B-
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals let Barton fall into their laps, and walked away with a B-.
by jgg ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 6 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
This is the pick they will still be bragging about in July: Lander Barton, the No. 115 name on the board, stolen at the Round 5 slot. Call it a sensible B-, earned the boring way.
Every board in the league had Trapilo lower, and that gap is the story. A whole weekend of picks and edge rusher is somehow still a want.
Solid rather than spectacular, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 19 they get a run-stuffing presence up front, though they paid up to get him. A real need, handled.
They let Carson Beck come to them and pounced at the 51st pick. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Ozzy Trapilo. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Parker Brailsford at No. 120 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Lander Barton in Round 5, Pick 18 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Taking Dane Key in pick No. 195 is close to grand larceny; a wide receiver that good had no business lasting this long. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.