The Cardinals are entering the 2021 NFL Draft without too much capital.
Arizona has a pair of early picks at 16 and 49 overall, but not much else after that. They’ll have a mid-round selection in the fifth round and then a pair of seventh-round picks. This is the result of trading for a few high-profile players over the past few years.
The Cardinals are without a third-round pick after trading with the Raiders for Rodney Hudson. Their 4th-round pick is gone, which is a result of their trade with the Texans for DeAndre Hopkins. The Cardinals’ sixth-round pick was traded to the Giants in exchange for Markus Golden.
Below is a deeper look at the Cardinals’ five NFL Draft picks, and what they might do with those selections.
MORE NFL DRAFT: Complete 7-round mock | Top 100 big board
Cardinals draft picks 2021: When does Arizona pick?
- Round 1, Pick No. 16: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
- Round 2, Pick No. 49: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
- Round 5, Pick No. 136: Marco Wilson, CB, Florida
- Round 6, Pick No. 210
- Round 6, Pick No. 223
- Round 7, Pick No. 243
- Round 7, Pick No. 247
Cardinals 2021 draft order
| Round | Pick |
| 1 | 16 |
| 2 | 49 |
| 5 | 160 |
| 7 | 243 |
| 7 | 247 |
Cardinals NFL Draft needs
- Cornerback: The Cardinals lost Patrick Peterson in free agency to the Vikings. Last year’s CBs Dre Kirkpatrick and Johnathan Joseph also became free agents. Arizona did add Malcolm Butler in free agency this year, but the rest of the depth chart isn’t too appealing. There’s also a chance Arizona cuts Robert Alford to save cap space. Cornerback is Arizona’s biggest need.
- Wide receiver: Arizona obviously has DeAndre Hopkins, but the team needs a plan for the future. The Cardinals added A.J. Green in free agency, but he’s only on a 1-year deal. Christian Kirk is also set to become a free agent next year. That leaves their No. 2 as Andy Isabella, who has just 413 yards in two seasons. This year’s draft is deep at wide receiver, so expect Arizona to take a wideout at some point.
- Tight end: Arizona lost three of the four tight ends on their roster from last season to free agency in 2021 (Dan Arnold, Darrell Daniels, Seth DeValve). Maxx Williams is the only tight end of note on the roster, but he hasn’t had much production in his NFL career and is set to become a free agent next year.
Arizona Cardinals mock draft 2021
Here are the latest 2021 NFL Draft projections for the Cardinals, according to Vinnie Iyer’s seven-round mock draft:
| Round | Pick No. | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Gregory Rousseau | EDGE | Miami |
| 2 | 49 | Javonte Williams | RB | UNC |
| 5 | 160 | Paddy Fisher | LB | Northwestern |
| 7 | 243 | Shaka Toney | EDGE | Penn State |
| 7 | 247 | Tre Walker | WR | San Jose State |