The offensive line took center stage at the 2024 NFL Combine on Sunday, with several players having standout performances at positions of need for the Arizona Cardinals.
But if the draft goes as most experts predict, the Cardinals and GM Monty Ossenfort may have to trade up the No. 27 pick to land the coveted Hog Morley. unknown.
The overwhelming consensus is that the Cardinals will take wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 pick, which could put them out of contention for the top office prospect before a second choice emerges.
But with six picks in the first three rounds, the Cardinals have the ammunition to repeat last year's scheme by trading up to make two picks in the top five. This move lifted the Houston franchise from last place in the AFC South to the playoffs.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon expressed his strong feelings about the offensive line position. wolf & rook The Cardinals could add reinforcements up front after tackle DJ Humphries missed the start of the season with a torn ACL on Friday.
“We met a lot of O-line guys, and I think O-line is my spirit animal,” Gannon said.
The Cardinals have been rumored to be taking tackles JC Latham and Joe Alt with the current No. 4 pick in several mock drafts, but the latest mock draft by Mel Kiper Jr. has Latham at No. 5, with Latham at No. 5. Alto is expected to be selected at No. 2. Number 7.
According to , the offensive tackles in this position group with higher grades than others are Alabama's Latham (6.70 grade), Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu (6.50 grade), and Notre Dame's Ault. (Grade 6.49) and Oregon State's Talese Fuaga (Grade 6.48). NFL.com.
Latham weighed 342 pounds, had arm length of 35-1/8 inches, and hand size of 11 inches, all of which were larger than the other three candidates. Alto was 6-foot-9, slightly taller than Latham's 6-foot-6.
Alto was the fastest of the four in the 40-yard sprint with a time of 5.05 seconds.
The record for offensive tackles drafted in the first round is seven. Kiper Jr. had seven tackles in the first round of the most recent mock game, so he has a chance to match that record again this year.
The concept of trading up and acquiring two offensive players overhauls that aspect of the Cardinals' football while ignoring the defensive needs that are considered Gannons' strengths.
Either way, with six picks in the first three rounds, the potential to move higher in the draft is clear, and the Texans' blueprint proved successful last season. .
1 Comment
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!