ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals nab CB Clark Phillips in McShay’s way-too-early mock draft

May 6, 2022, 7:20 AM

Clark Phillips III #8 of the Utah Utes breaks up a pass intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the ...

Clark Phillips III #8 of the Utah Utes breaks up a pass intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half of the Rose Bowl game at Rose Bowl on January 01, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Although the 2022 NFL Draft just concluded for the Arizona Cardinals and the league’s 31 other teams, it’s never too early to look ahead at next year’s edition of the draft.

Looking ahead to next year’s draft, ESPN’s Todd McShay thinks the Cardinals will look to bolster the secondary with their first round pick.

In order to determine the draft order, McShay reversed the odds of the Super Bowl favorites from Caesars Sportsbook. As a result, the Cardinals were picking at No. 20.

With the pick, McShay has Arizona taking Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III. The cornerback has started in every game for the Utes since arriving to campus in 2020.

Phillips is already a two-year starter … Arizona’s cornerback room has holes, and that’s before factoring in that Byron Murphy Jr. is entering the final year of his contract.

The 5-foot-10, 184-pound cornerback emerged as one of the top defenders at his position in the Pac-12 in 2021 and was named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team.

Phillips had two interceptions as a sophomore, including one against Ohio State and quarterback C.J. Stroud, who McShay has as the No. 1 overall pick in his mock.

He added 13 pass breakups and showed the ability to tackle in the open field, registering 63 total tackles including a nine-tackle performance against Southern California on Oct. 9.

As a high school prospect, Phillips was the No. 51 overall ranked player in the 2020 class, including being the No. 6 overall player from the talent-rich state of California.

The Cardinals made noise on the first day of this year’s draft, trading the 23rd overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens for the services of wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.

They followed that up by adding a versatile tight end in Colorado State’s Trey McBride in the second round before adding a pair of third-round outside linebackers in San Diego State’s Cam Thomas and Cincinnati’s Myjai Sanders.

In the sixth round, Arizona selected USC running back Keaontay Ingram and Virginia Tech guard Lecitus Smith.

A round later, the Cardinals picked a pair of defenders in Valdosta State CB Christian Matthew and OLB Jesse Luketa before nabbing Oklahoma OL Marquis Hayes.

Aside from Murphy and Matthew, the Cardinals cornerbacks room currently features Marco Wilson, Jeff Gladney, Antonio Hamilton, Jace Whittaker, Breon Borders and Nate Brooks.

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.

15 hours 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.

18 hours 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.

1 day 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.

2 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.

2 days ago

Cardinals nab CB Clark Phillips in McShay’s way-too-early mock draft