Grading Every Arizona Cardinals Draft Pick

With the NFL draft concluded, NFL teams are starting to gear up for free agency after addressing needs in the NFL draft with the hopes of exceeding new expectations for the season, whether that’s making progress in a rebuild, competing for a playoff spot, or finally winning the Super Bowl. Let’s see how every team did in each round of the NFL draft starting with the Arizona Cardinals.

Round 1: 16th overall, Walter Nolen. DT Ole Miss

Nolen was ranked 2nd overall in defensive tackle prospects in the NCAA after two years with Texas A&M and this past year with Ole Miss. While at Ole Miss, he recorded 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a key anchor for the 2nd best rushing defense in the country. Nolen possesses a great first step which helps him consistently beat offensive linemen and good lateral agility. He’s also got a good feel for pass rushing with swim moves and an ability to collapse the pocket which puts the QB in trouble even when not recording stats. He will need to work on his gap consistency and counter pass rush moves and get more consistent with his hands in the pass rush. This made him one of the most boom or bust prospects in the NFL draft sparking debate between analysts and fans.

Nonetheless head coach Jonathan Gannon has made his belief in Nolen well known calling him a “game changing talent” and Nolen has shown no shortage of confidence calling himself “the next Aaron Donald” as an emphasis to his versatility and desire to win.

Arizona’s rushing defense struggled to stop the run 1.1 rushing touchdowns a game, 18th in the league, 4.6 rushing yards per attempt, 25th in the league and 126.4 rushing yards a game, good for 20th in the NFL. This all but nullified Arizona’s own potent rushing attack. The Cardinals also added Josh Sweat to the team, who had his best year in Philadelphia under Gannon. Along with the Walter Nolen selection, the rushing defense should improve from the front seven. To add to that, in a division with Nick Bosa in San Francisco, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in Los Angeles and Leonard Williams, Boye Mafe and Derick Hall in Seattle, Arizona’s defense lacked the same playmakers and was the clear cut worst in the division from a personnel standpoint with Zaven Collins leading the team in sacks with only 5 and Kyzir White, who recorded 9 tackles for loss, behind only Budda Baker, leaving in Free Agency.

Many Cardinals fans were hoping for the team to improve at the inside Linebacker position with interest in Jalon Walker from Georgia, Jihad Campbell from Alabama and Demetrius Knight Jr from South Carolina. With Jihad Campbell and Knight both available, Arizona could have used any one of their talents to replace Kyzir White who was also the lead tackler. Other than White and Baker, no one on the cardinals defense recorded 100 tackles or more with only safety Jalen Thompson coming close with 98. Therefore, one could argue that inside linebacker was a more important need than front seven but Gannon clearly felt differently.

Ultimatley, Arizona’s defense was in a place where any defensive player selected would have been met with praise given the lack of talent on the defense and getting the anchor to the second best rushing defense in the country is a great way to start. It also fits with Gannon’s vision of building through the trenches which no team should be faulted for given the eagles just won the Super Bowl and the lions went from one of the worst situations in the NFL to consistent championship contenders by building from the trenches. Time will tell if Arizona can get similar results, it will depend on how Nolen pans out.

Final grade: B+

Round 2: 47th overall, Will Johnson. CB, Michigan:

Arizona is the winner of many teams getting scared of Will Johnson’s injury history throughout the draft process. Not only does Will address another need for the Cardinals defense in the secondary. He’s more or less the best CB available in the NFL draft with Travis Hunter and Texas’ Jahdae Barron really the only one coming close to matching the Michigan product’s production.

In his three years at Michigan, Johnson recorded 68 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions and 3 pick sixes. He’s locked down the likes of Isaiah Bond, Emeka Egbuka and Jaylin Lucas. He became famous for his rivalry with former Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr and current Arizona Cardinals teammate. Johnson has a blend of size and fluidity which complements his ball tracking skills and technically sound man coverage, versatility in various defensive schemes and great spacial awareness. All of this is amplified by a fiery competitive streak and great press coverage which made him highly coveted by NFL teams ahead of the NFL draft with many teams predicted to select him in the top 15 or top 10.

