GLENDALE – The NFL offseason final act is the draft that is three weeks away. The draft is the final opportunity for team’s to add meaningful players for next season. The Arizona Cardinals are looking to add on what has already been considered a successful offseason by selecting impact players in the draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has them doing that in the first two rounds, going heavy offensively.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Kiper Jr. is the NFL draft guru, a grizzled vet that has endured the process for over two decades. He released his first two-round mock draft this week, where he had the Cardinals going speedy for their first pick, with Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort during an NFL pre-draft news conference at the Cardinals Dignity Health Training Center in Tempe on April 18, 2024. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Kiper Jr. on Cardinals selecting Golden at 16th:
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Matthew Golden (2) grabs the facemark of Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Myles Rowser (4) as he runs the ball in the first quarter as the Texas Longhorns play the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 1, 2025. Syndication: Austin American-Statesman
“If Arizona can find another top-tier pass catcher to help the aerial game catch up, this offense would be hard to stop. Golden is a great route runner, and he has 4.29 speed to run underneath some Kyler Murray deep balls. He had 58 catches for 987 yards and nine TDs last season, and he’d give the Cards a solid 1-2-3 punch in Harrison, Golden and tight end Trey McBride.”
McBride’s ascension and Harrison Jr.’s exceptional rookie year overshadowed Arizona’s need for another dynamic receiving threat. There is steep drop off in catches and targets after Harrison Jr., with the third Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson recording 47 catches for 548 receiving yards.
A solid season for Wilson, but the team needs a more reliable third option, especially with the speedy Golden. The former longhorn would be a huge addition to the franchise’s passing game, giving Murray an explosive receiver in the slot.
Golden impressed Kiper Jr. and other NFL scouts to earn him a first round grade. Kiper Jr. likes Arizona going with receiver in the first round and sticking with offense in the second round, selecting an offensive line with the 47th overall pick.
Cardinals going offensive line in 2nd round:
Mar 19, 2025; Tuscaloosa AL, USA; Offensive lineman Tyler Booker rusn a drill for scouts at the University of Alabama Pro Day as several Crimson Tide players worked out for NFL teams in the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility. Syndication: Tuscaloosa News
Guard Tyler Booker – Alabama
“No one gets by Booker in pass protection, and he is also a solid run blocker thanks to his power. He allowed one sack over three seasons at Alabama. This is strong value in the middle of Round 2, and Booker could start as a rookie at right guard.”
Pro Football Focus had the Cardinals offensive line as below average in 2024, with the selection of Booker making sense. The franchise selected an offensive lineman in Paris Johnson Jr. a few years back, who has developed into a cornerstone of the pass protection.
However, the offensive line still needs work to protect Murray. Booker would start on day one with Arizona and could be a steal for the franchise that takes Murray’s talent to the next level with an elite addition to right guard.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
