With the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals are looking for an upgrade on the defensive line to pressure the quarterback.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Cardinals defense ranked 27th in pressure rate this season and hope to address the situation with an upgrade at inside defensive lineman or edge in this year’s draft according to multiple mock drafts.
Who are the Cardinals tracking?
There are really only two players that make sense for Arizona at the mid-first-round range that have been taken in multiple mock drafts.
Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
According to CBS’s latest mock draft, the Cardinals are taking 6-foot-5, 310-pound defensive lineman, Derrick Harmon out of Oregon. The junior lineman had 27 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles for the Ducks this season.
Many scouting reports praise Harmon’s size and upper body strength that allow him to get the edge over offensive linemen. Harmon was a three-star recruit in the 2021 class and transferred to Oregon from Michigan State after three season with the Spartans.
Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) looks for an open receiver as Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (55) closes in durigt the third quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
According to FOX Sports’ latest mock draft, Arizona is taking 6-foot-4, 285-pound edge Nic Scourton out of Texas A&M. The junior pass rusher had 27 tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble for the Aggies this season.
Many scouting reports praise Scourton’s size, athleticism and physicality when penetrating the offensive line en route to the quarterback. Scourton was a four-star recruit in the class of 2022 and led the BIG Ten in sacks (10) in 2023 with Purdue before transferring to Texas A&M ahead of the 2024 season.
Oct 26, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Nic Scourton (11) defends in coverage against LSU Tigers offensive tackle Will Campbell (66) during the fourth quarter. The Aggies defeated the Tigers 38-23; at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.
As Arizona continues to scout between the two prospects, it is increasingly evident that both if them are needed to bolster the defensive front-seven.
The Cardinals’ Curse? Kingsbury finds new life in Washington
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
