Arizona Cardinals get Kyler Murray help he needs in 7-round 2020 mock draft
By Lucas Schuh
Safety. Iowa. Geno Stone. player. Scouting Report. 5. 878. Pick Analysis
Budda Baker has played well at both safety spots in his young career but Jalen Thompson is limited overall and offers no versatility. Subsequently, taking a player such as Geno Stone could benefit the Cardinals’ secondary.
The Iowa product shows nice movement on film but tested as an average athlete at the NFL Combine. What he may lack as a natural athlete, however, he makes up for with zone skills and instincts. His ability to see the play develop and break on the ball is almost second to none in the class.
Stone has the ability to drop into the nickel and cover the slot while also roaming as a zone-based free safety. He will need to be less reckless but his upside is too enticing to pass up.
Other Players Available: Kevin Dotson, Cheyenne O’Grady, Stanford Samuels III
Cornerback. 6. Michigan State. Josiah Scott. player. 805. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
Cornerback is an interesting area for the Cardinals. They have an aging star in Patrick Peterson surrounded by several young players who need time to develop, such as Byron Murphy. Subsequently, to get better production at the position, a player like Josiah Scott could certainly help.
Scott is likely not high on many teams’ boards due to his size and lack of length. However, he can be an extremely valuable slot corner in the NFL. He has great acceleration and speed but also has the agility and body control to stop on a dime and change directions.
The former Spartan has to be limited to nickel roles given his limitations size-wise. Even still, that’s valuable in the pass-happy NFL and Scott can be a dynamic cornerback to shut down opposing slots in the NFC West.
Other Players Available: Eno Benjamin, Jake Hanson, Justin Herron
Minnesota. Kamal Martin. 7. 852. Pick Analysis. Linebacker. player. Scouting Report
Despite adding Akeem Davis-Gaither earlier in the draft, adding another linebacker wouldn’t hurt the Cardinals in the slightest. Kamal Martin is intriguing for Arizona or any team given to the number of roles he played with Minnesota. He was blitzed a lot as a sophomore but then was deployed in coverage often as a junior.
While Martin has the functional athleticism at linebacker to be good in coverage, he showed problems with tackling in college, something that will only be exacerbated in the NFL. But as mentioned previously, the Cardinals defense needs coverage linebackers and Martin can offer that.
Other Players Available: Myles Bryant, Scott Frantz, Terrence Steele