ESPN’s Reid: Cardinals most likely trade-down team in Round 1 of NFL Draft

Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort has a reputation of being a wheeler and dealer, especially when it comes to the NFL Draft.

ESPN’s Justin Reid took notice and picked Ossenfort as the general manager most likely to trade down from their Round 1 choice. Our Arizona Sports Mock Draft Tracker has six instances of Arizona trading from No. 16, so he’s not the only one seeing it.

The Cardinals … have not been shy about moving around the board and have had large recent draft classes, including 12 picks in 2024 and nine in 2023. With only six (picks) this year, don’t be surprised if Ossenfort trades out of his pick.

Ossenfort has made draft day deals dating back to his first year on the job.

During the first round in 2023, the Cardinals turned their No. 3 overall pick into Nos. 12 and 33 in that draft as well as a first- and third-rounder in 2024. They parlayed some of those assets into a deal to move up from No. 12 to No. 6 where they drafted left tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

With their top pick in 2024, however, they stood right in the same spot and drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4.

The upcoming draft will give an opportunity to see how Ossenfort operates when it’s not a premium draft slot offered, with Arizona’s top pick beginning outside the top five for the first time in his tenure.

So, what direction might he go?

Even after signing Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell in free agency, Arizona could continue to add depth to its defensive front.

In mock drafts where Arizona has traded back for a defender, some of the names have included defensive linemen Derrick Harmon (Oregon) at No. 19 and Kenneth Grant (Michigan) at No. 22.

The first round of the NFL Draft is slated for April 24.

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