Day 2 NFL mock drafts have Cardinals focusing on offense
Apr 24, 2020, 3:06 PM
Memphis wide receiver Antonio Gibson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Selecting Isaiah Simmons with a first-round choice gave the Arizona Cardinals insurance at several positions on the defensive side of the ball.
Still, there are relative needs to address on offense.
Of five Day 2 NFL mock drafts we came across, three have the Cardinals selecting an offensive tackle. The other two have them adding to coach Kliff Kingsbury’s and quarterback Kyler Murray’s list of weapons.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein
Memphis RB/WR Antonio Gibson
He’s a fascinating prospect who took just 33 total carries despite being 6-foot and 228 pounds last year. That said, he averaged 11.2 yards per carry for Mike Norvell’s spread offense at Memphis and scored four touchdowns.
He caught 38 balls for 735 yards (19.3 yards per reception) combined from the backfield and split as a receiver. An incredible athlete in space, there are questions about his ability to be a true running back and no evidence of how good he might be in pass protection because he just never was asked to do those things.
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Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller
St. John’s (Minn.) OT Ben Bartch
At 6-foot-6 and 309 pounds, Bartch is a solid athlete who transitioned from tight end to tackle at a small school in the All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The feeling is he sees the game at a high level and with his quick feet can learn the position and add weight at the next level.
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso
TCU OT Lucas Niang
A hip injury that he played through to begin 2019 eventually ended his year and harmed his draft stock. The 6-foot-6, 316-pound tackle needs to improve his footwork but is regarded as a high-upside player.
The Cardinals have to address the offensive line for Kyler Murray, and Niang has rare movement skills for someone his size.
Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Hanson
UConn OT Matt Peart
He is viewed as a swing tackle and played both sides throughout college. His lack of development, however, might be a concern for teams that are worried he won’t develop.
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer
Purdue TE Brycen Hopkins
The Cardinals added DeAndre Hopkins to their receiving mix, but they can take their passing game to another level with a field-stretching tight end. Hopkins (6-4, 245 pounds) is an elite athlete who can get open running every kind of route and is a mismatch when working the deep middle of the field.
Hopkins caught 61 passes for 830 yards and seven scores as a senior. He’s more of an oversized slot receiver than a versatile tight end but could add something to a team’s red zone packages and beyond as a pass-catcher.