However Johnson is not without flaws. He can rely too much on his hands to recover which can lead to him getting penalized. His change of direction needs work and his refusal to participate in Michigan’s pro day has led to questions around his speed and whether he will be able to keep up with proven wide receivers. However, his biggest concern was his health. Johnson only played a full season once and only played six games this season due to knee issues making a boom or bust prospect, which also scared a lot of NFL teams resulting in him falling to the Cardinals.

The Cardinals haven’t had a shutdown corner to call their own since Patrick Peterson. In a division with Jaxon Smith Njigba, Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp and Brandon Aiyuk. Arizona struggled to stop the passing attack giving up 7.3 yards per pass which ranked 22nd in the league, 216.1 passing yards per game which ranked 15th in the league and had a 1.67 interception percentage and 7.07 sack percentage, which ranked 25th and 17th in the league. CB Sean Murphy Bunting was lead the team in interceptions with 3 followed by second year CB Garret Williams who led the team in passes defended with 9. Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson both failed to record an interception, though they nonetheless played a role in stopping the pass with Budda Baker third in passes defended.

Assuming Johnson pans out, he will be an instant game changer for the cardinals secondary in need of getting any kind of talent to help improve the Cardinals defense. Johnson was a part of National Championship winning defense and fans are looking for him to be the guy to improve their defense by locking down receivers in an ever more pass happy league. Especially with each of the Super Bowl contending teams such as the Eagles, Lions and Chiefs having their own lockdown corners like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper Dejean, Brian Branch for the Lions and Trent Mcduffie. Even in Arizona’s own division they have corners like Devon Witherspoon for Seattle, Cobie Durant and Darious Williams for the Los Angeles Rams. Quite frankly, Arizona got away with highway robbery thanks to the injuries scaring off other teams as they secure a potential franchise cornerstone for the defense.

Final grade: A+

Round 3: 78th Overall, Jordan Burch. EDGE, Oregon:

Continuing to address the defense, the Cardinals went with Jordan Burch out of Oregon. After spending three years in South Carolina as a solid but not exactly world beating pass rusher. Burch timed is breakout season with his final year in Oregon, recording 31 tackles, 11 tackles for loss a forced fumble and 8.5 sacks in 10 games. Burch was one part of the trifecta involving fellow EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei and Derrick Harmon, together they were the forefront of the 15th best defense in the country on the way to a 13-1 record.

Burch is a freakish athlete for his size along with explosive lower body strength which serves him well on the defensive line by giving him the power to collapse the pocket and move tackles back when he bull rushes. His missed tackle percentage is under 12%, indicating great technique and reliable finishing ability. However, he is a raw prospect who will need to improve his pass rush plan and better use his natural leverage. He also struggled to disengage with blockers often getting taken out of the pass rush. Importantly, Burch’s statistical production doesn’t match his athletic gifts and his athletic tests aren’t consistently translated into on-field production.

The Cardinals are hedging their bets on Jordan Burch’s athleticism and physical gifts to translate to the NFL making him more of a developmental draft pick. Several NFL teams have had success in developing talented defensive players over the course of multiple years such as Kwity Pay, Nnamdi Madubuike and Trey Hendrickson. Gannon has also had experience in developing defensive players like Kyzir White, Milton Williams and Jordan Davis along with getting the best out of Josh Sweat while he was in Philadelphia.

Gannon clearly seems confident he can do the same he did for Josh Sweat with Burch as they passed up on several other edge players who finished with a high production grade according to NFL combine scouts including the likes of Josiah Stewart with an 81, Jack Sawyer with a 74, and Kyle Kennard with a 75 while Burch only scored a 70. Additionally, all of those pass rushers were ranked higher on draft boards than Burch.

