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Arizona Cardinals NFL draft picks 2025: Full list of team's round-by-round selections

Jack McKessy   Paste BN
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The Arizona Cardinals' draft pick falls in the exact middle of the pack in the 2025 NFL Draft. But what could they do with the No. 16 overall pick?

There was light at the end of the rebuild tunnel last year as the Cardinals finished just a couple of games out of a playoff spot in a competitive NFC West division. As a result, Arizona doesn't need to fully overhaul its roster. Instead, the team would benefit from adding some young talent on both sides of the ball to boost the overall outlook of the team.

Here's everything to know about the Cardinals' draft outlook ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft:

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Cardinals 2025 NFL Draft picks

  • Round 1 – No. 16 overall: Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi
    • Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: A 2024 All-American, the 6-4, 296-pounder who was high school's prize recruit with Hunter three years ago can cause mayhem up the gut (10½ sacks and 2023 TFLs since 2023). And the Cards can certainly use the fresh legs after adding old-timers Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson up front earlier this offseason. Nolen and 2024 first-rounder Darius Robinson should be the anchors moving forward.
  • Round 2 – No. 47 overall: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
    • Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: He has prototypical corner size (6-2, 194) and ball skills, swiping nine passes (two of them pick-sixes) during three seasons with the Wolverines. A turf toe injury scuttled much of Johnson’s junior season in 2024 and a knee issue dropped him out of the first round after he was once projected as a top-10 pick. But could be steal for the Cards. Johnson hasn't allowed a TD pass since 2022.
  • Round 3 – No. 78 overall: Jordan Burch, Edge, Oregon

Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: After taking Walter Nolen in Round 1, the Cards continue to reinforce their defensive front – Burch breaking out for 8½ sacks in 2024.

  • Round 4 – No. 115 overall: Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State
  • Round 5 – No. 174 overall: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
  • Round 7 – No. 225 overall: Kitan Crawford, S, Nebraska

NFL MOCK DRAFT: Rounding up latest projections one month out from the draft

Cardinals 2025 NFL Draft needs

Offensive line

Right guard Will Hernandez tore his ACL and then hit free agency, and right tackle Jonah Williams is on the final year of his contract. The Cardinals could use some extra help up front to give extra time to quarterback Kyler Murray as he works to build his chemistry with receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in Year 2.

Linebacker

General manager Monti Ossenfort has put in some good work on improving the team's linebackers group in free agency. However, there are a couple of talented linebackers that could provide an upgrade to the Cardinals' depth at the position for where they're picking in the first round. Georgia's Jalon Walker and Alabama's Jihaad Campbell come to mind.

Cardinals 2025 NFL mock draft

Here's what the Cardinals could do come draft night, according to Paste BN Sports' Ayrton Ostly:

  • Round 1 – No. 16: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
    • The massive nose tackle from Michigan should be a good fit for the Cardinals as a long-term answer at the position. His elite athletic traits project well at the NFL level and he should be a plus starter in time.
  • Round 2 – No. 47: OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
    • The Cardinals only got six games out of right tackle Jonah Williams last season. Ersery offers a potential succession plan who could start at guard as a rookie before transitioning over to tackle in 2026.
  • Round 3 – No. 78: LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
  • Round 4 – No. 115: Edge Barryn Sorrell, Texas
  • Round 5 – No. 152: S R.J. Mickens, Clemson
  • Round 7 – No. 225: C Jonah Monheim, USC

2025 NFL Draft: Every team's picks

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