Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Arizona Cardinals 2024 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2024 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 from recent NFL mock drafts for the Cardinals:

EDSFootball - Kevin Hanson (5/9)

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

With Kyler Murray under contract through the 2028 season, the Cardinals would face an interesting dilemma should they hold the top two picks in the 2024 NFL draft. Williams is the overwhelming favorite (-550) to be the top pick in next year's draft and would have been the QB1 had he been eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft.


Source: Odds from Bovada

Williams is an accurate passer with the arm strength to make all the throws, but his ability to extend plays and create for himself is what really makes him special. Get ready for lots of Patrick Mahomes comparisons over the next year. Following his head coach from Oklahoma allowed him to acclimate quickly to his new surroundings as he threw 42 touchdowns and ran for 10 more scores in his Heisman Trophy-winning sophomore campaign.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

The son of a Hall-of-Famer, Harrison Jr. has an ideal combination of size, speed, hands and body control to be an elite difference-making wide receiver at the next level. He finished his true sophomore campaign with 77 catches for 1,263 yards (16.4 Y/R) and 14 touchdowns. DeAndre Hopkins, subject of pre-draft trade rumors, remains a Cardinal, but Marquise Brown is slated to become a free agent after the 2023 season.

CBS Sports - Josh Edwards (5/8)

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Williams is the best quarterback prospect in the class right now and it is not particularly close.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Arizona lands a pass catcher to go along with Caleb Williams.

ESPN - Todd McShay (5/4)

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

If Arizona is sticking with Murray, then the next step is to get him a talented receiver, whether or not DeAndre Hopkins sticks with the team. Harrison is going to be among the elite grades at the position, perhaps even the highest since A.J. Green (97) in 2011. He has great size at 6-foot-4, 205-pounds and fantastic hands, catching 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. With Hopkins under contract only through 2024 and Marquise Brown coming off the books after this coming season, the receiver room could use a difference-maker.

TRADE - 5. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

After the trade back, the Cardinals can add a really fluid cover corner at No. 5. That'd be big since a good portion of the defensive back room could be out the door in the next two seasons. And it's a weakness -- the Cards had only 11 picks (tied for 21st) and allowed a league-high 69.8 completion percentage in 2022. Opponents pass at will against Arizona. McKinstry is 6-foot-1 and quick, and while he intercepted only two passes over two seasons, he broke up 14 throws last year.

The Athletic - Dane Brugler (5/2)

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Although there are financial ramifications with Kyler Murray's contract, the Cardinals won't be passing on a quarterback if they are indeed picking No. 1 next April. Based on his 2022 tape, Williams is worth the top pick — NFL scouts believe he would have been the No. 1 selection this past draft, had he been eligible.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Not only would Harrison have been the easy WR1 in the 2023 NFL Draft, but also he would have competed with Will Anderson Jr. to be the first non-quarterback selected. He has small-man athleticism in a big man's frame and the detailed savvy you'd expect of Marvin Harrison's kid.

CBS Sports - Ryan Wilson (5/2)

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Williams transferred to USC and promptly won the Heisman. His game translates to the NFL and he heads into the summer as QB1.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Marvin Harrison Jr. would have been the first wide receiver taken in the '23 class and he's a legit top-5 pick.

Fox Sports - Rob Rang (5/1)

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Much to the chagrin of Cardinals fans everywhere, Arizona's roster has frequently been cited as the worst in the NFL. If Arizona does, in fact, finish with the No. 1 overall pick, the club would have a fascinating decision with USC's Caleb Williams expected to be available. Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, was viewed favorably over the 2023 quarterbacks by scouts. With the Cardinals having already signed Kyler Murray to a long-term extension, Arizona might view Williams as the younger, cheaper and perhaps even better player than Murray or choose to peddle the pick to the highest bidder.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

While we will never know if Williams would have leapt Bryce Young and the rest of the 2023 quarterback prospects had he been eligible, there is zero debate in the scouting community as to Harrison's stock. An even better prospect than his Pro Bowl father was as a first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts back in 1996, Harrison, Jr. was viewed by most as an elite prospect even as a true sophomore last year.

