The Arizona Cardinals used their first-round pick to add the exciting Walter Nolen to a defensive line that has been given one hell of a makeover by Monti Ossenfort. You’d be hard pressed to find a position group in the league, on paper, that has made the leap in quality that the Cardinals defensive line has this offseason.

As we enter the second day of the draft, there are still gaps to fill on the roster. There are question marks over the offensive line, at linebacker and EDGE. The team have also shown an interest in adding another impact player to the cornerback room and sections of the media and the fan base have earmarked receiver as a position that could use some extra juice.

There are a number of options available at every position with some big name prospects sliding out of the first round. The first round makes the headlines. The second and third round could make the difference to the Cards making a playoff run.

If you can stomach some more draft content before we buckle up for the second and third round, here’s some potential Day 2 targets for the Arizona Cardinals.

Trey Amos – CB – Ole Miss – 6’1″ – 195 lbs – 31 1/4″ arms – 23 years old

A physically imposing athlete, Trey Amos enjoyed a break out year at Ole Miss after transferring from Alabama following Nick Saban’s retirement, gaining a PPF coverage grade of 85.6 and allowing a passer rating of 54.5.

Happy to get rough with receivers at the catch point and close to the line, Amos fights through hands to turn catches into incompletions and times his attacks on the ball well, using his length to his advantage. He had an SEC-best 16 passes defended in 2024.

Having spent time at ‘Bama, the 23-year-old has an ever-improving understanding of the game and awareness, as he was able to get significant game time under his belt at Ole Miss with over 840 snaps and showing the ability to perform well in both man and zone coverage. I think, at least for now, his best work comes in zone where he can rely on his athletic traits to cover up for any lapses of concentration or slow reads of the game.

That physicality can sometimes get him in trouble, as is often the case with college corners where refs let more shit slide, when he gets grabby. That will need to be polished in the pros.

Amos also suffers with some lower-half stiffness that means he has to nail every step or he can be thrown off kilter by savvy route runners or lose his speed when he makes a misstep.

Luther Burden III – WR – Missouri – 6’0″ – 206 lbs – 31 1/4″ arms – 21 years old

Achieving All-America honours in his sophomore year in 2023, having amassed 1209 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, Burden was pegged as a sure fire first-round talent at the start of the 2024 season.

Last season, the Missouri offence struggled, with Burden’s production taking a major hit – he produced nearly half the amount of yards (676) and just one 100+ yard game – but he still showed the flashes of high-end talent that could make him an intriguing option for the Cardinals.

Able to create something out of nothing with the ball in his hands, Burden has the necessary explosiveness, agility and vision to carve up defences after the catch. Crucially, he is not a slender “gadget guy” type of receiver. He is a well-built kid with the competitive toughness of a running back.

That mentality shows up at the catch point too, where he has a contested catch percentage above 50% over the past two years. Contact doesn’t bother him.

Burden can stop on a dime, leave defenders for dead and dart off in the other direction, using his flexibility and body control to quickly redirect both with and without the ball. He’s a sharp route runner who has some effective fluidity in his releases. He had 78 forced missed tackles over his college career.

As an out-and-out receiver, Burden shows good concentration and tracking ability to follow the ball and get himself underneath passes so that he can continue in stride when he’s got the ball, rather than coming to a stop to make the catch.

There have to be some concerns about his down year. Even though Missouri’s offence struggled as a whole and he wasn’t given the same opportunities as 2023 (getting 39 less targets) Burden has to shoulder some of that blame.

There will be questions about his attitude, which might be why he’s still available, with some examples of him not giving 100% on his tape or looking disinterested. He cut a frustrated figure in 2024 and some of that boiled over in a poor showing against Boston College where he fumbled and then gave away two poor 15-yard penalties including one for throwing an opposition player’s mouth guard away.

He has confessed himself that he has to “cut the nonsense out”.

If the Cardinals want a new speedy option from the slot, Burden could be their guy, if they are happy with Burden as a personality.

