I would honestly be surprised if the Cardinals end up keeping this pick. With no need at quarterback, a strong class of defensive linemen, and as many as five teams potentially willing to deal up for a passer, the Cardinals are in prime position to move this pick.
That said, it’s too early to project a trade with any sort of confidence. Plus, the Cardinals have yet to hire their new head coach, so it’s unclear what his philosophy might be regarding the draft. So, we’ll have the Cardinals hang on to the top selection for now.
With the top pick, the Cardinals are almost certainly going to target help on the defensive line. They lack a quality partner for Chandler Jones and they also have never adequately replaced Calais Campbell following his move to the Jaguars. For that reason, Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams are the top two options with this pick, but Bosa has the edge for now.
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Bosa was a force for Ohio State as a freshman and sophomore, and he racked up 13.5 sacks over the course of his first two seasons despite playing behind and alongside other talented pass rushers. He was on his way to a massive junior campaign, posting four sacks in three games and putting relentless pressure on his opponents, before suffering an injury that kept him sidelined for some time.
Instead of risking returning and worsening the injury, Bosa elected to skip the rest of the season and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. This drew a bit of scrutiny at a first glance, but the fact of the matter is that Bosa was protecting his financial future in what ended up being a shrewd move, as he still has a very good chance to be the No. 1 overall pick.
With the Cardinals, Bosa would create a dynamic duo alongside Jones and could help to reinvigorate an Arizona defense that disappointed last season. He could be a double-digit sack artist at the next level, and the presence of Jones could turn him into one of the league’s best, young pass rushers.