Cardinals: 2023 NFL Draft Picks Recap, Analysis & Team Grades

And just like that, the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Per usual, it was a wild and unexpected ride, starting with all the Round 1 action. Day 2 and Day 3 delivered surprises of their own. Some teams capitalized on the opportunity, while others came up short. Let’s take a look at the 2023 NFL Draft recap, analysis, and grades for the Arizona Cardinals.

• NFL Draft Grades for Every Team
• Thor’s Draft Grades (AFC | NFC)
• NFL Draft Day 1 Winners & Losers (Day 2 | Day 3)
• Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2 | Day 3)
• Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

2023 NFL Draft Recap, Analysis & Grades: Arizona Cardinals

NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

Thor Nystrom’s Overview & Grades

Arizona Cardinals | Draft Grade: D+

The NFL likes next year’s NFL Draft crop better than this one. And now Arizona has set itself up to gorge at that buffet by acquiring Houston’s 2024 R1, Tennessee’s 2024 R3, and Philadelphia’s 2024 R4.

As for the work in this year’s draft, the quantifiable stuff we’re here to discuss, I wasn’t as impressed. I like OT Paris Johnson Jr. But is there a big enough qualitative gap between him and OT Broderick Jones to justify giving up No. 34 and No. 168 (while getting back No. 81) to move up to get him? Not in my eyes, there isn’t.

Beyond that, the only pick in this class I really liked in the slot it was made was WR Michael Wilson. Wilson may well end up as one of this class’ best receivers. That’ll depend on if he can kick the nagging-injury bug.

But Wilson has an extremely unique ability to slam on the breaks at the route break and accelerate quickly out of it for a big receiver. That’ll play at the next level – with the standard Wilson caveat “if he can stay on the field.”

I saw the rest of Arizona’s offerings as a procession of reaches.

Andrew Erickson’s Overview & Grades

Protect Kyler Murray at all costs. I like the maneuver to snag a franchise tackle that they would have taken third overall anyway. And that’s in addition to the 2024 first-rounder the Cardinals netted in the deal with Texans (swapped 12, 33, and 2024 1^st and 2024 3^rd for No. 3 and No. 105.) Arizona then traded the 12^th, 34^th and 168^th picks to get back on the board at No. 6 overall (plus the 81^st pick from DET).

Great value selection in Round 2 with B.J. Ojulari. The Cardinals need help everywhere, and Ojulari bolsters the hole at the edge. The former LSU Tiger finished the 2022 season tied for 5th in pressures per game (3.9) and first in holding penalties drawn.

With Arizona already looking ahead to 2024, I love the pick of CB Garrett Williams. The Syracuse cornerback likely fell in the draft after he tore his ACL in the middle of the 2022 season. The Cardinals have no reason to rush him, and they can essentially redshirt him Year 1. WR Michael Wilson likely fell for similar injury issues, which is why it was a savvy move for Arizona to scoop him up as well late into the 3^rd round with DeAndre Hopkins not long for the Cardinals roster.

Drafting guard Jon Gaines II in Round 4 helps improve the interior run game after he finished the 2022 season generating the highest yards before contact to his gap per attempt (4.1).

After all the trades the Cardinals made during the 2023 Draft, they have multiple picks at their disposal for Rounds 1, 3 and 4 for the 2024 NFL Draft. Hats off to new Cardinals general manager, Monti Ossenfort in his first draft at the helm.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: A+

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