Notre Dame's Joe Alt is my top tackle in the class, but this is a pick with Olu Fashanu's ceiling in mind within an improving Arizona roster. A year after taking the raw yet uber-talented Paris Johnson Jr on day one, GM Monti Ossenfort goes a similar route with Fashanu, one of the class' most gifted pound-for-pound athletes with an underappreciated game as a run blocker.
26. Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
This still may be too low for Xavier Legette. A physical specimen at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, he's a three-level threat that forces multiple defenders to bring him down in space. His stock is expected to SOAR after his week at the Senior Bowl.
Would GM Monti Ossenfort move on from Kyler Murray and select one of the top-3 QBs here if one is available? Perhaps, but I'm thinking the Cardinals are still committed to Murray, and Ossenfort wouldn't complain if he were able to fill one of his roster's biggest needs with the top overall prospect in the draft. If we were to "Weird Science" a wide receiver, the computer would almost certainly produce Harrison. The consensus All-American is a route tactician who features prototypical size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds), strong hands and athleticism with Hall of Fame NFL lineage (he's the son of Colts legend Marvin Harrison). The last receiver to be drafted inside the top-3 was Calvin Johnson in 2007, and Harrison has that type of potential.
21. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Cardinals landed the best player in this draft (Marvin Harrison Jr.) with their first pick of the first round. Here they can continue to build a young and talented secondary. Based on upside, Arnold could be ranked higher on some draft boards than his Crimson Tide teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry. He's relatively inexperienced at cornerback — he was a former safety recruit — but he's been one of the better run defenders at the position and has proven a quick-study in coverage.
This mock draft couldn't have worked out any better for the Arizona Cardinals.
With three quarterbacks picked in a row, that leaves Marvin Harrison Jr. on the board at No. 4. Wide receiver is the most significant need for Arizona, and Harrison is a can't-miss prospect. Pairing him with Kyler Murray would be a blast to watch.
21. Troy Fautanu, IOL, Washington
D.J. Humphries' future is up in the air, especially after he tore his ACL in the final month of the season. The expectation for the Cardinals is that Paris Johnson Jr. will kick over to left tackle, but Arizona desperately needs help on the interior offensive line.
Fautanu was a left tackle at Washington, but he best projects as a guard in the NFL. His size and athleticism would be welcomed in Arizona as the Cardinals try to rebuild the offensive line in front of Kyler Murray.
In a perfect world, Marvin Harrison Jr. falls into Arizona's lap due to the quarterback craze. In this scenario they still make out great with a blue chip tackle in Joe Alt. Paris Johnson Jr. would stay at right tackle for the Cardinals in this scenario, where he spent all of his rookie year.
Alt's movement for his size is impressive, while being an extremely disciplined player who can move defenders in the run game.
21. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
There's a lot of work to be done from a personnel standpoint on Arizona's defense and it's easy to start at corner. Arnold's 2023 tape is tremendous, showing off athleticism and the ability to remain sticky in coverage. He hauled in five interceptions and broke up 12 more passes, constantly making his presence felt when the ball was in the air.
If we were playing a game of matchmaker, the prospect-to-team fit that makes the most sense of any first-round pick is Harrison to the Cardinals. Quarterback Kyler Murray won't hesitate to throw the ball up to his receivers in one-on-one situations, and Harrison -- my top-ranked player in this class -- is exactly what's needed on a roster that's still devoid of high-end talent. Plus, Marquise Brown is a free agent and might not be back.
Harrison's combination of hands, body control and route running make him the clear best receiver in a loaded group, and he has a chance to quickly become a top-10 target at the next level. He is coming off back-to-back seasons with 14 touchdowns and more than 1,200 yards at Ohio State.
22. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Marvin Harrison Jr. was Arizona's first pick (No. 4), so let's turn to defense here. Rookie third-rounder Garrett Williams has been a pleasant surprise, but Antonio Hamilton Sr. is a free agent and turns 31 years old this month. Jonathan Gannon's defense badly needs cornerback help. Arnold's five interceptions tied for sixth most in the FBS this season, and he is an effortless mover in the secondary, even if his game is still a little raw. He has versatility, too, with experience at safety. Arnold will be a riser over the next few months, and some scouts think he could be the first corner off the board in April.
The Cardinals finished the year with good vibes and a confident Kyler Murray. They are firmly in position to be 2024's version of the Texans: a good, young club that springboards itself to the next level via the draft.
Fashanu is a true anchor tackle to play opposite Paris Johnson Jr., who also could play guard if the Cardinals want to go that route.
21. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
This feels like a steal — and possibly too low for Latu, the super-productive UCLA edge who once medically retired because of a neck injury. Latu is not going to wow people with his testing, but his move set and hand usage are terrific. He's a rock-solid player who had 64 pressures and a near-25 percent win rate this season.
The Cardinals will likely root hard for quarterbacks to be taken with the first three picks atop the draft, as it's the only way the team can land the premier non-passer in the class. If Harrison is available for Arizona, he's a no-brainer. With the best wide receiver prospect in years paired with emerging standout tight end Trey McBride, Kyler Murray would have the makings of a very impressive receiving corps.
21. Jer'Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois
Jonathan Gannon surely misses the interior pressure he once could rely on from the Eagles' defense, as Arizona hasn't been able to generate anything from its defensive tackles. Though undersized at 6-2 and 295 pounds, Newton has made a habit of wrestling past blockers and making plays in the backfield.