Aireontae Ersery – OT – Minnesota – 6’6″ – 331 lbs – 33 1/2″ arms – 23 years old

The Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year for 2024, Aireontae Ersery spent three years as the starting left tackle at Minnesota after not playing football until his sophomore year of high school.

With an NFL-ready build and length, Ersery showcases an explosiveness to get out of his stance and set to take on defenders which translates into speed to get to the second level where he is a high-impact blocker.

Despite his late introduction to football, prior experience in basketball and dance has given him an excellently well-educated pair of feet that glide smoothly round the field especially when you factor in his size. Though he played 96.3% of his snaps at left tackle, that level of footwork bodes well for a possible move to the right side.

A broad-shouldered, well-built young man, Ersery can anchor down and stonewall rushers that try to go through him and he uses his length well to steer them away from the pocket and defend against inside moves.

He continued to improve throughout his college career and in 2024 he surrendered one sack, one QB hit and ten hurries. Admittedly more suited to a zone-style offence after featuring in the Gophers’ zone-heavy scheme (he had a PFF grade of 77.3 in Zone compared to 62.9 in gap), he flashes the necessary upper-body strength and torque to continue to develop as a gap player.

Despite the leaps he made in college, there are certain nuances of the games that escape Ersery due to being “new” to the position. He still puts too much weight over his toes which can create issues with his balance and when rushers are able to get underneath him.

Coming off the ball quickly is a positive but can sometimes be done in an undisciplined manner leading to high pad level and his hand usage gets less and less disciplined when on the move as he continues to try and marry that connection between upper and lower body.

When things don’t go his way, he can panic and develop Happy Feet, chopping at the turf rather than gliding.

There are also pitfalls to being 6’6″ as he’s stiffer than smaller tackles in the class which is most apparent when changing direction and engaging his hips.

Newly-appointed Defensive Line Coach Winston DeLattiboudere has first-hand experience of Ersery having joined the team from Minnesota where he was assistant coach and defensive line coach, seeing Ersery every day in practice. His opinion could prove pivotal for any Cards fans eyeing Ersery.

Donovan Ezeiruaku – EDGE – Boston College – 6’2 1/2″ – 248 lbs – 34″ arms – 21 years old

A savvy player who blends exciting physical attributes with an acute awareness of how to attack an offensive tackle, Donovan Ezeiruaku was virtually unstoppable for the Boston College Eagles over the past year. 

Boasting a bevy of pass-rush attacks, the Eagles team captain tied the school’s all-time record for single–season sacks of 16.5, held by Harold Landry, in 2024 which saw him earn the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s best defensive end as well as being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. 

Able to perform a variety of moves with precision, timing and speed, Ezeiruaku can leave an offensive tackle bewildered in the blink of an eye before utilising his natural athleticism to show good bend to get to the quarterback. He’d be a natural fit as one of the outside linebackers in the Cardinals 3-4 system.

A two-time team captain at BC, Ezeiruaku is a player who impacts the game. He finished top three in the FBS in 2024 for tackles for loss (20.5), had 8 forced fumbles in the last three seasons and 76 hurries in the same time period. He joined Mathias Kiwanuka as the only players in school history to reach 30 career sacks.

At the Combine, he recorded a 6.94 second three cone and 4.19 second shuttle score, which were a position group best for those players participating which shows his agility and fluidity.

One of the most promising signs for Ezeiruaku is that he consistently attacks “the half man” when facing a tackle, isolating and striking one side rather than getting caught up directly in his opposing man’s chest. 

One of the reasons that he does that plays into some of the concerns surrounding the 21-year-old. Ezeiruaku doesn’t produce the necessary speed-to-power to bash through opposing linemen. Anthony Belton was able to swallow him up at times during Senior Bowl drills

While a credible run defender at the college level – he scored an 83.6 run defence PFF grade with a 10.1% run stop rate – it remains to be seen whether he possesses the functional strength to contribute as much in that department in the pros. 

His Senior Bowl measurements of 248 lbs (some analysts were worried he was playing below the 240 mark) and over 34 inch arms may go some way to calming part of those concerns. He will have to get stronger overall to not be pigeonholed as a Designated Pass Rusher.

