While the Arizona Cardinals rushing attack has been plagued by injuries in 2024, a latest mock draft from ESPN has the team dealing with it in the 2025 NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid predicts the Cardinals will take Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams in the first round with the 13th pick after trading the 10th pick to the Miami Dolphins.
Williams started the season as my top prospect, but missed time with a grade 2 left ankle sprain. He’s back on the field, but he’s still without a sack in four games this season. season. Scouts are hoping he can return to form during the second half of the season, starting with a big game against Texas. He has fantastic length, burst and close speed, and the upside is real. Given that the Cardinals are last in winning rate (27.6%), this adjustment makes sense.
Adding pass rush help would fill a need for the Cardinals, who did not sack Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love in a 34-14 loss Sunday. Love threw for 258 yards and four touchdowns as the Packers offense racked up 437 yards.
Through six games, the Cardinals are ranked 24th in the league with 11 sacks. Linebacker Dennis Gardeck leads the team with three sacks, all of which came in the team’s Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Rams on September 15.
Williams’ 2024 season was limited after missing three games with an ankle injury. Williams has three tackles this season and has yet to record a sack.
Over three seasons at Georgia, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound lineman has 47 tackles and nine sacks.
The Cardinals signed defensive tackles Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols to multi-year contracts to help improve the defensive line. However, Jones (triceps) and Nichols (neck) were placed on injured reserve after suffering injuries in Weeks 3 and 6, respectively.
Rookie defensive end Darius Robinson has yet to make his NFL debut following his calf injury suffered during a team practice on August 22. The Cardinals designated Robinson to return from IR on Oct. 9, but his return date has yet to be determined.
Second-year runner BJ Ojulari looked to be an important part of the defense in 2024, but suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp.
Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona Wildcats to New Orleans Saints
Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was also named in Reid’s mock draft, going to the New Orleans Saints with the 12th pick in the draft. McMillan is one of three Wildcats expected to be drafted in the first round.
The Saints could play defense here, as more youth is needed up front. But they also covet help at receiver, and the highest-ranked prospect at that position (again, I have Travis Hunter at CB) is McMillan. He is a tall target who would be an instant complementary option alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. McMillan currently ranks third in the FBS in yards per game (123.7), and he can go up and get it, with tremendous skill on 50-50 balls. He also has the option to play in the slot or outside.
In five games in 2024, McMillan has caught 42 passes for 742 receiving yards and four touchdowns, for an average of 17.7 yards.
McMillan set a new school record with 304 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 10 catches in the Wildcats’ 61-39 win over New Mexico on August 31.
In three seasons, McMillan caught 171 passes for 2,846 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. In his second year in 2023, McMillan had a good season, catching 90 passes for 1,402 yards and ten touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Pac-12 second team.
Jonah Savaiinaea to the Chicago Bears
Wildcats offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea was the second Wildcat to be named by Reid, going to the Chicago Bears at 18th overall.
Savaiinaea — who reminds me of Jordan Morgan, a 2024 first-rounder from Arizona — is a physical blocker with experience at multiple spots up front. He plays with a strong foundation and fairly quick feet in pass protection, and is developing into a reliable right tackle. But I have Savaiinaea projected as a guard with tackling flexibility at the next level. He would give the Bears a plug-and-play option inside and help build a wall in front of Caleb Williams.
The 6-foot-55, 336-pound lineman has been a starter since his freshman season in 2022 and has started 31 games for the Wildcats over three seasons.
Tacario Davis to the Green Bay Packers
Wildcats cornerback Tacario Davis was the third and final player to be selected in the first round, going to the Green Bay Packers at 24th overall.
Jaire Alexander has struggled with some injuries and Eric Stokes is in the final year of his rookie contract. That makes cornerback a question mark in Green Bay beyond this season. The best one left on the set is Davis, who also happens to be one of the the longest corners of this class. He has smooth movement and strong ball skills, as he has 19 assists over the past two seasons.
In six games, Davis has 19 tackles and five passes defensed. Davis’ sophomore season was also good, recording 25 tackles with 15 passes defensed and an interception. Like McMillan, Davis was named to the All-Pac-12 second team.
This would be the second straight year the Packers took a Wildcat in the first round. Offensive tackle Jordan Morgan was drafted by Green Bay with the 25th pick in the 2024 draft.
