NFL Draft 2019: Arizona Cardinals full mock draft
By Joe Romano
Round 5 – Pick 139
Daniel Wise, DT, Kansas
The addition of Darius Philon pushes the priority of interior defensive lineman down the board for a roster with a bunch of holes. They are still going to draft someone. Daniel Wise is a rising prospect who had an excellent showing at the Shrine Game. He was utilized in a two gap scheme in Kansas that did not maximize his skills. When he gets to the NFL and is asked to play single gap penetrating role, he can shine.
Arizona needs help on the interior and Wise has experience playing in multiple fronts. He can be a guy that starts in a situational role and grows into more with a considerably high ceiling for a late round player.
Round 6 – Pick 174
Derrek Thomas, CB, Baylor
Another high ceiling player at a position of need is Derrek Thomas of Baylor. At 6-foot-3 with almost 34 inch arms, Thomas is the definition of an outside corner. He is surprisingly quiet in the pre-draft process considering those measurements combined with 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash. He’s clearly an explosive athlete who’s gotten lost in the shuffle a bit. He followed his head coach from Temple to Baylor.
Once at Baylor he went up against the Big 12 offenses and looked a bit lost on film. As a late round prospect who can take a year to develop, his upside is that of a starting corner. Arizona has Robert Alford and Patrick Peterson but you can never have enough cover guys.
Round 6 – Pick 179
Isaiah Prince, T, Ohio State
D.J. Humphries and Marcus Gilbert give Arizona a pair of solid tackles entering the season. Humphries is a former high draft pick that has been up and down in his career in the NFL. Gilbert is a 30 year old tackle coming off a season ending injury. The cupboard is pretty bare after that. Isaiah Prince from Ohio State is an experienced tackle with flexibility to both sides.
Like Thomas at corner, Prince has all the tools to be a starter in the NFL. He needs to get tougher and work on his power. He’s got good feet, adequate athleticism and a good feel for the game. If a coach can maximize his traits, this is a pick that can be a steal. If his motor is as cold in the pros as it was in college, he won’t make it to a second contract.
Round 7 – Pick 248
Terrill Hanks, LB, New Mexico State
Arizona has a solid duo of linebackers in former first round pick Hassan Reddick and Jordan Hicks to man the middle of the field. Vance Joseph’s defense is going to ask those two to flow over the top, attack gaps and be leaders in the middle of the field. They’ll need some depth as there is little on the roster after the top two.
Terrill Hanks of New Mexico State is a late round linebacker that I like in this tough class. A rangy, and a bit undersized linebacker, Hanks is a former safety that only played linebacker for a year. He’s obviously excellent in coverage and would be a dynamite special teamer early in his career.
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Round 7 – Pick 249
Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor
Doubling up on wide receiver, this time with Baylor’s Jalen Hurd. A former running back, in his first year at wide receiver Hurd looked the part. He’s a phenemenal athlete who’s best role will be on the inside to start his career. He’s got the size to profile as more than that but until he can work on his hand fighting and mixing up his releases he’ll be relegated to a slot role. For Arizona he’d learn from the best big slot perhaps ever in Larry Fitzgerald.
This move would give Kingsbury another weapon in the passing game and someone who compliments second round pick Kelvin Harmon by being dynamic after the catch.
Round 7 – Pick 255
JoJo McIntosh, S, Washington
Safety has been a position of strength for Arizona in recent memory. It still is at the top of the depth chart with D.J. Swearinger and Budda Baker. JoJo McIntosh would give them another option on the back end. He’d fit in as a split safety, in late down roles while Baker roles into the slot. McIntosh is an experienced player with good size and athleticism. He was snubbed from the combine but impressed during his pro day. He’ll find a role as a special teams player given his experience and a back of the roster safety with the ability to step into action in a pinch.