Whether Arizona can successfully develop Burch into a solid pass rusher to help their defense will be a good litmus test for fans who are still on the edge in terms of opinions on Gannon’s regime and Arizona’s future. It’s also great value as they got a projected second round pick in the mid third round. Time will ultimately tell whether The Cardinals assessment of Jordan Burch is correct, but Burch will have time to develop in Gannon’s system.

Overall grade: B

Round 4: 120th overall, Cody Simon. LB Ohio State:

Its been a running theme for the Cardinals that they need help on defense if they want to make any meaningful improvement into next season. With the departure of Kyzir White in free agency, the cardinals needed a linebacker to replace him and fans where hoping for the position to be addressed in the first round but they would have to wait until the 4th round for the hopeful Kyzir White replacement in Cody Simon.

Coming out of New Jersey as the third ranked prospect and 9th ranked outside linebacker, Simon was slated to be the next great Ohio State Linebacker after the Buckeyes lost Malik Harrison and Peter Werner to the NFL draft in 2019 and 2020.

Simon started off mainly on special teams in his freshman year before breaking into the starting linebacker position with 54 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception before he sidelined by an injury before the Rose Bowl. He continued to play well amassing 89 tackles, 9 tackles for loss 2 sacks, 3 passes defended and a forced fumble from 2022 to 2023.

The 2024 for season was a magical season for Simon, recording 112 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 7 passes defended and forced fumble which he returned. He also established himself as a playoff performer and leader of the Ohio State defense recording 2 sacks, 8 tackles, a tackle for loss and 1 pass defended in a route against Oregon. He would also record 7 tackles in a win against Texas before 8 tackles and a tackle for loss in the National Championship victory against Notre Dame.

Simon’s fast for a linebacker running a 4.5 40 yard dash which translates to his wide range allowing him get consistent sacks while also keeping up with receivers as a safety would. He’s an excellent run defender with a natural feel for getting into the gaps and filling against zone runs. He also has great instincts as a tackler and special teamer which only gets better in critical down situations. However, he is also undersized for a linebacker and his tackling still needs work, especially when in space, where he has missed a fair amount of tackles leading to big gains for the offense.

Simon was the 12th best linebacker in the 2025 NFL draft and projected for the fifth round so getting him in the fourth round was quite a reach for Arizona especially when considering guys projected in the 4th round like Chris Paul Jr, Danny Stutsman, Kobe King and Jeffrey Bassa were all available when Simon was taken. Simon’s experience and success on special teams and his status as the leader of a national championship winning defense likely won the Cardinals war room. Simon also addresses a need for the Cardinals defense and he will more than likely develop into a good starter. However the amount of better options from a production standpoint may leave fans asking questions.

Overall Grade: B –

Round 5: 156th Overall, Denzel Burke CB Ohio State:

Another key member of the Ohio State Defense. Denzel Burke first came onto the scene as the first true freshman to start on defense for the Buckeyes since 1996 when Andy Katzenmoyer started for Ohio State. In his first year at Ohio State in 2021, he recorded 37 tackles, 12 passes defended and one interception which was returned for a touchdown. From 2022 to 2023 he recorded 58 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 14 passes defended and a forced fumble. In his final season with Ohio State, he recorded 48 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 2 passes defended and won the National Championship with Ohio State. He was also selected to the Third Team All Big 10 in 2021 and First team All Big 10 in

Burke is a great press corner with great footwork upfront which allows him to apply pressure to opposing wide receivers without getting burned on routes. He also excels in zone coverage, showing great processing and good reactions to route running. He also doesn’t lack in typical cornerback size with a lengthy 6’1 frame which has gotten stronger over his four years at Ohio State University.

Burke has also become a great run-support defender able to blitz gaps quickly and finish tackles with sound technique.

