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What Happens if the Cardinals Don't Draft Kyler Murray?

Some of my past drafts:

Mock Draft 1.0: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2019/2/6/18213867/2019-nfl-mock-draft-with-trades

Mock Draft 2.0: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2019/2/15/18226767/2019-nfl-mock-draft-with-trades-2-0

Mock Draft 3.0: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2019/2/27/18243140/2019-nfl-mock-draft-with-trades-3-0

Mock Draft 4.0: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2019/3/2/18247454/2019-nfl-mock-draft-with-trades-4-0

Mock Draft 5.0: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2019/3/23/18278586/post-free-agency-nfl-mock-draft-with-trades

Mock Draft 6.0: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2019/4/9/18303670/the-montez-sweat-nfl-mock-draft

So this mock draft is intended to use the rumors I've heard, as well as how I think each team will approach the draft, to create the most realistic draft possible. Even though it's insane to do so, I will be predicting trades as well.

NFL Mock Draft 7.0:

Pick 1. Arizona Cardinals- Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama

Rumors have been going on that the Cardinals "aren't sold" on Kyler Murray, and finally we're hearing reports that they're no longer targeting Murray. Supposedly they either wanted someone to trade up for him, or they wanted to excite their fanbase. Either way their plan failed. So who will they pick if they don't draft Murray? Well they'll have their choice of Nick Bosa or Williams, the two best prospects in this class. Personally I believe they'll go with Williams, since I've seen reports that Williams won't last until the #3 pick, and we all know that the 49ers want Bosa. This makes sense for the Cardinals since they're set at edge-rushers with Jones and Suggs, so now they could use a dominant force in the middle.

Pick 2. San Francisco 49ers- Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Really the only choices the 49ers have are drafting Bosa or trading down with a team who wants a QB. Rumors said that they were "conflicted" between choosing Williams and Bosa, but now their choice has been made for them. They get the best edge-rusher in this class, and arguably the best player in this class.

Pick 3. (Trade from New York Jets to New York Giants)- Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

The Jets are doing everything they can to trade down, and they even said they'd be willing to trade down with the Giants if it came to it. Just read a rumor today that the Giants would consider trading up to the #3 pick to get Murray if he fell this far. With all the draft capital they've acquired through trades, they have enough to trade up to this spot without sacrificing their other first round pick. While I think Haskins is a better fit for them, you can't deny Murray's raw talent and athleticism. It would have been nice to see him paired with Beckham, but at least we get to see a backfield of Barkley and Murray.

Pick 4. Oakland Raiders- Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky

There have been several rumors saying that the Raiders are "in love" with Williams. Well unfortunately he's not available, and if the Cardinals do select him, the Raiders never even had the chance to get him. It almost makes me wonder whether the Cardinals are trying to use the Raiders' love for Williams to try and get them to trade up for him. But until I see rumors that the Cardinals are targeting Williams, the Raiders are keeping this pick to get the next best edge-rusher in this class to help their anemic pass-rush. Since Allen can play at OLB he'll also help out their trash LBs.

Pick 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Devin White, ILB, LSU

The Bucs would love to trade down here, but unless some QB-needy team gets desperate enough to trade into a top 5 pick, I don't see them finding a trade partner. They have a lot of needs, but they have to go defense here. White makes the most sense since their LBs weren't great to begin with, and they lost their best one in Alexander to the 49ers. Also, many believe that White should be a top 5 pick, so the Bucs get a good value pick here as well. Supposedly they're very interested in White as well.

Pick 6. New York Jets- Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

Supposedly the Jets are becoming very interested in Oliver, with Walterfootball reporting that there's so much smoke around this idea that it's basically a "forest fire". While I don't like the idea of the Jets drafting Oliver over Allen with the 3rd pick, I'm perfectly fine with them trading back and still getting him.

Pick 7. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

The Jaguars get the best O-lineman in this class to help protect Nick Foles. Personally I think a WR is the bigger need for them since they addressed their RB issue a few years ago by drafting Fournette, they just signed Andrew Norwell last year in Free Agency to help their O-line, but they haven't done anything to help their WR group. But the general consensus seems to be that the Jaguars are going OT with this pick.

Pick 8. Detroit Lions- Montez Sweat, OLB, Mississippi State

Since Ed Oliver is gone, the Falcons have no reason to trade up anymore, so the Lions lose their trade partner. Supposedly the Lions are "interested" in Sweat, so this would be a good spot for him.

Pick 9. Buffalo Bills- D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

The Bills need to improve their offense to build around Josh Allen, and they can do that by either protecting him with a good O-line or by getting him weapons. Unfortunately the Jags got the best RT available in this class, so the Bills are forced to get a weapon instead. I could see them trading down if they don't think any top 10 players are available to them to try and get back some of the draft capital they traded last year to get Allen. A lot of people have them going with Ed Oliver here, but as you can already tell he's not available, and I don't think they should go defense with this pick. Also, rumors say that them and the Packers want to make Metcalf a top 15 pick.

