The first round of the 2022 NFL draft begins Thursday night at 5 p.m. Arizona time and the final mock drafts from all the major media outlets are in. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, one of the best in the business when it comes to the NFL draft, released his final mock draft of the year.
With the 23rd overall pick in the draft, Jeremiah projects the Cardinals will go with the polarizing edge prospect out of Purdue, George Karlaftis. He’s one of the most associated names with the Cardinals and has been linked to them throughout the entire draft process. Much of that is based on them visiting with them coupled with the obvious need at the position.
The Cardinals need to address their pass rush in this draft. Karlaftis can win on the edge or inside.
It appears the majority of Cardinals fans are set on going offense with the first pick in the draft. The team has taken defensive players in the first round of the last two drafts and both of them did not receive much playing time in their first years.
In this mock draft from Jeremiah, most of the Cardinals’ top prospects are off the board at 23, likely contributing to the pick of Karlaftis. The two picks in front of the Cards are G Zion Johnson to the Patriots and WR Treylon Burks to the Packers, both of whom are also possibilities for later today.
The big four of the receiver class are long gone in this scenario. Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, Drake London and Garrett Wilson are all off the board by pick No. 11, giving the Cardinals virtually no chance to make a move up for one of them.
The pick after the Cardinals, however, is WR Jahan Dotson to the Cowboys. That is a name that has been heavily linked to Arizona. Steve Keim and company would have an interesting decision on their hands should both Karlaftis and Dotson be on the board.
What would you do in this scenario?
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