It is another mock draft Saturday and it is time to run another scenario for the Arizona Cardinals.
This week, on a mock draft simulation I ran on Pro Football Focus’ simulator, I looked at trade-back scenarios in the first round, as that is reportedly what the Cardinals are seriously considering.
When Kentucky Will Levis is selected second overall, the Las Vegas Raiders, who already tried to trade up to No. 1 but were outbid by the Carolina Panthers, move up.
The Cardinals trade back a second time and make a four total draft deals and select 12 players, in addition to picking up five 2024 draft picks.
Below are the moves that were made and players that were selected.
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Trade 1 with Raiders down to No. 7
Cardinals trade No. 3 overall pick to Raiders
Cardinals receive No. 7 overall pick, second-rounder (No. 38), third-rounder (No. 70), 2024 second-rounder
The Raiders wanted C.J. Stroud. They got him.
Perhaps the Cardinals could get a 2024 first-round pick but I didn’t want to force it.
For these purposes, it is more about the haul this year.
Trade 2 with Bears to No. 9
Cardinals send No. 7 pick to Bears
Cardinals receive No. 9 pick, second-rounder (No. 61), 2024 fourth-rounder
Will Anderson comes off the board at No. 6 to the Lions and the Bears want cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
The Cardinals move back two picks and pick up another second-round selection, giving them three and a total of seven selections in the top 100.
Round 1 (No. 9 overall): Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon
The Cardinals don’t land a pass rusher but cornerback is still a premium position.
Witherspoon is considered by some the best in the draft class and the Cardinals pick him up at No. 9 while also landing three Day 2 picks in their deals.
Round 2 trade down
Cardinals send second-round pick (No. 34) to Jets
Cardinals receive pick No. 42, fourth-rounder (No. 112), 2024 fourth-rounder and 2024 sixth-rounder
The Cardinals move down eight spots, pick up an extra pick this year and now have four extra picks next year.
They now have a sixth-round pick in 2024 after having send theirs to the Panthers last season for Robbie Anderson.
Round 2 (No. 38 overall): TCU OL Steve Avila
Do the Cardinals want to build their offensive line? Yes, and Avila potentially can start as a rookie. He is big and athletic like Will Hernandez. This is the pick the Cardinals from the Raiders.
Round 2 (No. 42 overall): Ohio State C Luke Wypler
The Cardinals are, according to one report, intent on drafting Wypler. In two second-round picks, they potentially land long-term and immediate starting interior linemen.
Round 2 (No. 61 overall): Bowling Green DL Karl Brooks
Brooks was a standout at the Senior Bowl. He weighs in at 300 pounds at 6-foot-4 and can disrupt from the interior.
In three second-round picks, the Cardinals took two offensive linemen and a defensive lineman.
Round 3 (No. 66 overall): UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet
At 6 feet and 213 pounds with 4.53 speed and good explosiveness, Charbonnet is a do-everything back at the next level.
He had 1,359 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt. He also caught 37 passes.
Round 3 (No. 70 overall): Florida State C Jammie Robinson
We know the Cardinals have interest in Robinson, inviting as a top-30 official visit.
He is 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds. He had 99 tackles last season and four interceptions in 2021.
Round 3 (No. 96 overall): Missouri EDGE Isaiah McGuire
McGuire has size (6-foot-4, 268 pounds) that matches the size of the defensive ends the Eagles had last season.
He also has an 82-inch wingspan and speed and explosiveness.
He improved his sack totals every season at Missouri, with 8.5 last season and 14 tackles for loss.
Round 4 (No, 105 overall): Wake Forest DL Kobie Turner
It is a double up on the defensive interior with Turner. He is 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds.
He had two sacks and 10 tackles for loss in his one season with Wake Forest after transferring from Richmond.
Round 4 (No. 112 overall): Penn State WR Parker Washington
He isn’t big at 5-foot-9 but weighs in at 204 pounds. He had 46 catches for 611 yards and two scores last season. He is a playmaker with the ball in his hands after the catch.
Round 5 (No. 168 overall): West Virginia WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
He has length (6-foot-3), size (221 pounds) and blazing speed (4.38 seconds in the 40).
Round 6 (No. 180 overall): Clemson TE Davis Allen
Allen is 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds. He had 39 catches for 443 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Trade down in 6th round
Cardinals trade sixth-round pick (No. 213) to Houston Texans
Cardinals receive seventh-rounder (No. 230) and 2024 seventh-rounder
There was no one in particular I wanted at 213 so I moved back to pick up an extra selection next year.
Round 7 (No. 230 overall): Louisville QB Malik Cunningham
Why not take an athletic quarterback in the seventh round?
