pulls. He has enough foot speed to reach and seal on the back side. His overall hand placement is excellent in both the run and pass game.
Rated more for his abilities as a guard, Jackson would help fill a major need alongside second-year pro Isaiah Adams with Evan Brown and Will Hernandez both hitting free agency.
And much like Simmons and his potential trade-down situation, Jackson could not only net Arizona its next guard or tackle of the future, but also another pick or two in the process.