The Arizona Cardinals have gotten off to a fantastic start in 2020 under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. However, with several key players set to hit free agency in the offseason, the front office in Arizona will have several decisions to make. One way to limit reverberations is by drafting sound prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. In this article, we’ll take control of the Cardinals and improve the roster in this 2021 Mock Draft.
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First Round – Pick 26
Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, South Carolina
This offseason is key for the Arizona Cardinals as they have three cornerbacks (Patrick Peterson, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Kevin Peterson) set to become unrestricted free agents. The Cardinals should have somewhere around $26 Million in cap room to work with, which makes it unlikely that Patrick Peterson returns.
Jaycee Horn is a pro-ready lockdown corner. He’s the ideal replacement for Patrick Peterson, not to mention that he’s much, much cheaper. The NFC West is one of the most competitive divisions in the National Football League. Drafting a cornerback in this 2021 Mock Draft that will be able to cover the receivers in this division should be a top priority for the Cardinals.
Second Round – Pick 58
Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
Drafting an edge rusher in 2021 is twofold. Not only do the Cardinals have a handful of linebackers set to become free agents in the offseason, but they also need to upgrade talent. In this division, putting pressure on the quarterback is crucial.
Joseph Ossai is a bright spot on a down University of Texas defense. If the Cardinals are able to improve Ossai’s consistency, they’ll get a hell of a pass rusher. More so, Chandler Jones is set to become a free agent following the 2021 season, so Arizona would have time to bring Joseph Ossai along at a friendly pace.
Third Round – Pick 89
Deonte Brown, Interior Offensive Line, Alabama
With this pick, let’s add depth to an already solid offensive line. The Cardinals are one of the best teams in the National Football League at running the ball. In drafting Deonte Brown, Arizona will be able to stay ahead of any injuries that may occur down the road.
Additionally, this move will also help to maintain a clean pocket for Kyler Murray to throw from. As defenses get more tape on Murray, and look at various ways to stop this offense, it’ll be essential to keep Murray upright in the pocket.
Fifth Round – Pick 166
Rakeem Boyd, Running Back, Arkansas
Fans of the Netflix series ‘Last Chance U’ should recognize Rakeem Boyd. Following a season at Texas A&M, Boyd transferred to Independence Community College, a junior college in Kansas, and head coach Jason Brown. After one season at Independence, Boyd finished with 1,211 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Following 2017, Boyd transferred back into the FCS to the University of Arkansas.
Rakeem Boyd has had a solid collegiate career at Arkansas. However, his 2020 numbers aren’t matching up to 2018 and 2019, which is due to an ankle injury. If he can put up similar numbers this season, he’d be a steal for the Cardinals in this 2021 Mock Draft.
Kenyan Drake is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Cardinals have several key decisions to make in the offseason, and one will be whether or not locking Kenyan Drake down with a long-term contract. Boyd isn’t an exact replacement for Drake, but he has a skillset that would fit well in Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive scheme.
Seventh Round – Pick 248
Brenton Nelson, Cornerback, Virginia
To be quite honest, Brenton Nelson would be a great developmental pick for the Arizona Cardinals. He plays with adequate instincts at the University of Virginia and has solid range to attack ballcarriers quickly. However, I’d like to see him improve his tackling ability, as he has a habit to use his lower body to make tackles in the open field. For the Arizona Cardinals, drafting someone like Brenton Nelson in this 2021 Mock Draft isn’t about the 2021 season, it’s about improving depth at the position for the next three seasons.