NFL Draft

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Cardinals Trade Out of Top 2 Picks

This would be a wild scenario at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Luke Easterling

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Cardinals Trade Out of Top 2 Picks
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Cardinals Trade Out of Top 2 Picks /
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The last time the same team ended up with the top two picks in the NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Steve Emtman and Quentin Coryatt back in 1992.

If most of this year's current projections hold true, the Arizona Cardinals could end up in that same spot next offseason, landing the first two selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.

If they do, they would be in position to replace Kyler Murray at quarterback with USC's Caleb Williams, the defending Heisman Trophy winner and consensus top prospect in next year's draft class. They could also get a superstar receiver like Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. to pair with Williams.

But what if they decided to keep Murray, and auction off both of those picks to the highest bidder in an effort to rebuild their roster?

READ | 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Early 1st-Round Projections

That's what happens in the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Network, which has the Cardinals trading out of both of those top two spots, passing up the chance to land top prospects like Williams and Harrison.

It's the Washington Commanders who move up to the top spot for Williams, while Arizona sends the No. 2 overall pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

The Cardinals end up picking at No. 7 and No. 8 overall after the trades, grabbing Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.

In return for dropping out of those premium slots, the Cardinals receive a massive haul that includes three future first-round picks, three additional second-rounders, and a pair of mid-round selections. Those resources would go a long way toward helping them reshape their roster around Murray, adding tons of top talent on both sides of the ball.

The next two quarterbacks off the board in this mock are Oregon's Bo Nix (No. 14 overall, Minnesota Vikings) and Florida State's Jordan Travis (No. 15 overall, Las Vegas Raiders), while Duke's Riley Leonard makes it five first-round signal-callers, landing with the Denver Broncos at No. 17 overall.

To check out the full first-round projection at Pro Football Network, click here.

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Luke Easterling
LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more.  Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com

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