We're more than halfway through our mock draft trackers here at azcardinals.com. So far, Kenneth Grant has been the heavy favorite - among the experts, of course - to be the Cardinals' selection. But since the Cardinals agreed to terms with Calais Campbell last week, the Michigan defensive tackle's name has not been linked to the Cardinals as frequently. How much does Campbell's arrival impact the mock drafts?
After finishing 2024 with an 8-9 record, the Cardinals hold the 16th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It'll mark the fourth time the organization has picked at the slot. Last season, the Cardinals held the fourth pick, so picking in the middle of the draft is a bit different for Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort.
This mock draft tracker, the fourth of six versions, will feature opinions from NFL experts about their choices for the Cardinals at pick 16.
DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
During mock draft tracker 3.0, only one analyst projected Derrick Harmon to the Cardinals. Since then, the Harmon joining the Cardinals has picked up some steam, especially by the writers at The Athletic. Harmon is in the mix with Grant and Walter Nolen for the DT2 spot behind Michigan's Mason Graham. He played his best ball at Oregon when lined up in a three-technique spot, a position he'll continue to play in the NFL. Harmon's 55 pressures generated in 2024 were the most by an interior defensive lineman. Whether the Cardinals select Harmon, Grant, Nolen (who you'll read more about in a bit), or anybody else in the draft, they'll learn a ton from the new veterans joining the room.
What some of the experts are saying:
"At 6-4, 313, he's bigger than Graham and probably comes with more versatility — he's already proven he can walk outside and handle himself as a big edge." - Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic
"After sliding back, the Cardinals get a taller interior rusher to learn from Calais Campbell early in his career." - Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (Traded back to No. 19 with Tampa Bay)
Others who have mocked Harmon to the Cardinals: Bruce Feldman, The Athletic
LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Jihaad Campbell is the best off-ball linebacker in the 2025 draft class. He doesn't shy away from contact and earned a reputation for his tackling skillset. He finished 2024 with 106 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Campbell could fit nicely in Nick Rallis' system, filling the void left if Kyzir White doesn't return. The Cardinals' sole move addressing the inside linebacker position has been signing Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency. The concern for Campbell is his readiness for the start of the season following a recent surgery to repair a torn labrum.
What some of the experts are saying:
"Middle linebackers rarely prove to be especially remarkable, but Jihaad Campbell looks like a future superstar. His physicality, range, and three-down playmaking projects perfectly for Jonathan Gannon's defense." - Ian Valentino, The 33rd Team
"He's lightning in a bottle. ... The athlete that you're getting and the reckless abandon that he plays with, he goes a million miles an hour. That would be fun to play with on Jonathan Gannon's defense." - Dane Brugler, The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny
Others who have mocked Campbell to the Cardinals: Kyle Dvorchaks, NBC Sports; Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News
OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
During mock draft season, experts will make projections about how their selection fits best with the team. Chad Reuter's opinion about Banks' potential with the Cardinals makes a lot more sense than Field Yates' reasoning. Banks has the ability to move to an interior offensive lineman spot once he gets to the NFL. That's not to say that he can't play offensive tackle. He racked up all the awards given to the best at the position. However, it does not make sense to move Paris Johnson Jr. back to right tackle after being a Pro Bowl alternate during his first season at left tackle. With Jonah Williams entering the final year of his contract, while also coming off a knee injury, Banks could eye that position down the line.
What some of the experts are saying:
"Kyler Murray is known for his improvisational skills, but he shouldn't always have to rely on them. Arizona must protect its franchise QB." Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL.com
"Banks could immediately compete at left guard or right tackle, where Jonah Williams missed all but six games last year due to injury and is entering a contract year. The Cardinals would not have to pay a steep price (swapping a third-rounder for a fourth-rounder) to move up for a high-ceiling lineman with versatility." - Chad Reuter, NFL.com (Traded up with Miami to select Banks at No. 13)
"In the long term, this pick would allow the Cardinals to move Johnson back to the right side and slot in Banks at left tackle. Banks started three full seasons on the left side at Texas, showing a good combination of size (6-foot-5, 315 pounds), nimble feet and pass-protection acumen." - Field Yates, ESPN
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
There is no question that Travis Hunter is the top cornerback in the draft. But with a loaded class full of offensive line and defensive front seven players, the Cardinals are in range to select the second-best CB in the draft. Will Johnson and Texas' Jahdae Barron are the two prospects in that conversation for best available corner. Improving the secondary has been a priority in Ossenfort's previous two drafts, selecting Garrett Williams in 2023 and Max Melton the following year. The room is young, with 27-year-old Sean Murphy-Bunting serving as the leader. Adding another young corner brings more potential to a room on the rise.
What some of the experts are saying:
"The 6'2", 202-pound Johnson has the size and length to make life difficult for opposing No. 1 wide receivers. But that size doesn't hinder his footwork, which is polished enough to keep pace with the best route runners." - Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated
"Being able to trade back and acquire more draft capital while remaining well positioned to take a serious talent at a position of need is the purest form of draft day trades, something general manager Monti Ossenfort is well aware of. Pairing Johnson with breakout cornerback Garrett Williams would upgrade a coverage unit that had allowed the second-highest rate of plays with positive expected points added (50.3%) last season." - Mason Cameron, PFF (Traded with the Chargers, moving back six spots)
DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
NFL insider Ian Rapoport posted on X that Walter Nolen has a scheduled visit with the Cardinals in the coming days. Unlike a timed meeting at the combine, these visits can give the staff a glimpse at how the player can mesh in the facility. The Cardinals have spent free agency looking to improve their defensive line, especially adding pieces to help the run defense. Walter Nolen is explosive at the line and has a nose for stopping the run. Don't let his single digit jersey number fool you, Nolen's size allowed him to penetrate through those dominant SEC offensive line units with ease.
What some of the experts are saying:
"The Cardinals have added Josh Sweat already, and the overhaul of the defensive line continues here with the selection of Nolen, who is my DT2 in the class." - Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports
"Arizona will go with the best defensive lineman available, and that's Nolen. He's twitchy and disruptive at interior defensive line and fits into the needs of the Cardinals." - Geoff Schwartz, Fox Sports
Other players mocked to the Cardinals:
EDGE James Pearce Jr. (Jacob Infante, Pro Football Network)
CB Jahdae Barron (Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick, PFF)
WR Matthew Golden (Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN)
OL Josh Simmons (Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports)
EDGE Jalon Walker (Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports)
OG Tyler Booker (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com)