However, Burke’s man coverage reading needs improvement, while not a significant weakness, he will need to iron out the details to take the next step in the NFL. Additionally, while he does get many deflections when covering receivers, he doesn’t get enough interceptions based on his coverage skills. He will need to get better at grabbing interceptions if he wants to be consistently good in the NFL

Burke was initially projected to go in the fourth round but fell to Arizona in the fifth round. Despite limited on field production, Burke has the tools needed to be a solid NFL corner as either a backup or as a strong starter. He’ll have some good opportunities to start a few games in the season with Arizona’s thin cornerback room but Will Johnson and Garret Williams; whose poised for another jump in production after a solid season, will likely be the main starters for at least enough time for Denzel Burke to develop into Gannon’s system.

Final Grade: B

Round 6: 211th Overall, Hayden Conner, OG Texas:

Hayden Conner was developed overtime in Texas after being recruited after highschool. He gradually made his way up the depth chart in Texas eventually becoming a key piece of a top five offensive in 2024 after his first full season as a starter. His success at Texas made him an interesting piece going into the NFL draft where he was projected to go in the 6th round of the NFL draft.

Conner’s elite pass blocking technique made him a valuable part of a Texas offense that had the fourth most passing yards, third most passing attempts and and second most passing touchdowns in the country. He’s developed his ability to process stunts and blitzes, though not perfect he is fooled rarely who can also pick up delayed blitzers. He’s also played against great competition, playing against some of the SEC’s best defense and performing well. His high IQ and experience against the best competition is complemented by a natural lateral stance, great mobility and strength.

Despite his mobility, he has struggled to maintain blocks in place and he doesn’t have the functional strength to compete with NFL pass rushers and will need to work on that part of his game for him to be ready for the NFL. His stiffness can also lead to him getting beat by fast moves by the defensive ends which we saw when he was beaten by Jack Sawyer in the Texas’ game against Ohio State.

For all of Conner’s strengths and IQ , there are still fundamentals that he has to work on in order to be ready for the NFL. Arizona needed offensive line help as Kyler Murray was sacked 30 times. Conner likely won’t be the focal point of the Cardinals offensive line, given Paris Johnson’s presence and development. Offensive line simply wasn’t the focus for the Cardinals. If Hayden Conner can develop his game to be ready Hayden Conner will make for a good start to developing the offensive line.

Final Grade: B

Round 7: 225th Overall, Kitan Crawford S. Nevada:

After transfering from Texas to Nevada for his first starting safety opportunity, Kitan Crawford developed into one of the better safeties in the Country, being ranked in the 11th in safeties. With five years of College football. Crawford’s final season saw career highs in every stat recording 76 tackles, three tackles for loss, one of which was retuned for a touchdown and defended seven passes and forced a fumble.

Crawford is athletic, and good hip flexibility. He’s an aggressive tackler, and is known for ramming into pass catchers to force incompletions, making his presence known in the defense. His aggression and athleticism is complemented by great ballhawking skills in zone defense. He also has a high IQ in zone defense and has great special teams experience making him a valuable asset to any team.

Kitan has struggled in terms of tackling needs work in terms of technique and despite his good instincts, he often becomes over aggressive and limited starting experience means that he doesn’t have the same statistics to back up his skills as some of the other safeties. Nontheless, Kitan Crawford was projected to go in the fourth or fifth round and Arizona was able to get him in the 7th round for great value. Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson will be taking up most of the starting opportunities with the Cardinals. Its worth noting that both Jalen Thompson hasn’t played a full season in two seasons meaning he will be a strong depth piece to start off. If he can get more opportunities, whether in Arizona or elsewhere, he could very well become a solid starter

Final Grade: A –

Final Thoughts:

Overall Arizona’s draft was one of the better drafts this year. They addressed mainly their defense but helped other areas of the roster such as the offensive line. If Arizona’s picks can develop well, they will be one of the more talented defenses in the league for years to come. However, such a focus on defense means they neglected the offensive line when Murray was sacked 30 times. Additionally, they also reached on prospects while also getting great value in prospects who fell.

Final Grade: B+