With four picks in the second night of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals will look to keep the momentum going. Opening Night saw GM Monti Ossenfort go with offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr from Ohio State. It was a smart pick as Arizona added a needed tackle and Kyler Murray is happy. In the simplest of terms, the Cardinals killed two birds with one stone.
Night two has a lot of promise and will likely see defense be the target. With the second pick of the evening at No. 33, Arizona could look to the defensive line to safety to cornerback. Names to keep an eye on include:
Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton
Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr
Kansas State CB Julius Brents
Georgia Tech DL Keion White
Alabama S Brian Branch
What Day 2 of the NFL Draft Might Bring for The Cardinals
One scenario could see the Cardinals trade down again. If there is a team looking to snag either of the two marquee names at quarterback, Will Levis from Kentucky or Hendon Hooker from Tennessee. Both remain on the board after night one, with Levis still waiting in the green room after not hearing his name called.
Joey Porter, the 6-foot-3 193-pound cornerback, is an interesting name to track when they pick, as cornerback is a weakness Arizona will need to address early.
Quarterback Kyler Murray would probably love to see the organization add more to the offensive line by adding a center. Three names to listen for are Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz (6-4, 301), Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann (6-6, 313), and Ohio State’s Luke Wypler (6-3, 303). Any of those three could prove to be a long-term anchor at the center of the offensive line for a lot of years.
Recent rumblings out of Glendale have Budda Baker asking for a trade and DeAndre Hopkins not moving on yet. That said, Brian Branch is a safety still available given that he did not get picked on Thursday night. He can also slide over to the corner as well.
As the reboot in Glendale rolls on, GM Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon have many directions they can go. Before the draft, the talent on the shelves was not going to win a lot of football games. After drafting Johnson early on Thursday night, they have added at least one solid piece. If they can have another productive Friday night and Saturday in Kansas City, moving up in their division will happen. So far, they are on the right track with their plotted direction.
The Arizona Cardinals finished in the cellar of the NFC West last season. While it is any guess what happens with the Rams, San Francisco, and Seattle will be strong again. But in the West, a lot could play out to keep Arizona, hopefully around .500. With a break here or there, any number of things could happen. While the playoffs are not in the cards, respectability is within reach. Should Murray bounce back, and the results of this draft pay off, sky’s the limit.
Main Photo: Dan Rainville – USA Today Sports
