Cardinals add more DL help in NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s 2nd mock

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah has the Arizona Cardinals adding a run stopper on the defensive line in his latest NFL mock draft.

BY BRANDON CADIZ

Feb 19, 2025, 8:17 AM Updated: 3:09 pm

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The Arizona Cardinals were 13th in the NFL in total sacks with 41 last season. NFL mock draft creators assume that Arizona will consider adding to the front seven with its first pick to improve upon that statistic.

Another mock draft from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has another young defender heading to the Cardinals with the No. 16 pick in the first round.

After Jeremiah opted for Georgia’s Jalon Walker to head to the Cardinals in his first mock, the draft analyst switched things up Tuesday with the Cardinals landing Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant in his second iteration.

Grant would immediately assist against the run, and he has enormous upside as a pass rusher. The hope is he eventually develops into an impact defender in the mold of Dexter Lawrence.

Grant logged 32 total tackles with 6.5 for a loss in 12 games played last year. He also had five passes defended, three sacks, three quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries as a junior in 2024.

Grant was a third-team AP All-American selection and a Second Team Big Ten selection in 2024. Grant is one of the players commonly linked to go to the Cardinals in the first round, according to the Arizona Sports Mock Draft Tracker.

Kenneth Grant is a MENACE at the center of a defense.

He constantly draws double teams but has still managed 8 sacks, 50 pressures, and 39 run stops in the last two seasons.

He’s all of 6’3, 342lbs and is an INCREDIBLE athlete at that size. Could end up a top 10 pick. pic.twitter.com/ugjrmahM6Z

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 31, 2025

Why are NFL mock drafts targeting defensive front-seven players for the Cardinals in 2025?

Linebacker Zaven Collins was the only Cardinal with five sacks last season. Dante Stills led the position group with 4.5 sacks.

The Cardinals were also 13th in the league in rushing yards per game allowed at 126.4. Arizona had 13 games last season when an opposing back rushed for 100 or more yards against them. That was eighth most in the league.

Grant was a huge part of Michigan’s defense allowing the fourth fewest rushing yards per game at 90.7 yards. Grant can immediately help in the Cardinals’ run defense, as he had 22 run stops with the Wolverines last season.

In his three years at Michigan, Grant recorded 69 total tackles with 12 for loss. He also logged 6.5 sacks, one interception, 10 passes defended and three fumble recoveries in 41 games.

Despite the need on the defensive line, Arizona also has other positions of interest like edge, interior offensive line and wide receiver.