The NFL Draft is infamously tough to anticipate, but this is just one of the tougher ones to prognosticate I can bear in mind in a long time. Especially from an Arizona Cardinals perspective-mostly since no person seems to have a clear concept what the groups around them are Panthers appear positioned to take a QB at # 1. but which one? Most viewers had actually pegged the Texans to get hold of one more QB at # 2. now the report is they'll take a defensive gamer. We've been listening to all offseason that teams are aligning to trade as much as the Cardinals # 3 place. now there are whispers that groups aren't as high up on the QBs as previously tale brief: no one knows what will happen tonight. Like it ever was. Yet when you think about all the simulated drafts, the Twitter rumblings, the front office smokescreens, you can start to make an educated assumption as to what the team will certainly do tonight.I believe the Cardinals' decision boils down to 6 players at 3 positions-depending on how the draft unravels around them, of training course. What are those positions and that are those players? Allow's find RusherWith J.J. Watt retired and Zach Allen in Denver, the Cardinals' requirement for a top-flight pass rush is evident. You can wager new Jonathan Gannon and Nick Rallis are hoping Monti Ossenfort can locate them a player who can fill up the Haason Reddick duty in their protection. Since, you know, we let Reddick walk for absolutely nothing a few years back.) Alabama EDGE Will Anderson has been without a doubt the gamer most typically buffooned to the Cardinals Also though there is currently unpredictability regarding whether Anderson will actually be there at # 3-and whether the Cardinals will also be choosing at # 3-he still has the most effective wagering odds to be taken at that draft slot. The top-ranked defensive player-if not top-ranked player overall-on most groups' draft boards, Anderson would be a terrific obtain and load a huge need if he winds up being the choice. Everyone from scouts to trainers to prepare experts go crazy about Anderson as a gamer and an individual. I would certainly be excited if the Cardinals landed Tech side Tyree WilsonWilson might obviously go as high as # 2 to the Texans, yet if the Texans take Anderson-or if the Cardinals profession back and Wilson drops a bit-Wilson can be a solid alternative option. At 6'6" and 270, he's obtained a couple of inches and regarding 20 extra pounds on Anderson. He's a more literally imposing visibility and some analysts state he has a higher ceiling than Anderson. He simply doesn't have the college production to match his obvious physical presents and he did experience a serious foot injury last period. Yet he's been skyrocketing draft boards recently and is a guaranteed top-10 pick, if not top-5. CornerbackThe Cardinals' need at edge is a lot more obvious than their need at pass rush. Right now, Marco Wilson stands atop the deepness graph with different Buzzs, road free representatives, and method squad types behind him. Corner will definitely be a target for Ossenfort this weekend. He will not take one at # 3, but if the Cardinals trade down 5-6 ports, he could quite possibly be seeking to land the team's new CB Christian GonzalezThe man listed below appears to be the # 1 CB on many draft boards, however Gonzalez is the name usually attached with the Cardinals thus far. At 6'2", 200 extra pounds with 4.38 rate, Gonzalez is an absolute specimen with all the characteristics it requires to become a dominant corner in the NFL. He 'd be an instant difference-maker in a secondary that might quickly be missing Budda Baker. Gonzalez can be a target if the team were to, state, trade back with the Titans at # 11. if he's still on the board, that CB Devon WitherspoonWitherspoon seems to be the agreement top-ranked corner, an outright devil in protection who accounts as a shutdown edge also if he does not have Gonzalez's size. Many mocks appear to have him going either to the Lions at # 6 or the Raiders at # 7, so it may be hard for the Cardinals to land him. Yet points rarely go according to the mocks. The Lions or Raiders could trade up, favor Gonzalez, or go a various direction completely. If the Redbirds profession back and Anderson and Wilson are off the board, they could effectively snatch up Witherspoon if he's LineThe Cardinals desperately require to reconstruct both trenches, and O-line could be an even larger inquiry mark for the team than D-line. They seem evaluated take on for 2023 with D.J. Humphries and Kelvin Beachum, however Beachum is simply a placeholder. And they have definitely nobody in the interior of the O-line. So, yeah, O-line is a big demand. Just ask Kyler OT Peter SkoronskiAlthough the Cardinals' greatest need is indoor O-line, that wouldn't stop them from taking a tackle-especially considering that the leading two options can both play guard if required. As a matter of fact, some precursors project Skoronski as a guard, rather than a tackle, in the NFL. He's a more refined prospect than the man below, if not fairly as physically talented, but he would certainly be a Day 1 starter on the broken-down Cardinals O-line. Like CB, I only see the group taking an O-lineman if they trade down towards the backside or perhaps out of the top 10. Ohio State OT Paris JohnsonJohnson projects as more of a pure deal with although he did play at guard for a spell in college), and his ceiling is a Pro Bowl-- degree left tackle. If you're intent on restoring the O-line, Johnson is the sort of player you wish to start with. The only concern is whether Ossenfort will certainly concentrate on the O-line in the early rounds-something claim it with me) previous GM Steve Keim was loathe to do. I have actually seen one simulated that has the Cardinals really taking Johnson at # 3, but I do not see that taking place. Yet after trading down? Possible OptionsOkay, so I'm hedging my bet below a bit. I truly do assume the Cardinals' pick will be among the 6 men above Cardinals Shop, but right here are a couple of other names to remember if points get genuinely DT Jalen Carter: That recognizes what will occur with Carter-he actually might go anywhere, to anyone. However I do not get the feeling he's somebody the Cardinals are targeting, specifically with his legal/character red flags. Would Ossenfort truly make a disruptive prospect like Carter his first-ever # 1 pick?Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith: Smith seems to be a rate listed below the similarity Anderson and Wilson, and he's additionally coming off a considerable pectoral injury. He would certainly fill up a demand, yet I assume if Anderson and Wilson are off the board, Ossenfort would certainly enter a different direction, likely OL or OT Broderick Jones, Tennessee OT Darnell Wright, Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy, Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.: Just some names to submit away in instance the Cardinals trade back even more in the 1st round than people assume. Or if they trade up from the 2nd round?Final ThoughtsThe essential inquiry encountering the Cardinals right here on draft day isn't what player they take, or also what setting. It's whether they trade back from # 3 or not-which depends on whether there is need for the choice. Great deals of moving components. Yet I sense a person will certainly shoot and the Cardinals will trade 's what I view as both more than likely scenarios for the team tonight: If the Cardinals remain at # 3, either since they have their hearts set on a specific gamer or they attempt and fall short to trade back, I believe they'll take Anderson or Wilson, in that order, depending on which one is they trade back, my initial hunch would be that they would certainly take either Skoronski or Johnson over the corners. However don't dismiss Gonzalez or would certainly be a small shock to me if they took anyone else, whether it be Carter or Smith or anyone else. However whoever the pick is, I'm thrilled to see how our new GM approaches his initial draft. The reconstruct beginnings do you think, RotBers? Who do you assume the Redbirds wind up taking? You know the drill: enact the poll and drop a remark. Survey That will the Cardinals draft in the 1st round tonight?