B
Arizona Cardinals
A masterclass at the trade table lands the Cardinals a B.
by Stan93 ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 32 picks
· 7 steals
· 13 reaches
There is conviction, and then there is this. The Cardinals took Thomas Fidone II a full 215 picks ahead of where the board had him, an overdraft steep enough that it colors the whole weekend. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B.
The trade ledger is the best part of the whole weekend. The Horton pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged.
A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a run-stuffing presence up front, and a steal at that. A real need, handled.
A real head-scratcher, Donovan Ezeiruaku in No. 49 is miles ahead of his ranking. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They talked themselves into Antwaun Powell-Ryland at pick No. 78, and the board did not agree. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Nothing to complain about; Maxwell Hairston went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Isaiah Bond at the 87th overall pick is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Donovan Jackson in slot 88 lands just on the right side of the ledger. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Carson Schwesinger at Round 3, Pick 25 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Jordan Phillips. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Will Howard at pick 91 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Andrew Mukuba at the Round 3 slot is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the safety. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
A tidy bit of business in slot 95, where Tai Felton graded well above the range. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They reached into another round for Willie Lampkin, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A market-rate running back, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Cam Skattebo. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
They did well to land Charles Grant in the 100th pick, just ahead of his grade. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Aeneas Peebles at pick 102 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. The roster fit checks out.
They reached a country mile for Darius Alexander at Round 4, Pick 2, and the board is aghast. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Gunnar Helm is a better player than the 106th overall pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Jaylin Noel at pick No. 114 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Joshua Farmer in No. 115 is fair value, right on his grade. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Ty Robinson at the 118th pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A need, and now a little less of one.
Terrance Ferguson at slot 121 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It fills a real need, too.
A tidy little value on Anthony Belton in the Round 4 slot, a step better than break-even. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They let Billy Bowman Jr. come to them and pounced at Round 4, Pick 24. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
Rylie Mills in the 127th pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Cody Simon at the 129th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Tory Horton in pick 130 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Bhayshul Tuten in the Round 4 slot is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Value said wait; Ahmed Hassanein in pick No. 132 says they were not listening. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Fadil Diggs in slot 133 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Nick Nash at No. 135 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Shaun Dolac in No. 137, miles early. The roster fit checks out.
A big swing on Thomas Fidone II at Round 5, Pick 1, well ahead of any board in the building. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.