Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Arizona Cardinals from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in August 2020 mock drafts for the Cardinals:
EDSFootball - Hanson (3/5)
16. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
With
Patrick Peterson,
Dre Kirkpatrick and
Johnathan Joseph set to become free agents, the Cardinals will need to add corners via the draft and/or free agency that can contribute right away. Horn, son of former Pro Bowl receiver
Joe Horn, excels in press-man coverage due to his size, physical playing style and a competitive demeanor.
ESPN - McShay (3/4)
16. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
J.J. Watt and
Chandler Jones spell problems for opposing QBs, but who will be in coverage? Both starting corners are primed to hit free agency this month, and the Cardinals' pass defense was middle-of-the-pack last year. Horn will get his hands on passes, bringing length and instinctive play to the outside. In just seven games in 2020, he broke up six passes and picked off two.
Josh Weinfuss on his fit with the Cardinals: Horn would come in and compete for a starting job in a secondary that's thin on cornerbacks. Arizona is set to lose two of its top corners in free agency in Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick, and
Robert Alford hasn't played a down in two seasons. Horn would see action right away.
CBS Sports - Trapasso (3/3)
16. Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Farley is a long, former wideout who tracks the football awesomely and has the athletic prowess to stick with receivers down the field.
The Athletic - Beat Writers (3/1)
16. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
The Cardinals could go with an edge rusher here, but corner is the bigger need. Both of last season's starters -- Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick -- can be free agents, and there's little depth behind them. GM Steve Keim can be unpredictable with his draft selections, but this time he may have no choice. At 6-1, 205 pounds, Horn has great length and athletic ability. He also has solid ball skills and is physical enough to help stop the run. -- Doug Haller
Touchdown Wire - Farrar (2/26)
16. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
In
Kliff Kingsbury's two seasons as the Cardinals' head coach, Arizona's defense has allowed 64 passing touchdowns, and picked off just 17 passes. Patrick Peterson, the longtime legend of Arizona's secondary, is set to become a free agent, and allowed five touchdowns to three picks in 2020. 2019 second-round cornerback
Byron Murphy has allowed 12 touchdowns to just one interception in his brief career. Veteran Dre Kirkpatrick was the only cornerback on the roster who put up a credible performance, and until that changes, it doesn't matter how dynamic Kingsbury's offense is -- he's going to be scheming from behind more often than not.
So, maybe they need this guy.
Not only did Horn do that, he'd be a perfect complement to a defense that played the second-most pass defense snaps in man coverage last season (250, behind only New Orleans' 277). At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Horn has the size, aggressive mentality, and man/match traits to excel in such a defense.
NFL.com - Casserly (2/25)
16. Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Another option for the Cardinals could be an outside linebacker/pass rusher if they let
Haason Reddick walk in free agency.
MLive.com - Meinke (2/25)
16. Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Arizona is lean on edge rushers, and this draft isn't exactly deep there either. But Paye offers a nice combination of size and quickness that should make him stout against the run as he grows into an NFL pass rush. I've seen the
Trey Flowers comp a few times now.
San Diego Union Tribune (2/24)
16. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson is set to become a free agent and will likely want another big contract. Horn -- his father Joe was a Pro Bowl wide receiver -- is a very talented, uber-aggressive press corner with elite speed, good size (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) and can make plays in run support.
Previous update: Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft Roundup 5.0
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