PHOENIX –The 2025 NFL draft is this Thursday, and reports are mixed about where the Arizona Cardinals will do with the 16th overall pick. After a stellar free agency period, the franchise is playing with house money in the 1st round, looking to get the most value for their pick, whether drafting a player or trading back.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Recent reports have indicated that the team is likely to use their 16th pick, but who they draft from that selection is still a mystery. However, Arizona has finished all 22 of its Top 30 official draft visits, and the list of prospects could indicate where general manager Monti Ossenfort and the front office are thinking ahead of Thursday.
Arizona Cardinals head coach, Jonathan Gannon, and general manager Monti Ossenfort discuss the upcoming NFL Draft during a press conference at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe on April 16, 2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
All prospects that met with Cardinals:
- IDL Kenneth Grant – Michigan
- IDL Shemar Turner – Texas A&M
- IDL T.J. Sanders – South Carolina
- IDL Ty Robinson – Nebraska
- IDL Darius Alexander – Toledo
- ED Princely Umanmielen – Mississippi
- ED James Pearce Jr. – Tennessee
- ED Mykel Williams – Georgia
- ED Shemar Stewart – Texas A&M
- ED Nic Scourton – Texas A&M
- ED Femi Oladejo – UCLA
- LB Jalon Walker – Georgia
- LB Jihaad Campbell – Alabama
- CB Will Johnson – Michigan
- CB Trey Amos – Mississippi
- CB Jaylin Smith – USC
- T Anthony Belton – NC State
- T Josh Simmons – Ohio State
- T Kelvin Banks Jr. – Texas
- WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith
- RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt – Arizona
- RB Cam Skattebo – Arizona State
- RB Peny Boone – UCF
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
15 of the 22 prospects that the Cardinals had official visits with were on the defensive side of the ball, which could show where Ossenfort and his staff are keen on with the 16th pick. In his latest press conference, Ossenfort said that the surplus of defensive lineman interviews was unintentional. Regardless, the team seemingly has a favoritism looking for a big man in the trenches on Day 1 of draft night.
The Cardinals signed Pro Bowlers Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell to help with their lackluster pass rush from last year. Adding another pass rusher in the draft would amplify his development under the wings of some of the best in the league.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
