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Cardinals 25
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Zipper DRAFTING FOR THECardinals
Draft Selections
Draft Picks Received
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5
(CIN)
NEXT YEAR (2026)
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5
(DET)
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5
(HOU)
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5
(NE)
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5
(TB)
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6
(HOU)
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6
(PHI)
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6
(LAR)
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7
(DET)
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PICK:
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7
(LAR)
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PICK:
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7
(TB)
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7
(WSH)
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Draft Picks Traded
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2
(ATL)
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3
(ATL)
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4
(ATL)
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(ATL)
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Players Gained
Junior
Aho
DT
Zack
Annexstad
QB
Theo
Benedet
OT
McCallan
Castles
TE
Junior
Colson
LB
Akeem
Davis-Gaither
LB
Ty
James
WR
Cephus
Johnson
WR
Brett
Rypien
QB
Luiji
Vilain
LB
Austin
Watkins Jr.
WR
Players traded away
D.J.
Humphries
OT
Desmond
Ridder
QB
Draft Grade — Cardinals
Overall
B-
ValueC-
NeedC+
TradesA+
FutureC
The Cardinals fleeced the room on the phones and earned a B-. The Cardinals spent real capital to be 195 picks early on Brian Ugwu, and the board is going to hold them to it. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.
They banked enough surplus on Judkins to cover a lot of smaller sins. The phones were where this weekend was really won.
The imported veterans give this class a floor the draft picks could not on their own. On the needs board they went 8 of 8, with quarterback the one that mattered most.
Add it up and it is a good, unfussy class.
Pick Analysis
Pick39
Rnd2
Kenneth Grant
Value with a capital V on Kenneth Grant in No. 39, a genuine coup. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick49
Rnd2
Donovan Jackson
Donovan Jackson at slot 49 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick57
Rnd2
Deone Walker
Deone Walker at the Round 2 slot is a conviction pick that outran the value. It fills a real need, too.
Pick58
Rnd2
Azareye'h Thomas
They paid sticker price for Azareye'h Thomas in Round 2, Pick 26, and that is fine. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Pick68
Rnd3
Antwaun Powell-Ryland
This one needs a full-page explanation: Antwaun Powell-Ryland in the 68th pick, miles early. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick78
Rnd3
Tate Ratledge
They did well to land Tate Ratledge in pick No. 78, just ahead of his grade. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick80
Rnd3
Xavier Watts
They barely believed it either: Xavier Watts still on the board at the 80th pick. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Pick81
Rnd3
Ajani Cornelius
A big swing on Ajani Cornelius at the 81st overall pick, well ahead of any board in the building. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick86
Rnd3
Joshua Farmer
Joshua Farmer at pick No. 86 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick89
Rnd3
Elijah Roberts
Elijah Roberts in slot 89 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick99
Rnd3
Tez Johnson
They let Tez Johnson come to them and pounced at pick 99. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick107
Rnd4
Elijah Arroyo
Somehow Elijah Arroyo was still sitting there in No. 107, and they pounced on premier tight end value. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick109
Rnd4
Jaylin Noel
Nothing to complain about; Jaylin Noel went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick112
Rnd4
Tai Felton
Tai Felton in Round 4, Pick 11 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick113
Rnd4
Kevin Jennings
Kevin Jennings at the 113th pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick115
Rnd4
Luke Kandra
Luke Kandra in Round 4, Pick 14 is fair value, right on his grade. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick116
Rnd4
Carson Schwesinger
Carson Schwesinger in the Round 4 slot is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick117
Rnd4
Jack Nelson
They paid up for Jack Nelson at pick No. 117 when waiting would have done the job. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick122
Rnd4
Jabbar Muhammad
Jabbar Muhammad at the 122nd overall pick is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
Pick123
Rnd4
Jeffrey Bassa
A conviction pick on Jeffrey Bassa at slot 123 that the board grades a round light. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick124
Rnd4
Pat Bryant
They talked themselves into Pat Bryant at pick 124, and the board did not agree. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick125
Rnd4
Cam Skattebo
Cam Skattebo at No. 125 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. The roster fit checks out.
