Cardinals Trade Out of Top Five in New NFL Mock Draft

The Arizona Cardinals snag the talents of Texas Tech Edge Rusher Tyree Wilson after trading down with the Detroit Lions in this mock draft done by Pro Football Focus.

The Arizona Cardinals are heavily favored to trade down from their No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, as a top-heavy draft of quarterbacks could land the Cardinals quite the haul from a team looking to move up and snag their guy. 

There's a handful of teams that can climb up to the third pick, which in turn could also potentially drive the price up for Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort. 

After the Carolina Panthers made the move to obtain the No. 1 pick, themselves and the Houston Texans at No. 2 are heavily favored to select either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud in some order. 

Teams after the Cardinals such as the Indianapolis Colts (No. 4), Detroit Lions (No. 6) and Atlanta Falcons (No. 8) are also candidates who could pull the trigger on a trade to move up, too. 

In this mock draft done by Pro Football Focus, the Lions move up for pick Nos. 6, 48, 81, 2024 1st and a 2024 4th-round pick as well to get Anthony Richardson. 

Christian Gonzalez goes to Indy at No. 4 while Will Anderson falls to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 5. 

Still with Jalen Carter on the board, PFF has the Cardinals going another route in Tyree Wilson. 

Cardinals Trade Out of Top Five in PFF Mock Draft

"Arizona begins overhauling its roster with a trade-down to stockpile draft capital, then they take a prospect with insane traits and tools who could develop into a special player under the tutelage of new head coach Jonathan Gannon," said Brad Spielberger. 

"Wilson’s 35 5/8-inch arm length is in the 98th percentile, and his 7-foot-2 wingspan is one inch shorter than Giannis Antetokounmpo's. At 271 pounds, Wilson can generate a lot of power and drive back opposing tackles and guards, allowing him to line up all over.

"Wilson isn’t just a tantalizing prospect because of his measurables, either. His 34.6% pass-rush win rate on true pass sets ranked seventh among FBS edge defenders in 2022, and his 28.4% pressure percentage tied for fifth. He could be the franchise cornerstone to help jumpstart the new Cardinals regime, and he addresses the roster’s biggest weakness."

Cardinals fans may be livid with the choice to move down with Anderson on the board, especially if he does to a division rival in Seattle. 

Wilson has been linked to the Cardinals before in prior mock drafts, notably by NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah who had him selected over Anderson with Arizona sticking at No. 3. 

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