In typical Cardinals fashion, draft night started out with an “oops” moment. Minutes before the first round started it was reported the Cardinals will be penalized for tampering in the hiring of Jonathan Gannon. The result was moving back in the draft 28 spots going from pick 66 to 94. Just when you think the Cardinals survived a day without bad press, they managed to make headlines again. Tampering with a guy that wasn’t on anyone’s coaching radar is a bad look but at this point, everything they do seems to be a bad look. Luckily, that fiasco didn’t distract the Cardinals, once they were on the clock, they started to cook!
Two quarterbacks were taken number one and number two overall, leaving the Cardinals in a prime position to either take Will Anderson, who is regarded as the best defensive player in the draft, or to trade back with a QB needy team for a king’s ransom. To the shock of seemingly everyone, the Texans traded up to get Will Anderson, giving the Cardinals their 12 pick that they acquired from Cleveland. The deal also included the Texans first round pick in the 2024 draft. This is a huge win for the Cardinals as the Texans are projected to not win many games this upcoming season. The Cardinals themselves are not projected to win many games this year as well, they are now on track to get two top 5 picks next year. Depending on where in the top 5 they pick they can trade back and get an overhaul from a team desperate for QB Caleb Williams.
After the trade with the Texans, all hell broke loose on Twitter. Many were disappointed that the Cardinals passed on Anderson and were skeptical that anyone worth anything would still be there at pick 12. Monti Ossenfort wasn’t done however, another trade came shortly after with the Lions. The Cardinals were able to jump up to 6 to land Ohio State offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr. While the Cardinals need help in the defensive trenches, the Paris Johnson pick is a home run for the team. Johnson was touted as one of the best offensive linemen in the draft and known for his size, athleticism, and ability to play anywhere on the line. His versatility will be vital given the Cardinal’s history of offensive linemen injuries. Paris Johnson was also heavily endorsed by QB Kyler Murray. Getting Kyler the protection he’s desperately needed is a huge win for the team and will open up a lot of things offensively. Scouting reports highlighted Johnson’s run blocking capabilities which will help elevate the Cardinals run game. Outside of his athletic abilities, Johnson will be an outstanding locker room presence. He is held in high regards for being a great leader and highly intelligent. He has started charities helping veterans, can speak multiple languages, and a writer for the Ohio State newspaper amongst many things.
Monti Ossenfort had a stellar outing as a first time GM. He has shown more aggression in the draft than Steve Keim ever did. He has made it known he believes in our future with Kyler Murray and doubled down by getting him protection. While many are skeptical about Murray, everyone can agree that the best QB’s in the league cannot function behind a bad offensive line. It had been projected days prior to the draft that Paris Johnson could go as high as a top three pick. The fact that Ossenfort was able to trade back for more draft capital and land a key player says a lot. It still remains to be seen how the rest of the draft will shake out but the Cardinals are off to a great start. The team still has a long way to go before they are ready to compete and I would suspect they are looking to stock up on draft picks for this year and next year.
Fans will have to be patient and trust the process but so far there is hope for the future of this team.