Pick 10. Denver Broncos- T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

I'm finally going to entertain the ideas that the Broncos aren't going to use this pick or any first round pick for a QB. Hockenson to the Broncos has been an idea floating around recently, and it basically makes sense. Hockenson is good enough to be a top 10 pick, and with his skillset he'll help the Broncos out in the run and in the pass. Supposedly the Broncos aren't interested in Lock anymore, and they don't think any QB is worth a top 10 pick.

Pick 11. Cincinnati Bengals- Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

A while ago there were rumors that the Bengals were one of several teams interested in Haskins, and I recently read a rumor that they are "all in" on getting a QB with this pick. I wouldn't advise them to trade up for a QB, but if a franchise QB like Haskins falls to them I completely support their decision to draft him. As long as Andy Dalton is their starting QB they will never be anything better then mediocre, so Haskins will give them a future to look forward to.

Pick 12. Green Bay Packers- Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

The Packers were very aggressive in Free Agency, and we would probably be talking about them as the winners of the offseason if it weren't for the Browns, so really the only need for the Packers is a TE.

Pick 13. (Trade from Miami Dolphins to Houston Texans)- Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State

The Texans just signed Kalil to a 1-year contract. If they think he's the answer for them at LT, well then we won't have to worry about them making the Super Bowl. After missing out on the best OTs in Free Agency, and after the having the worst O-line in the league, the Texans must go with an OT in the 1st round. Since they have a lot of O-line needy teams picking in front of them, it is worth to them to trade this much to be able to pick the best LT in this class.

Pick 14. Atlanta Falcons- Brian Burns, DE, Florida State

Since Oliver is taken before the Lions' pick, the Falcons don't trade up. Also, rumors said a while ago that they're not interested in Christian Wilkins, so that explains why they'll pass on him here. So if they don't go DT, the only logical choice is an edge rusher. I don't know why but Burns to the Falcons seems like a logical fit to me.

Pick 15. Washington Redskins- Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

Rumors say that the Redskins are interested in Haskins or Lock. Well if they don't feel like trading up for Haskins, they can stay put and let Lock fall to them.

Pick 16. (Trade from Carolina Panthers to Pittsburg Steelers)- Devin Bush, OLB, Michigan

Ever since his combine, there has been a lot of hype around Devin Bush. Supposedly the Steelers would love for him to fall to their pick, and another rumor says that if he falls to the 10-20 range, expect a team to trade up for him. Since the Steelers trading with the Panther seems to be a popular idea, they trade up for an athletic OLB to help replace Shazier.

Pick 17. New York Giants- Rashaan Gary, DL, Michigan

Supposedly Gettleman is "in love" with the idea of getting a pass-rusher with the 6th pick. Well if they trade up for Murray then they'll have to wait until this pick to get one. Lucky for them, the "Hog Molly" of a D-lineman that they were probably going to pick with the 6th pick is available here.

Pick 18. Minnesota Vikings- Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

The Vikings, like many teams, have an O-line problem. They could realistically use an upgrade at any O-line position, especially Guard. Fortunately for them Williams can play almost any O-line position, and his most natural position is probably Guard.

Pick 19. (Trade from Tennessee Titans to Philadelphia Eagles)- Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

In an article I read, the Titans were seen as a team in need of trading down, while the Eagles were recommended to trade up, so this move makes sense. The Eagles addressed their primary needs in Free Agency, so they can move up to get a beast for their D-line.

Pick 20. (Trade from Pittsburg Steelers to Carolina Panthers)- Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

While I've entertained the notion of the Panthers trading back in my Panthers Mock Drafts, I haven't done so yet in my NFL Mock Drafts. While I don't think we're really looking to trade back in the draft, if Sweat, Taylor, Dillard, and Burns are all gone, I think a trade-back makes sense. Especially since we can still get a quality pass-rusher in Ferrell here while acquiring extra draft picks. Another reason I had us trading back is because Gary fell to our original pick, and I don't want to see what happens if we're forced to choose between the potential bust in Gary and the safe pick in Ferrell.

Pick 21. Seattle Seahawks- Chris Lindstrom, Guard, Boston College

I originally was going to have the Seahawks trade this pick since they are another team that is recommended to trade down. But if they trade Frank Clark, which it seems like they will, they should keep this pick. I would have them going with a pass-rusher to replace Clark, but unfortunately none of the better ones are available. So they instead they use this pick to get probably the best and most natural pure Guard in this class, which is another position of need for the Seahawks.

Pick 22. (Trade from Baltimore Ravens to Los Angeles Chargers)- Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma

The Chargers know that they are in win now mode with Rivers towards the backend of his career, so they trade up for a player to fill a position of need. Ford can play basically any position on the O-line, but his most natural position is at RT, which just so happens to be the Chargers' biggest weakness on their O-line.