A durable player, Ezeiruaku started 36 straight games before opting out of the 2024 bowl game.

Landon Jackson – EDGE – Arkansas – 6’6″ – 264 lbs – 33 1/4″ arms – 22 years old

There are no size or weight concerns with Arkansas defender Landon Jackson who is one big hunk of pissed off pass rusher. Transferring to Arkansas after one year at LSU, Jackson transformed himself, adding over 40 pounds to his frame to make him a terrifying prospect for opposition linemen. 

Powerful, broad shouldered and tenacious, Jackson is capable of tearing through a tackle with his hands. There are snaps where he’s playing football like an actor in a cheesy movie, just ploughing through people with “dumb jock energy”.

That uber-aggressiveness and raw strength also makes him a destroyer of worlds in the run game, with top of the class ability to stack and shed blockers, earning Jackson a 88.7 run defence grade from PFF. 

It isn’t all power though for the Texas native. He added some nuance to his game at the line of scrimmage this year, batting down 3 pass attempts and he’s far more spry than a man of his size should be giving him some good cornering ability in the backfield.

His Euro step is more effective than it has any right to be. Jackson logged 7 sacks in 2024. 

The 22-year-old showed some agility and slickness at the Senior Bowl before putting in a Combine performance that shocked a lot of people. Jackson had the second best broad jump at 10′ 9″ and the best vertical at 40.50″ amongst his position.

There are two major issues for Jackson when projecting him to the next level. He’s suffered two ACL injuries, one in high school and one as a freshman in college, and that’s something that always threatens to rear its ugly head. He also had a broken ankle in 2020 and a neck injury at the end of the 2024 season.

Also, despite his destructive play, when Jackson doesn’t win with power he doesn’t win consistently enough. An 11.5% pass rush win rate is on the lower end amongst the players he is ranked alongside. There are moments where his imposing frame become a hindrance as he’s got long, stiff legs and is yet to refine his counter moves.

Due to his capabilities in the run game he will still be a viable 3 down player immediately while he works on that. 

He wouldn’t be a do-it-all superstar for the Cardinals but he would allow Nick Rallis to dial up a thunder and lightning combination between himself and BJ Ojulari/Baron Browning, potentially as the #2 and #3 options behind Sweat. 

Will Johnson – CB – Michigan – 6’2″ – 194 lbs – 30 1/8″ arms – 22 years old

Will Johnson was meant to be a future Top 5 pick after an All-America season in 2023 including being the defensive MVP in the national championship game. Then, after a year where his form suffered in part due to injury, he was supposed to be an incredibly valuable pick-up in the middle of the first round, at worst.

Nobody saw Will Johnson still being available on Day 2.

During last night’s coverage, NFL insiders highlighted that many teams were concerned over a previously unknown knee condition/injury that had been flagged during Johnson’s medical checks that could impact his longevity as a professional athlete.

A scheme fit for the Cardinals, as a terrific zone-cover corner, when Johnson has produced his best work it has been of an elite standard. The praise he was receiving at this time last year was warranted.

Allowing a passer rating of just 30.9 and making 4 interceptions, he showed fantastic anticipation and understanding of the game to read plays and stay a step ahead of receivers – quite literally in some cases, breaking ahead of receivers to steal the ball. Johnson had a Michigan career record three pick sixes.

His battles against Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Michigan – Ohio State clashes are a joy to behold. Two top dogs at the peak of their college careers going blow for blow.

Much was made of his lack of long speed in the lead up to the draft but Johnson is a smooth, long athlete that can track more athletically gifted receivers and has the size to go toe-to-toe with bigger pass catchers. He can comfortably flip his hips to change direction and fluidly motors through the gears to go from backpedalling to full stride.

The newly reported knee concerns aside, Johnson’s output did slide last year and while some of that was due to discomfort from lingering injuries, some weaknesses were exposed.

He doesn’t have top-tier long speed and when he is beaten in man coverage, it’s noticeable. This is best highlighted from the game against Washington where he ends up committing a costly pass interference foul that helped close the game out for the Huskies, as he couldn’t recover.

