GLENDALE – The NFL draft is a little over three weeks away, and excitement is building for fans in the Valley. The Arizona Cardinals hold the 16th overall pick in the draft and, after a successful free agency, have a lot of directions it can go. Fans will watch live from State Farm Stadium’s Great Lawn, where they can see the franchise take the next Cardinals great. However, a smarter move might be for general manager Monti Ossenfort to trade down from 16.
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Dec 28, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort watches from the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Why the Cardinals could trade down:
As mentioned prior, Arizona had a stellar free agency. The team’s top priority was improving on one of the worst pass rush in the league, and it achieved that by signing Pro Bowler Josh Sweat. The 28-year-old is in the prime of his career and coming off one the most dominant Super Bowl performances in recent memory, leading the Philadelphia Eagles.
Josh Sweat speaks to members of the media at the Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe on March 13, 2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Before the Sweat signing, draft experts had the Cardinals taking an edge rusher to aid the pass rush. Now, with Sweat, those same experts are heading in different directions, some saying to stick in the front seven with a linebacker or defensive lineman and others mentioning offensive lineman to protect franchise quarterback Kyler Murray.
The draft experts agree that the first round of the NFL draft is filled with premier talent. Many teams are hungry to inch just a pick closer in fear of their choice being taken. The Cardinals can take advantage of that with their first-round pick giving them the versatility to go in many directions.
General manager Monti Ossenfort introduces Jonathan Gannon as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals during a news conference at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe on Feb. 16, 2023. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Ossenfort can trade down in the first round while recouping an early future Day 2 pick for compensation. The Cardinals have the luxury of drafting for the best available player, not necessarily drafting for a position. Arizona has an opportunity to reap the rewards of a desperate team trying to make a splash in the draft by trading back in the first round.
Arizona Cardinals host 2025 draft party at State Farm Stadium
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