Pick 23. (Trade from Houston Texans to Miami Dolphins)- Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss

We all know that the Dolphins are "tanking for Tua" at this point, so they don't mind acquiring a lot of draft capital to trade down. Just like the Seahawks, they have a big need on their D-line, but there's no one worth this pick. So since they have O-line issues they go with the next best one available. Little can start at RT, and if the Dolphins can't afford Laremy Tunsil after this season, they can move Little to LT.

Pick 24. Oakland Raiders- Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

The Raiders desperately need a runningback, and they pick the best one in this class to help out their offense. CB is arguably a bigger need here, but Josh Jacobs has more value then any of the other corners in this class. Supposedly the Raiders are one of many "in love" with Jacobs.

Pick 25. (Trade from Philadelphia Eagles to Tennessee Titans)- Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

The Titans would have really liked to have gotten Wilkens with their original pick, but they only have around 5 draft picks in total so they must trade down. They would have liked Devin Bush as well, but unfortunately he's not here either. I've seen Lawrence mocked to them a lot, so that's who they go with.

Pick 26. Indianapolis Colts- Jeffrey Simmons, DT, Mississippi State

Rumors say that either the Eagles or the Colts are going to target Simmons in the draft. To me drafting someone who can't play his first season seems like a really conservative approach, and the Eagles are anything but conservative when it comes to their offseason. The Colts on the other hand had a very conservative Free Agency, so why not do the same in the draft? I'm sure they GM will think that as long as they have Andrew Luck they'll be a contender, so they don't need someone to start right away. This especially makes sense considering Lawrence was the last DT worthy of a 1st round pick.

Pick 27. Oakland Raiders- Byron Murphy, CB, Washington State

The Raiders secondary was one of the worst in the league, and since they got Lamarcus Joyner they need a CB more then S. They get lucky that the CB class is so bad, since the best CB in this class falls to them here.

Pick 28. (Trade from Los Angeles Chargers to Baltimore Ravens)- A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss

After losing a lot of Free Agents this past offseason, the Ravens need as much draft capital as they can get to fill their needs. Since none of the premier pass-rushers fell to them, they trade down and go with their other biggest need: a weapon for Lamar Jackson. Supposedly they are weary about getting a WR in the 1st round, but since they traded back, acquired some extra picks, and are picking so late in the 1st it seems like less of a risk. I don't see more then two WRs going in the 1st round, but the only question is who will be the 2nd WR taken. Metcalf is guaranteed, but it will either be A.J. Brown, Marquise Brown, or N'Keal Harry as the next one taken. A.J. Brown seems to be the less risky pick, since he isn't injury prone or solely dependent on his speed like Marquise Brown, and he isn't solely dependent on his size like Harry. Before Metcalf blew up, A.J. Brown was considered the best WR in this class, and I think besides Metcalf he is the most likely to develop into a WR1 role. He has a good combination of size, speed, and elusiveness that allows him to be whatever type of receiver an offense needs him to be.

Pick 29. (Trade from Kansas City Chiefs to Seattle Seahawks)- Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech

This pick is what the Chiefs traded to the Seahawks in order to acquire Frank Clark. If you want to know why I have them trading their 1st round pick for Clark, read this: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2019/4/22/18509970/why-we-should-trade-for-frank-clark. This may be surprising to some, but this is my first mock draft having Ferguson in the first round. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, all the best pass rushers went early in this mock, so they have to reach here on a talented, yet controversial edge rusher who really should be a 2nd round pick. It seems kind of counterintuitive to trade away one talented pass rusher with character issues and then to draft another, but that's what the Seahawks have to do.

Pick 30. Green Bay Packers- Nasir Adderly, FS, Delaware

I could see the Packers going with a QB here as Rodgers' successor if they really liked him, but I don't see them using both of their first round picks on the offense. The Packers are set at pass-rusher/OLB with their recent Free Agent additions, their picks last year mean they are set at CB, and their D-line isn't bad either. While the addition of Amos did help out their safety group, they still need a true FS to fill the void left by Clinton-Dix.

Pick 31. Los Angeles Rams- Garrett Bradbury, C, N.C. State

The Rams get the best Center in this class to replace their old one.

Pick 32. New England Patriots- Chase Winovich, DE, Michigan

Supposedly the Patriots could trade up for Hockenson if he falls out of the top 10, but I don't see either of those things happening. Since they were weakened by the loss of Trey Flowers and Danny Shelton, they could use a D-lineman here. Unfortunately for them Simmons isn't available, so they have to go with the next best pass rusher here. Winovich is definitely just a solid Day 2 option, but he's also the type of player that Belichick would want on his team. I could see them trading up for a guy they like, but as of now I don't know who they would trade up for. And yes, they do pass on Daniel Jones because Belichick will never draft a QB in the first round, even after Brady retires.

There you have it. NFL Mock Draft 7.0. Please use the comments to give me feedback on my draft, and let me know how you think the draft will go. Thanks for reading!

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