{"id":140230,"date":"2023-04-13T13:15:33","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T17:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=140230"},"modified":"2023-04-13T13:15:33","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T17:15:33","slug":"arizona-cardinals-prioritize-premium-positions-in-mock-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2023\/04\/13\/arizona-cardinals-prioritize-premium-positions-in-mock-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Cardinals Prioritize Premium Positions in Mock Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arizona Cardinals<\/a> focused their picks on premium positions in Mike Kashuba<\/a>\u2019s latest three-round mock draft<\/a>. With their four total picks between the first and third rounds, Kashuba has Arizona drafting Will Anderson Jr.<\/a>, Broderick Jones<\/a>, Nathaniel Dell<\/a>, and D.J. Turner. With the 2023 NFL Draft<\/a> fewer than two weeks away, how realistic is Kashuba\u2019s mock? Would Kashuba\u2019s mock draft be good for Arizona?<\/p>\n

Cardinals Grab Premium Positions in Mock Draft<\/h2>\n

Round 1, Pick 3: Will Anderson Jr. (Edge, Alabama)<\/h3>\n

Despite \u2018at least six teams<\/a>\u2019 being interested in Arizona\u2019s third overall pick, Kashuba has the Cardinals staying put and grabbing one of the draft\u2019s top non-quarterback prospects, Anderson. Last Word On Sport\u2019s scouting report<\/a> provides a good overview of the Alabama prospect:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnderson is a high-floor prospect. Teams know what they will be getting with Anderson: a high-effort, tried-and-tested pass rusher. His ceiling is, however, slightly limited by his smaller size and lack of generational athleticism. But, evidently, \u2018potentially not being generational\u2019 fails to amount to any real criticism of Anderson: he is essentially as flawless a draft prospect as they come at a valuable position.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

There is no doubt that, amidst their rebuild, the Cardinals will target premium positions (and players) in the draft. Despite Chris Simms\u2019 analysis<\/a>, Anderson is widely considered to be in a tier of his own at the top of the draft (besides the quarterbacks). He would be an excellent player, and leader, to kickstart a new era of football in Arizona. Indeed, Arizona met with Anderson at the Combine.<\/p>\n

Having lost Zach Allen<\/a>, Markus Golden, and J.J. Watt, the defensive line is a desperate need for Arizona. However, it is unclear whether Anderson projects as a scheme fit for Nick Rallis\u2019 defense<\/a>. Haason Reddick thrived under Jonathan Gannon<\/a>\u2019s Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> system, but Anderson is no Reddick yet. It is believed that the team has Anderson graded similarly to Tyree Wilson<\/a>, who projects well into Rallis\u2019 scheme. Therefore, Arizona could prefer to trade down to select Wilson. Some pundits even believe Arizona would pick Wilson over Anderson even if they stick and pick at 3. The Cardinals have had a private visit with Wilson after meeting him at the Combine too.<\/p>\n

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Alabama\u2019s Will Anderson Jr. has yet to have an official visit with the Arizona Cardinals, but did meet with the team at the NFL Combine. pic.twitter.com\/NWorsoKO55<\/a><\/p>\n

— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) March 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n