The Arizona Cardinals find themselves in a situation where no
NFL
The team aims to stay in the middle.
The squad isn’t presently strong enough to compete, yet they aren’t poor enough to secure one of the top picks. As such, their draft position for 2025 will be at number 16.
NFL
During the first round, the team has multiple options they can consider.
In free agency
The Cardinals primarily concentrated on reinforcing their defense. Notable new additions include edge-rusher Josh Sweat, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither.
Many individuals are curious about which player the squad might select with the 16th choice; however, our focus will be on pinpointing the athletes the team should steer clear of during the opening round.
Walter Nolen, Defensive Lineman for Ole Miss
One of the positions the Cardinals need to add is defensive lineman.
Walter Nolen
Is among the top players at that role, so the Cardinals would probably show interest.
Nolen isn’t a true nose tackle, though, and that’s the type of defensive lineman the Cardinals need the most. Evaluators project the Ole Miss product to play as a 3-technique in the
NFL
, but with
Calais Campbell
And with Darius Robinson on the team, that’s not the highest priority position to address.
Nolen is a dominant presence on the interior, but would be a weird fit in Arizona. Kenneth Grant is probably the team’s preference at No. 16, but if he isn’t there, the team should address the position later instead of reaching for Nolen.
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Malaki Starks
Is probably the top natural safety prospect in this group.
The player from Georgia excelled in 2023, but saw a decline in performance during 2024. Nonetheless, Starks naturally takes charge and possesses an unwavering drive, never shying away from physical engagement.
Starks’ abilities might catch the attention of the Cardinals, and he should be available for their upcoming draft pick. Nonetheless, since they already have Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson on the roster, addressing safety may not be their top priority.
Starks will be difficult to overlook, but the defender may not be the best choice for Arizona.
Nick Emmanwori, Safety, South Carolina
If Starks isn’t the initial safety chosen, he’ll probably be
Nick Emmanwori
.
Emmanwori excelled in the SEC with South Carolina and is an imposing safety known for his strong tackling skills, particularly against the run. Nonetheless, certain scouts think Emmanwori might be better suited as a linebacker professionally because of his occasional struggles in pass coverage.
Cardinal fans may recall another safety prospect who ultimately switched to linebacker.
Isaiah Simmons
. Simmons was drafted with the No. 18 pick in the 2020
NFL
During the drafting process, the Cardinals were never able to determine how to make the most of his talents.
Emmanwori and Simmons are not the same player, however, the Cardinals should avoid drafting a “tweener” prospect irrespective of who they are.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The last player the Cardinals ought to avoid selecting in the opening round is the in-state wide receiver.
Tetairoa McMillan
.
McMillan could very well be the top-wide receiver in this draft, so consider this more of an observation than criticism. This player from Arizona is a robust and dependable receiver known for snagging every pass within reach and possesses unexpected swiftness.
Nevertheless, the Cardinals simply employed a
initial choice for a wide receiver was Marvin Harrison Jr.
In 2024, Harrison, Zay Jones, and Michael Wilson are expected to be the starting receivers for their team, with each player being at least 6 feet 2 inches tall.
Bringing aboard an additional prominent wideout isn’t particularly logical at this point. Instead, it would be more prudent for the squad to acquire a swift wide receiver down the line to introduce a distinct element.
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