Kiper, Jeremiah mock drafts: Cardinals take Alabama OL Jedrick Wills Jr.

After much deliberation throughout the offseason, the final mock drafts of the 2020 NFL Draft are filling the internet.

And while each mock is different in order, there’s one name that’s being linked to the Arizona Cardinals more than others at the No. 8 pick.

Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah not only have the team going offensive line, they have Arizona selecting tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. out of Alabama.

Kiper knows second-year pro Kyler Murray wants former teammate and Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, but thinks stability up front is the best-case scenario for the Cardinals.

I know Kyler Murray wants a receiver here, but Arizona has a bigger need at offensive tackle. Murray was sacked 48 times last season, tied for most in the NFL.

Murray’s sack totals tied Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and Atlanta Falcons signal caller Matt Ryan for the most in the NFL, and was just three more than what then-Cardinal QB Josh Rosen had in 2018 (13 games).

The line still has some improvement to be made, but did take a step forward after an abysmal 2018 that saw league lows in numerous categories.

Along the same lines as Kiper is Jeremiah, who sees the offensive tackle bringing more to the table than going defense in the this year’s draft.

I know they need help on defense, but the Cardinals can’t run the offense they want to run until they get better up front.

The two mocks are the latest to peg Wills as the Cardinals go-to-guy.

Continuing the trend was Cris Collinsworth Wednesday morning, who has the Cardinals taking Wills over a player like Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Jeremiah also took Wills over Brown, while Kiper had Arizona passing on Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah.

It’s worth noting 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro, who narrowed down the Cardinals’ interests to just five players and believes they have more interest in Brown than they do Wills.

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