For a Jonathan Gannon defence where the tackling standard is set by Budda Baker, Johnson isn’t the strongest tackler. He’s willing but his technique isn’t developed. Rather than wrapping up and driving through with his shoulder, the 22-year-old is guilty of throwing himself wildly at the target. He had a 14.5% missed tackle rate in college which spiked at 20.8 in 2024.

The most obvious concern though is the knee issue. The level of talent is certainly first round level and there are no character concerns at all so it must be a worrying diagnosis. This Cardinals regime has gambled on medical history before but this might be too much of a gamble.

Marcus Mbow – IOL – Purdue – 6’4″ – 302 lbs – 32 1/2″ arms – 22 years old

A senior captain and starting center on Wauwatosa East’s 2021 Division I state championship basketball team, Marcus Mbow grew up dreaming of taking to the NBA court before also taking up football in middle school. After being a three-year starter at Purdue, Mbow enters the NFL draft as an intriguing prospect capable of playing a number of positions.

His basketball background is evident in the way Mbow glides around the field, with incredible body control and grace, giving him the ability to take on different defenders. Against speed rushers, Mbow is often as talented an athlete so can match them step for step, while his fluid hips and well-cut frame make him a challenging prospect for power rushers as he can absorb contact and flip the momentum of impact.

Able to mirror well in pass pro, with sharp and reactive footwork, Mbow has significant burst going forwards and side-to-side. He has intelligent hands that can trick rushers into prematurely reaching out and disrupting their attacks.

In the run game, he understands the correct angles to take when blocking because he has to win that way.

Being a smaller offensive lineman, while complementing his footwork and agility, comes with some knock backs. Mbow doesn’t have the desirable size, length or natural power to stick at tackle in the NFL. He can already be overpowered at the college level and that will only be more likely in the pros.

Mbow is also too laid back. Not in a bad attitude/team player way – he is a high-motor dude in all four quarters – but he never looks concerned or panicked. That’s usually a great quality to have but it’s like he thinks he’s 340 lbs. Adding some urgency will make taking on those bigger guys a bit easier.

Unlike with other tackle-to-guard converts, Mbow actually has experience there having played 14 games at right guard for Purdue, meaning a position change should be more comfortable for him.

Wyatt Milum – IOL – West Virginia – 6’6″ – 313 lbs – 32 5/8″ arms – 22 years old

Wyatt Milum was a one-man wrecking crew during his time at West Virginia. The home-state stand-out didn’t give up a single sack between 2022 and 2024. In the same time frame, he was responsible for one QB hit and 29 hurries, 6 of which came in the last year.

A mauling beserker of an offensive lineman, defenders were left reeling by Milum’s booming punches and were unable to disengage when he got hold of them. Milum plays with a terrifying competitive edge and put opposition players into the ground with ease.

In 2024, Milum earned elite PFF grades of 92.5 (pass blocking), 92.9 (against true pass sets), 90 (zone grade) and 89.2 (run blocking) with a 96.70% pass-block win rate in 1-on-1 pass-rushing scenarios.

When rushers could evade Milum’s grasp and challenge him, he showed a consistent anchoring technique and football IQ to put out any fires before they could spread. Unlike other bully-boy offensive lineman, the 22-year-old Milum is able to take it as well as dish it out, happy to absorb contact as long as you’re prepared to receive an immediate receipt.

His average length and lateral quicks will necessitate a move to guard to get the best out of him in the NFL and Milum is already preparing for that. He took guard snaps at the Senior Bowl and has been practicing at the position during the lead up to the draft.

At the Senior Bowl, some of the better rushers on display were able to exploit Milum’s high pad level to win 1-on-1 reps. This isn’t a new thing for Milum, it was apparent at West Virginia, it just wasn’t an issue because of the level of competition he was up against. He will have to figure that out as he gets used to the position – he only played LT in college – to force himself into an NFL lineup.

