ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals go defense-heavy in The Athletic’s 7-round NFL mock draft

Apr 15, 2020, 7:29 AM | Updated: 11:40 am

Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown listens during a press conference at the NFL football scouti...

Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown listens during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

(AP Photo/AJ Mast)

The Arizona Cardinals possess six picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, leaving many to wonder how the team will divvy up the selections in mock drafts.

While some have focused heavily on the team’s first-round pick, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler took things to another level, going the full seven rounds of the upcoming draft.

In the mock, the Cardinals lean heavily on the defensive side of the football, while adding some depth to two positions on offense.

Leading the pack of the team’s six picks in the draft is Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown at No. 8.

There is a good chance this pick comes down to the trenches, either offensive or defensive line. And while I think upgrading the right tackle spot should be the priority, the Cardinals have been searching for that hog molly on the defensive line who can help reset the line of scrimmage.

In four seasons (46 games) with the Tigers, Brown recorded 170 tackles, 33.5 for loss, 12.5 sacks, eight pass deflections and five forced fumbles.

Brown saw his numbers increase during his collegiate career, posting four sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and 54 tackles, 11.5 for loss.

At 6-foot-5 and 316 pounds, Brown would give the Cardinals a big body on the defensive line to pair with Corey Peters and free-agent addition Jordan Phillips in the interior.

With Arizona’s second-round pick headed to Houston as part of the DeAndre Hopkins-for-David Johnson trade, the Cardinals don’t draft again until the third round.

Looking to add to the running back room after Johnson’s departure, Brugler has the Cardinals selecting Florida State RB Cam Akers with the 72nd pick of the draft.

Last season as a junior, Akers rushed for 1,144 yards and 14 scores on 231 carries (5.0 yards per attempt). He also saw an uptick as a pass rusher, catching 30 balls for 225 yards and four touchdowns.

He had six games of at least 100 yards on the ground and scored at least a touchdown in every game this season. Akers’ best game came against Syracuse, where he rushed for four touchdowns and 144 yards on 20 attempts (7.2 yards per carry). The year marked his second season of over 1,000 rushing yards and at least eight total scores.

As it stands, the Cardinals have Kenyan Drake, Chase Edmonds and D.J. Foster on the depth chart, giving the team a sort of security blanket in Akers.

Moving on to the fourth round, the Cardinals have two picks at their disposal, their own and one they acquired in the Hopkins deal from the Houston Texans. Brugler has the team looking at both sides of the football in this round, going with Washington tight end Hunter Bryant (pick No. 114) and Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia (pick No. 131).

Bryant saw his best season in 2019, making 52 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games, all career highs. He had at least 80 yards in six games last year with two games over the 100-yard mark.

Ojemudia disrupted opposing quarterbacks last season, making nine passes defensed, three interceptions, a fumble recovery and 52 tackles in 12 games. It was the second straight season of three picks and six pass deflections for the corner.

The team’s final two selections in the draft, a sixth- and seventh-round pick, the Cardinals double down on defense, adding North Carolina State edge rusher James Smith-Williams and Penn State linebacker Cam Brown.

The Wolfpack defensive end made 20 tackles and a sack in 2019, down from his six-sack and 36-tackle performance from a season prior. Brown set a career high in tackles (72), tied a career best in sacks (2) and made four pass deflections.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

2 days ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

3 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

3 days ago

Cardinals go defense-heavy in The Athletic’s 7-round NFL mock draft