The NFL regular season just ended, and league insiders are already making their first round predictions for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After ending its season with a 47-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals found themselves with the 16th picked in this year’s draft. Whether on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, analysts are expecting the Cardinals to take a lineman.
Many are predicting Arizona to take a defensive lineman to strengthen a defense whose lead-tackler was its last line of defense in Pro Bowl strong safety Budda Baker and finished 14th in the league in yards allowed per game (216.1). ESPN NFL Draft Analysis Jordan Reid, however, sees The Cardinals taking a big man on the opposite side of the ball.
In his latest mock draft released Tuesday, Reid predicts Arizona will take Ohio State senior offensive tackle Josh Simmons with its first pick.
My new 2025 NFL Mock Draft:
• 2 QBs in Round 1
• Deeeep D-Line class
• Some new names????https://t.co/Xog5zDYyNG— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) January 7, 2025
Simmons is ranked as ESPN’s top offensive tackle in this year’s draft despite missing half the season with a knee injury.
The senior offensive lineman has proven ability to play either tackle position, starting 13 games at right tackle for San Diego State’s offensive line in 2022 before transferring to the Buckeyes ahead of the 2023 season, where he would be given the responsibility as OSU’s best protector at left tackle.
Simmons started all 13 games in his first season for Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes to an 11-2 finish in 2023. He returned back to his mantle in 2024 even better, not allowing a sack in his six appearances. His season would end after sustaining an injury in Ohio State’s 32-31 loss to Oregon in October. He would declare for the draft on Dec. 4.
Ohio State OT Josh Simmons is officially entering the 2025 NFL Draft. Prior to the season-ending knee injury, he was making a case to be the top tackle in the draft. pic.twitter.com/6Q1R2TyeUz
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) December 4, 2024
An offensive tackle is a much needed fill for Arizona, potentially losing veteran Kelvin Beachum to free agency, and taking big hits at the position, missing first-year Cardinal Jonah Williams and 2023 first round draft pick Paris Johnson Jr. due to injury on separate occasions.
Beachum finished his 13th season in the league this year, wrapping up his fifth season in Arizona. He has signed two extensions with the team, but is likely not due for another with Johnson Jr. and Williams on the roster — they just have to stay healthy.
Johnson Jr. is one of the top tackles in the league, making his presence felt since he stepped in Arizona. The second-year Cardinal did not start a game for the first time in his career after suffering a knee injury in the 30-17 win over the New England Patriots in Week 15. He was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Williams was a promising offseason addition for the Cardinals, inking a two-year deal and being named the starter opposite of Johnson Jr. at right tackle in Week 1. His season would be stifled by a knee injury sustained on the last play of the first quarter of the season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills, where he didn’t make his return until Nov. 20. The offensive lineman would shine when he got back on the field, pouncing on a wide receiver Greg Dortch fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the New England game. The excitement of having him back wouldn’t last through the remainder of the season, as Williams re-aggravated his knee in the 36-30 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers just a week after Johnson Jr. went down. Beachum and Cardinals’ 2024 fifth round draft pick Christian Jones filled in for the tackles in the final game of the season.
While Williams has the ability to be the second half of a dominating pair alongside Johnson Jr. next season, it doesn’t hurt to go searching for better — and Simmons is better.
Kyler Murray hasn’t been sacked nearly as much as other quarterbacks, sitting at the bottom half of the league in sacks against, but that’s more of a credit to Murray’s athleticism and elusiveness than a strong pass protection. Murray finished the season tied for eighth in the league in QB hurries (44).
The Cardinals have no reason to be married to Williams, barely playing the first half of his two-year deal. It would be a solid fit and good preparation for the future to add Simmons as the opposite anchor to Johnson Jr. and let the former Buckeyes create more time in the pocket for Murray going forward.
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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live