Chris Paul Jr. – MLB – Ole Miss – 6’1” – 222lbs – 29” ⅞ arms – 22 years old 

A second-team All-SEC and a first-team All-American (by USA Today) in 2024, Chris Paul Jr. brings the coverage skills that were lacking in the Cardinals linebacking room this year. 

Paul’s 19 coverage stops was tied for 15th in the nation amongst linebackers, with his 4 forced incompletions tied for 26th, highlighting the instincts and recognition skills that are easily identifiable for anyone who watched Ole Miss’s defence over the past year. 

It was an area that the linebacker wanted to address when he transferred to Ole Miss, with this year being by far his best in that area of the field. 

Nicknamed “Pooh” by his family, the Arkansas graduate may also be the best tackler amongst the 2024 linebacker class.

Showing textbook execution when bringing down the ball carrier, Paul missed just 4 tackles on 621 defensive snaps all season which equated to the lowest missed tackle rate in the entire 2025 linebacker class – 4.5%. Over the course of the last two seasons, that equals to 6.2%. 

The 22-year-old ranked seventh among all FBS linebackers with an 87.2 PFF grade, one of just three players be graded at 78 and above in run defence, coverage and rushing the passer.

Showing a renewed focus on physicality after discussions with his linebackers coach at Ole Miss, with scouts wanting to see more from him in that department, Paul Jr. displayed an intensity that had him shocking much bigger men. 

In a brilliant interview from the Shrine Bowl with Bootleg Football, Paul explains his philosophy in simple terms – “I get a guard, I’m tryna blow it up”. 

Having been a key part of bringing together a defence that boasted several first-year transfers which would go on to be the nation’s second stingiest – giving up 14.4 points per game – is a testament to Chris Paul’s character. He feels like a Ossenfort/Gannon type of dude. 

The obvious concerns for Paul in making the step-up to the pro game is his frame. He needs to add mass quickly. He can get knocked around at the college level especially when he doesn’t have the downhill momentum to crash into other players, so it will be a case of taking his vitamins and saying his prayers as soon as he lands with his new team. 

CPJ also does’t have the speed you’d associate with such a slight frame – 10 linebackers had a better 40 time than him at the Combine (4.63) and he had the 2nd worst split (1.62). 

Though they added Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykal Walker to their linebacker corps in free agency, Paul feels like a great fit both on and off the field for the Cardinals. 

Tate Ratledge – IOL– 6’6″ – 308 lbs – 32 1/2″ arms – 24 years old

Receiving All-American and All-SEC First Team honours in both of the past two seasons, Tate Ratledge cemented himself as one of the leaders of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Clocking up over 2000 snaps in the past three seasons at right guard, Ratledge is the human embodiment of the mullet he sports- business at the front, party at the back. He’s an infectious, fun personality off the field but when the helmet goes on and there’s football to be played, he’s 100% dialled in, ready to tear heads off of defensive linemen.

Ratledge is an offensive line coach’s dream player because he moves defenders with his lower half and controls them with his upper half, bullying the opposition out of gaps. He plays with a flat back, tight hands and consistent low pads. When he latches on, he doesn’t let go and is a super-smart football player who isn’t fooled by adjustments. Technically sound and well-disciplined, Ratledge was penalised only 3 times in his final 2 seasons.

He is also light on his feet. At the Combine, Ratledge scored the joint-2nd best 10-yard split (1.62) amongst OL, the best 40 time (4.97) and the best 3-cone (7.38).

Adored by his teammates, 95% of Georgia’s players voted for him to be a team captain.

The main concern with Tate Ratledge is his medical record. He has missed at least one game in each of his last four seasons and 20 in total across his career. He missed four games in 2024 and had season-ending surgery on a Lisfranc injury in his freshman year.

There are also occasions when he can miss his punches and become overextended. Anyone who has boxed at all will know how jarring it is to miss the target. As is common with these powerful, mean fellas, Ratledge can also become overzealous in his blocking.

He could be a great addition to the Cardinals roster if the team are comfortable with his medical history. They haven’t shied away from taking that type of gamble under Monti Ossenfort.