The 33rd Team (5/1)

3. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

If quarterback Kyler Murray misses significant time in 2023, the Arizona Cardinals could be in a prime position to take Marvin Harrison Jr., who possesses the polish of his Hall of Fame dad with size and length (he's 6-foot-3) his dad could only dream of. In his first season as a starter for the Buckeyes, he posted 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 TDs.

6. Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

It came as a bit of a surprise when Jared Verse decided he wanted to stay at Florida State for another season. Verse quickly emerged onto the scene after starting his career at FCS Albany. If he can have another productive season to add to his nine-sack 2022 campaign, he should be a candidate to go in the top 10 next year. Arizona needs to overhaul its roster, and Cardinals fans can get excited about the prospect of adding Verse and Marvin Harrison Jr. in the first round.

PFF - Max Chadwick (5/1)

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

By trading the third overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Texans, the Cardinals obtained Houston's first-round pick in 2024. If the Texans end up as the worst team in the league like the oddsmakers predict, that trade could have landed Arizona one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory.

Williams won the Heisman Trophy this past season and could become head coach Lincoln Riley's third signal-caller to both win the stiff-arm trophy and go first overall, joining Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield. The junior thrives outside of structure, leading all FBS quarterbacks in passing yards (707), passing touchdowns (seven) and big-time throws (10). Get ready for all of the Patrick Mahomes comparisons.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

As of now, the Cardinals are the favorites to own both of the top-two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. If that happens, they'd join the 1992 Indianapolis Colts as the only teams to pick twice to start the draft.

With DeAndre Hopkins likely on his way out, Arizona could give Williams his new X-receiver in Harrison Jr. Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison's son could be one of the best wide receiver prospects in the PFF era. He's a freak athlete at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds and was both the highest-graded and most valuable receiver in the country this past season, according to PFF's wins above average metric.

For the Win - Christian D'Andrea (4/30)

3. Michael Hall Jr., IDL, Ohio State

The Cardinals need inexpensive help just about everywhere. Adding the versatile Hall would be give them flexibility when it comes to adding talent along the defensive line.

Hall doesn't have big numbers, but he's got Jalen Carter-type upside as an athletic monster who can handle his business over center or slide over and shoot gaps. He's equally intimidating against the run and pass; Arizona badly needs a three-down presence to help fix a foundering defense.

7. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

Arizona enriched its draft coffers thanks to the trade that made Will Anderson Jr. a Texan — and another lean year in Houston could make this pick even more valuable. For now it lands at No. 7, where the Cards can pick up a different pocket-collapsing Alabama pass rusher. Turner has all the traits to beef up a pass rush that lost its top two sack leaders in 2023 and would pair with Hall Jr. to give Jonathan Gannon an intimidating 1-2 punch up front.

USA Today - Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (4/30)

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

First, let's discuss the player. At this juncture, Williams looks to have such a sizable lead on the competition for the No. 1 spot that — short of an injury — it would be a major surprise if anyone ends up overtaking him. While some quarterback prospects can comfortably operate from the pocket or make plays outside of structure, almost none can do both at the elite level that Williams does. The 6-1, 220-pounder repeatedly flusters defenses by escaping out of would-be sacks and delivering seemingly impossible throws.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Take issue with the order all you like, as it's fair to point out that the win-now Texans might escape giving up this high of a selection to the Cardinals as part of the deal to move up to No. 3 this year. Whatever team lands here, however, will be overjoyed at the opportunity to secure Harrison. Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline recently was asked to rank all the star receivers he has coached, and Harrison was his clear No. 1. The 6-4, 205-pound target routinely makes miraculous catches look easy with his otherworldly body control, and he would form an electric connection with either Williams or Murray.

MORE TEAMS: All NFL Team Mock Draft Roundups

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