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How the Cardinals could draft the ultimate wildcard, ASU star Cam Skattebo

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INDIANAPOLIS – The most optimistic time in the NFL season is here, draft season. Indianapolis, Indiana can be a place where fringe day two players become first round locks or first round talents show red flags. For the Arizona Cardinals, this draft could be a passageway out of the rebuilding stage and into competing for a NFC West title.

What position groups should they target first? Who are the best available players for the Cardinals picks? Is there a well known ASU back that is on the Cardinals radar? Let’s address each of these questions as the 2025 combine approaches.

Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort and Coach Gannon spoke with media this afternoon in Indy.

Arizona has six picks for the upcoming 2025 NFL draft (16, 47, 78, 114, 153). That could very well change as the Cardinals have the ability to move down and up the board. No matter how the picks fall, the number one area to address is the front seven of the defense.

Some of the top names that have been attached to the Cardinals 17th overall pick include Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr., Georgia EDGE Jalon Walker, Marshall EDGE Nick Green, Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams and Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart. 

We can also assume that the Cardinals will make some sort of addition to the defensive line in free agency, as the Cardinals have almost 80 million dollars in cap space available. Including many former players of Head Coach Jonathan Gannon, such as defensive linemen Josh Sweat, Milton Williams and Hassan Reddick.

“I think I’m a big fan of having information.” GM Monti Ossenfort said when asked if Gannon’s connections would impact their free agent targets, “any information that’s good information and credible information. So we’ll use all that information.”

Ossenfort made it clear that all positions are on the table when it comes to adding through free agency.

The other key areas of need are WR, interior offensive line and linebacker. While Cardinal receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was perceived as a little underwhelming to some, his final season line of 62/886/8 looks solid from the outside looking in. In today’s league, multiple weapons on the outside are paramount and there are a slew of playmakers in the free agency and draft pools.

A couple names to remember that may be available in that second or third round spot are Utah State’s Jalen Royals and Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel. Both players have big play ability that can help compliment and take pressure off of Marv, providing some much needed balance to Kyler Murray’s weapons.

If the Cardinals elect to test free agency and bid on big name receivers like Chris Godwin or Amari Cooper, do not be surprised if we see a very defensive front seven heavy draft.

There have also been rumors about the Arizona Cardinals targeting a fan favorite in Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo. “I’m not threw that part of the evaluation process, but I know he lit it up this year,” said Coach Gannon today to reporters. Skattebo is currently projected as a late round pick.

If you would like to keep track of all the 329 athletes participating in the combine drills, press conferences, and on-field analysis will be available on NFL Network and to stream on NFL+ on your connected TV or phone.

Below are the times for each position group.

  • Thursday, Feb. 27 (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET): Defensive linemen, linebackers
  • Friday, Feb. 28 (3 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET): Defensive backs, tight ends
  • Saturday, March 1 (1 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET): Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs
  • Sunday, March 2 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET): Offensive linemen

 

 

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Reporter Dallas Jones covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @DallasJonesy. 

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