Jonah Savaiinaea – IOL – University of Arizona  – 6’4″ – 324 lbs – 34″ arms – 21 years old

Offensive linemen with Polynesian roots are usually really good in the NFL. Draft them. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

Jonah Savaiinaea falls into that category and while his future will likely lie at guard, he brings experience at both tackle spots from his time as a Wildcat.

A thickset individual with bear claws to snatch and stun at contact (he has 10 1/4″ hands), Savaiinaea takes you trying to do your job of hunting the quarterback like a personal attack on a family member and having spent time with Polynesian guys in my younger days on the rugby field, that’s the last thing you want.

He plays hard and is always searching for the next block rather than admiring his work.

However, he isn’t a one-trick pony. The 21-year-old has efficient quickness, able to transfer his weight well, with his 1.72 second 10-yard split at the Combine being the fastest amongst prospects weighing over 315 pounds.

He was only flagged once in 2024 and brings a reliability factor having played in 36 straight games across three different positions (LT, RT, RG) at Arizona.

Though he brings that positional versatility, Savaiinaea will be best suited to the interior in the NFL. There is some stiffness in his hips that becomes more apparent the more he’s asked to move laterally and that should be hidden better on the inside.

He can be guilty of playing upright and has struggled in the run game where he falls off blocks more than you’d like. NFL coaching should help him add the necessary discipline to his footwork to keep his feet underneath him.

Promisingly, he still has additional strength to add as a 21-year-old. He only picked up weights in high school. He could become a monster under the right S+C plan.

Nic Scourton – EDGE – Texas A&M – 6’3″ – 257 lbs – 33″ arms – 20 years old

When Nic Scourton transferred to Texas A+M from Purdue, he did so with the intent to build on a fabulous spell with the Boilermakers which had him pegged as many draft analysts as the #1 EDGE coming into the 2024 season. 

A less than inspiring year with the Aggies that brought only 4 sacks and 4 QB hits has seen him slip down boards and out of first round consideration for certain media members. 

Everything that made Scourton such an exciting prospect at Purdue – the violent hands, the array of pass-rushing moves, his complete disdain for being touched by offensive linemen – came with less regularity this past year. 

The discourse around the system that the Aggies Dline employs is well known by now, with much of their play predicated on containing the opposition and in doing so limiting the outright output of their defensive stars but some of this falls on Scourton as well.

Whether as a young man, having turned 20 in August, Scourton didn’t truly find his feet from a social side in Texas, his NIL deal cooled his flame or if he wasn’t clicking with coaches, something wasn’t quite right. It was like Dr Evil had stolen his mojo, baby. 

He definitely struggled against the standout competition he faced, particularly Missouri’s Armand Membou, so that has to be a consideration. 

There were also technical issues that crept into his game that hadn’t been prominent at Purdue.

Scourton fell into a habit of elevating from his back foot which in turn raised his pads, making him an easier, more manageable proposition for linemen. He isn’t the calibre of athlete to get away with that.

This was also an issue for teammate Shemar Stewart so could point to a potential problem with the Aggies coaching staff. 

Even then, he still posted a 17.3% pass rush win rate, 38 overall pressures, had strong showings in the run game and flashed enough of the ability he showed at Purdue. In the past two seasons he has led a Big Ten team and an SEC team in sacks and he can’t drink alcohol yet.

I count it as good news that he came into the pre-draft process around the 260-pound mark after playing north of 280 in 2024, as some of the heavy-footedness he experienced over the past season might be linked to the increase in weight.

When he’s at his best, Scourton is an exhilarating watch, showing smarts to anticipate plays and use his powerful hands to swipe away linemen and remain clean.

It’ll be down to some good defensive minds to coax him back to his best in the NFL. It’s a good job the Arizona Cardinals have two of those in Jonathan Gannon and Nick Rallis.

Bradyn Swinson – LSU – 6’4″ – 255 lbs – 33 3/8″ arms – 22 years old

A riser amongst the draft community, Bradyn Swinson was a one-year starter at LSU, bursting onto the scene in 2024 with 9 sacks and earning Second Team All-SEC honours.

