B-
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals won the weekend at the trade table. Grade: B-.
by MortonMyers ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 5 reaches
The Cardinals did not so much draft Jimmy Horn Jr. as overpay for him, 147 picks clear of his grade. It sets an uneasy tone for the weekend. Good, not great, and the B- says as much.
They banked enough surplus on Skattebo to cover a lot of smaller sins. They robbed the room blind at the table, and it lifts the grade on its own. The offensive lineman hole is the one line item this class does not answer.
The trenches got the money picks, top to bottom.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but offensive lineman.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 16 they get a disruptive interior force. A real need, handled.
Jared Ivey at pick No. 33 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Chris Paul Jr. at the Round 2 slot is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Jaxson Dart this early at the 57th overall pick. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A big swing on JJ Pegues at slot 78, well ahead of any board in the building. It fills a real need, too.
Azareye'h Thomas at the 113th pick is money in the bank, a cornerback taken below his worth. A minor itch, scratched.
They talked themselves into Jimmy Horn Jr. at slot 151, and the board did not agree. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Cam Skattebo in the Round 6 slot should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Trevor Etienne in pick No. 216 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.