Pick126
Rnd4
Jackson Slater
They reached into another round for Jackson Slater, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick127
Rnd4
Malachi Moore
The board fumbled Malachi Moore all the way to the 127th overall pick, and they scooped it up. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Pick128
Rnd4
Lathan Ransom
Lathan Ransom in the 128th pick is a gift, value that borders on unfair. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
Pick131
Rnd4
Jonah Monheim
Jonah Monheim at Round 4, Pick 30 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick132
Rnd4
Jay Higgins
They took Jay Higgins at par in pick No. 132, which is nothing to complain about. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick133
Rnd4
Willie Lampkin
Value said wait; Willie Lampkin in pick 133 says they were not listening. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick135
Rnd4
Trey Zuhn III
Trey Zuhn III in the Round 4 slot is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick136
Rnd4
Kyle Williams
A real head-scratcher, Kyle Williams in slot 136 is miles ahead of his ranking. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick138
Rnd5
Cody Simon
No drama and no debate, Cody Simon went about where he belonged in pick 138. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick139
Rnd5
Nick Nash
The board had cheaper options than Nick Nash at the 139th pick, and it noticed. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick142
Rnd5
Seth McLaughlin
They left a pile of value on the table to take Seth McLaughlin this early at the Round 5 slot. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick143
Rnd5
Jacob Parrish
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Jacob Parrish well ahead of where he belonged. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Pick146
Rnd5
JJ Pegues
They reached a country mile for JJ Pegues at No. 146, and the board is aghast. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick147
Rnd5
Tonka Hemingway
A wild overpay on Tonka Hemingway in the 147th overall pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick149
Rnd5
Nazir Stackhouse
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Nazir Stackhouse. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick151
Rnd5
Shaun Dolac
Shaun Dolac in slot 151 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick152
Rnd5
Dylan Sampson
They will replay Dylan Sampson at slot 152 for years; that is how good the value is. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick157
Rnd5
Xzavier Henderson
Xzavier Henderson at No. 157 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick158
Rnd5
Oronde Gadsden II
Oronde Gadsden II at the Round 5 slot is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick159
Rnd5
Ty Hamilton
A real head-scratcher, Ty Hamilton in the 159th overall pick is miles ahead of his ranking. The roster fit checks out.
Pick160
Rnd5
Ricky White III
Value said wait; Ricky White III in the 160th pick says they were not listening. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick165
Rnd5
Hayden Conner
They talked themselves into Hayden Conner at pick 165, and the board did not agree. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick169
Rnd5
Terrance Ferguson
Taking Terrance Ferguson in Round 5, Pick 32 is close to grand larceny; a tight end that good had no business lasting this long. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick170
Rnd5
Smael Mondon Jr.
A linebacker of that caliber at pick No. 170 is the definition of value, full stop. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick171
Rnd5
Theo Wease Jr.
They reached a country mile for Theo Wease Jr. at Round 5, Pick 34, and the board is aghast. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick172
Rnd5
Jahvaree Ritzie
They reached into another round for Jahvaree Ritzie, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It fills a real need, too.
Pick173
Rnd5
DJ Campbell
A wild overpay on DJ Campbell in the Round 5 slot, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick175
Rnd5
Francisco Mauigoa
This one needs a full-page explanation: Francisco Mauigoa in slot 175, miles early. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick178
Rnd6
Billy Bowman Jr.
They robbed the room for Billy Bowman Jr. here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Pick180
Rnd6
R.J. Oben
A big swing on R.J. Oben at No. 180, well ahead of any board in the building. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick181
Rnd6
Quinshon Judkins
Steal is underselling it; Quinshon Judkins at pick 181 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick186
Rnd6
Devin Neal
You do not let a running back like Devin Neal reach the 186th pick and blink. They did not. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick188
Rnd6
Jake Majors
Jake Majors at No. 188 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick189
Rnd6
Jared Wilson
Jared Wilson at pick No. 189 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick191
Rnd6
Brashard Smith
Circle this one: Brashard Smith at the Round 6 slot is a fall that decides a draft. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick193
Rnd6
Kobe King
Kobe King in the 193rd overall pick should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick194
Rnd6
Jonas Sanker
A reach on Jonas Sanker in the 194th pick; the board had better options right there. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Pick195
Rnd6
Jaylen Reed
A quiet steal in Round 6, Pick 20: Jaylen Reed for less than the market said. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
Pick196
Rnd6
Maxen Hook
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Maxen Hook well ahead of where he belonged. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Pick199
Rnd6
Addison West
Addison West in pick 199 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick200
Rnd6
Miles Frazier
Miles Frazier at the 200th overall pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick202
Rnd6
Jalen Travis
Jalen Travis in pick 202 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick203
Rnd6
Garrett Dellinger
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Garrett Dellinger. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick204
Rnd6
Donovan Edwards
Donovan Edwards at Round 6, Pick 29 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick205
Rnd6
Simeon Barrow Jr.
A top-tier interior defensive lineman at a bargain, Simeon Barrow Jr. in No. 205, plain and simple. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick209
Rnd6
Tim Smith
Tim Smith at the Round 6 slot is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick210
Rnd6
Jamaree Caldwell
They left a pile of value on the table to take Jamaree Caldwell this early at pick No. 210. It fills a real need, too.
Pick212
Rnd6
Akheem Mesidor
This one needs a full-page explanation: Akheem Mesidor in slot 212, miles early. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick216
Rnd6
Steven Parker
They reached a country mile for Steven Parker at pick 216, and the board is aghast. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick217
Rnd7
Jack Kiser
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Jack Kiser at the Round 7 slot. The roster fit checks out.
Pick220
Rnd7
Deion Burks
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Deion Burks well ahead of where he belonged. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick221
Rnd7
Jimmy Horn Jr.
A wild overpay on Jimmy Horn Jr. in the 221st overall pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick222
Rnd7
Shilo Sanders
Shilo Sanders in slot 222 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Pick225
Rnd7
Brian Ugwu
Brian Ugwu at No. 225 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick227
Rnd7
Clay Webb
Clay Webb in pick No. 227 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick228
Rnd7
PJ Williams
PJ Williams at the 228th pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.