ARIZONA CARDINALS

NFL Draft scouting profile: Lance Zierlein on Alabama OT Jedrick Wills

Mar 24, 2020, 7:24 AM | Updated: 3:35 pm

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)...

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

A recent mock draft from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had the Miami Dolphins trading up to get Joe Burrow No. 1 overall and prized versatile Clemson defender Isaiah Simmons going to Arizona at No. 8.

But if the Cardinals go offensive line with their first-round pick, as has been much-speculated after the team filled other needs during the first week of free agency, Zierlein thinks Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills is the best bet when compared to other projected first-round projected tackles like Louisiville’s Mekhi Becton or Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs.

“He’s just better than most,” Zierlein told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Monday. “Becton is bigger, but Becton doesn’t play with the same level of body control. Becton doesn’t play with the same consistency of hands. Becton is an outstanding athlete, but I think there’s some questions about how he’s going to handle some of his pass sets when he’s got to get into full-on, NFL style pass sets.

“Right now, he is a big, athletic, powerful guy. But he doesn’t sustain his blocks. He looks to just bludgeon people and throw them to the ground, but in the NFL, he’s got to learn to play with better discipline, he’s got to learn to play with better patience and he’s got to learn to sustain blocks rather than just maul people.”

Getting an offensive lineman would add depth and maybe a new starter in front of Justin Murray, who was the starter at right tackle most of last year as Marcus Gilbert missed the entire season.

GM Steve Keim added to the defensive line, outside linebacker and inside linebacker positions and re-signed running back Kenyan Drake already this offseason. He also traded for wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Arguably, the offensive line is the only position group for the Cardinals where at least one starter addition is needed.

Becton had a good combine, where he ran a 5.10 second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds. Wirfs had the fastest combine 40 time among offensive linemen, running it in 4.85 seconds. He measured at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds.

Zierlein just will take Wills’ skillset over the two high-profile athletes.

“Jedrick Wills fires from his hips, he unlocks into his drive-blocking. He’s a physical, aggressive drive blocker, he’s got a nasty streak. He’s got really nice feet to set out wide to catch speed rushers, and he’s got the ability to slide back inside against counters, and that’s a major problem right now for Wirfs. I don’t really think it’s that close between Wirfs and Wills, to be honest with you.”

For what it’s worth, the aforementioned mock draft from Zierlein had Wills going No. 7 to Carolina, meaning he’s not even an option for Arizona at eight. But the sequence of Wills and Simmons seventh and eighth could just as easily be reversed. Becton went fourth to the Giants and Wirfs went 10th to Cleveland.

“Wirfs is a great workout guy, and he looks great on the hook, but Wills is just better in pass protection and Wills is better as a run blocker,” Zierlein said. “I don’t think it’s close between those two guys right now.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Joshua Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals QB vs. the Dallas Cowboys...

Haboob Blog

‘Speeding in a school zone’: Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs pushed 20 mph vs. Cowboys

Joshua Dobbs is not Kyler Murray, but he's been a threat to run just like the recovering Arizona Cardinals startering quarterback.

6 hours ago

Presented By...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Arizona Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs talks win over the Cowboys

Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Subscribe to the Arizona Sports daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/3QWcj1x Read articles from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/ Download the Arizona Sports app: https://arizonasports.com/the-arizona-sports-98-7-fm-app/ Sign up for texts from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/text-alerts/ Listen live to Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/listen-live/ Follow the team: https://bit.ly/3R0PIAJ ARIZONA SPORTS SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaSports/ X: https://x.com/azsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arizonasports987 […]

8 hours ago

Joshua Dobbs celebrates with Monti Ossenfort after a Week 3 win over the Dallas Cowboys...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs comes full circle in win over Cowboys

The Arizona Cardinals' 28-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys was certainly a game to remember in more ways than one for QB Joshua Dobbs.

8 hours ago

Kyzir White celebrates with Jonathan Gannon in Week 3...

Tyler Drake

Kyzir White proving Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals right early into Arizona tenure

Kyzir White has been everything and more for a scrappy Cardinals defense led by head coach Jonathan Gannon and DC Nick Rallis.

21 hours ago

Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates a touchdown with teammate James Conner #6 dur...

Wills Rice

Gannon after 10 analysts pick Cowboys to beat Cardinals: ‘Good’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon had a brief word for all 10 analysts that predicted the Cowboys to beat the Cardinals in Week 3.

22 hours ago

Drew Petzing looks on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing’s creativity on display in win over Cowboys

Throughout the Cardinals' first win under the new regime, OC Drew Petzing showed off his creativity from a play-calling standpoint.

23 hours ago

NFL Draft scouting profile: Lance Zierlein on Alabama OT Jedrick Wills