Swinson brings a savvy bag of pass-rush moves and long arms to the party, using his length to manipulate tackles, creating just enough space to burst into and impact the QB. He boasts incredibly effective swim and cross chop moves with his ability to control his body allowing him to get through the smallest of creases

He led the Tigers in tackles for loss (13), sacks (9) and pressures (59, fifth most in the FBS).

With a 22.1% pass-rush win rate in 2024 and eye-popping PFF grades of 90.3 (pass rush) and 91.4 versus true pass sets, Swinson displayed active hands that constantly move with purpose throughout the play, swiping away to allow him to dictate contact and grab hold of his target.

Breaking down his numbers, his win rate against true pass sets (plays excluding screens, play action or RPO) sits at 32.6%, #6 overall in the class, a smidge behind Abdul Carter (33.3%).

He also offers some versatility with LSU asking him to rush interior gaps at times.

On the downside for Swinson, he can get picked on in the run game where he doesn’t effectively set the edge and has average play strength, something that can also become a major obstacle when rushing given his go-to tactics of utilising his arm length. If he doesn’t execute it cleanly, he can be knocked off course or swallowed up by powerful tackles.

When he is engaged by those tackles, he doesn’t have the composure or strength to disengage and can end up becoming a non-factor while the play carries on.

There are some minor reports around Swinson’s character, with claims that he “butted heads” with coaches a few times and he was kept out of the first quarter of LSU’s game against Florida for “not meeting team standards”.

2024 was his first year of major production after three quiet years at Oregon (3 sacks and 5.5 TFLs in 3 seasons) and a middling first year as a rotational member of the LSU roster.

If he can improve in the run game and continue to show out as a pass rusher, Swinson could be Josh Sweat’s alternate for the Cardinals.

Kyle Williams – WR – Washington State – 5’11” – 190 lbs – 30” ⅛ arms – 22 years old

Since Christian Kirk left for Jacksonville, it has felt like Cardinals fans have been hoping for a field-stretching wide receiver option to be added to the offence. 

At this stage of the draft, nobody fills that job description better than Washington State’s Kyle Williams. 

If you go purely on Combine numbers, Williams doesn’t scream deep threat playmaker – his 4.40 40 time was tied 11th amongst receivers and only 5 players had a slower split (1.55) – but football isn’t played out in a vest and shorts. In actual game scenarios Williams is much quicker than that. He was the fastest receiver at Senior Bowl practices, clocking in a top speed of 21.36 mph. 

The 14 receiving touchdowns Williams scored in 2024 ranked fourth in college football, with the 8th most overall yards in the nation with 1198 yards, as he led the Cougars with 70 receptions. 

Demonstrating strength and bravery through contact, both in open play and at the catch point, Williams averaged 8.4 yards after contact in 2024 tied for 15th amongst receivers. He showed great playmaking ability after receptions as he reaches top speed.

While he compiled the 11th most screen yards (232), the majority of his work came down the field as he made 14 deep catches (tied for 10th amongst receivers) for 454 deep yards (tied 24th) i.e. any pass that travelled through the air for 20+ yards. Williams averaged 17.1 yards per catch and 2.71 yards per route run. 

Lining up both outside and in the slot, the former UNLV prospect shows good body control particularly when close to the touchline. 

Though he could be an exciting addition to any NFL roster, Williams has several glaring holes in his game that need to be improved upon for him to be a significant contributor. 

In 2024, he dropped 5 catchable passes (a 6.7% rate) and much of this is down to being a body catcher rather than having the confidence in his hands. 

There will also be some concerns over his route running ability. His most eye-catching work was done when Washington deployed a “fuck it, Kyle will be down there somewhere” attitude and had him beat the corner with straight speed but that’s kind of what you’d be drafting him for, at least initially. 

Image Credits: University of Mississippi Athletics, Missouri Athletics, Gophers Athletics, Boston College, Senior Bowl, University of Arkansas Athletics, Purdue Athletics Dept.,