Arizona Cardinals 2025 NFL Draft: One Perfect Pick in Each Round
The Arizona Cardinals are on the rise. After a 2024 season that showed flashes of competitiveness under head coach Jonathan Gannon, the franchise is heading into the 2025 NFL Draft with multiple picks and a clear direction. General manager Monti Ossenfort has already laid down the foundation of a roster focused on toughness, versatility, and upside. Now, with a full arsenal of draft capital and glaring needs across several positions, Arizona has a prime opportunity to accelerate its rebuild.
The Cardinals possess 11 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including two first-round selections. With a franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray still under contract and a young defense starting to gel, this draft offers Arizona the chance to not only fill holes but to add impact players at premium positions. For each round, there’s a prospect who perfectly fits the Cardinals’ needs, identity, and future vision.
In the first round, all eyes will be on Arizona’s top selection, likely inside the top 5, and their second first-rounder via the Houston Texans. The perfect pick with their first selection would be Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner. Arizona ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in sacks last season, and while second-year edge rusher BJ Ojulari showed potential, the team lacks a dominant force off the edge. Turner provides elite explosiveness, bend, and production from the SEC, the kind of difference-maker Arizona hasn’t had since Chandler Jones was in his prime. Turner’s ability to win quickly and cause disruption would give the Cardinals’ front seven a new identity.
Later in the first round, the Cardinals could solidify the offensive line. Arizona has pieces like Paris Johnson Jr. and Will Hernandez, but the unit still struggles with consistency, especially in pass protection. Georgia offensive tackle Earnest Greene would be the ideal pick here. Greene is a plug-and-play right tackle who brings balance, strength, and footwork that can complement Johnson on the left side. If Arizona wants to protect Kyler Murray and unlock its offense, investing in the trenches is a no-brainer. Greene has the traits to be a decade-long solution.
Moving into the second round, the Cardinals can continue to build their receiver room. Though Marvin Harrison Jr. will likely be off the board by their first pick, Arizona can target a dynamic receiver like LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. in the second round. Thomas is a big-bodied target with vertical speed, strong hands, and red-zone appeal. He’s the perfect fit to stretch the field opposite Michael Wilson and help Murray attack defenses deep. Arizona’s offense often stalled in 2024 due to a lack of explosive plays. Thomas offers that home-run threat every time he steps on the field.
In the third round, Arizona should turn their attention to the secondary. Cornerback is still a need despite developmental talent on the roster. A player like Khyree Jackson from Oregon would be a smart pickup here. Jackson is a long, physical corner with a press-man skill set that fits Gannon’s defensive style. He brings toughness and intelligence, two traits the Cardinals covet in their defensive backs. While not a day-one starter, Jackson has all the tools to develop into a high-level contributor within a season or two.
The fourth round offers a great opportunity for Arizona to grab a tight end who can grow into a reliable weapon. Iowa’s Luke Lachey is a tight end prospect with a high ceiling. Despite missing most of the 2024 season due to injury, Lachey has shown flashes of brilliance as both a receiver and blocker. At 6-foot-6, he creates mismatches in the passing game and brings tenacity as a run blocker. With Trey McBride taking strides as a top tight end in 2024, Lachey could be a perfect complement in 12 personnel packages. This pick adds depth, versatility, and long-term upside at a valuable position.
In the fifth round, the Cardinals should look at the linebacker group. Gannon’s scheme thrives on athletic linebackers who can move sideline to sideline, cover in space, and blitz when necessary. Jontrey Hunter from Georgia State checks those boxes. While under-the-radar, Hunter is a rangy, instinctive player who flies to the ball and brings special teams value from day one. Arizona needs youth and speed in its linebacker room, and Hunter brings both. He could earn early reps in sub-packages while developing into a starter in the future.
By the sixth round, it’s about finding depth and specialists. Arizona could target a running back like Dylan Laube from New Hampshire. Laube isn’t just a traditional back — he’s a Swiss Army knife who adds value as a return specialist and receiving threat. With James Conner entering the twilight of his career and no clear RB2, Laube would bring a different dimension to the offense. His agility, vision, and ability to catch passes out of the backfield make him the perfect third-down option in a modern NFL offense.
In the seventh round, many teams gamble on traits, and Arizona should do the same. A perfect pick here would be quarterback John Paddock from Illinois. While not a future franchise QB, Paddock has enough poise, intelligence, and accuracy to potentially develop into a long-term backup. He showed guts and leadership in relief appearances and could be a valuable presence in the QB room. Arizona has struggled with backup quarterback stability, and Paddock’s presence would be a low-risk, high-reward investment.
Arizona also holds additional picks in later rounds due to compensatory selections. With one of those, selecting a defensive lineman like Justin Eboigbe from Alabama would make sense. Eboigbe is a powerful interior lineman who could add rotational depth. He doesn’t offer elite pass-rush upside, but he’s solid against the run and can anchor the line. With Leki Fotu and Jonathan Ledbetter in contract years, Arizona needs to think ahead at the position.
Another compensatory pick could be spent on a developmental offensive lineman. Blake Fisher from Notre Dame is a name to watch. A former five-star recruit, Fisher has struggled with consistency but has all the physical tools teams look for in a swing tackle. In the hands of Arizona’s coaching staff, Fisher could grow into a capable spot starter or even push for a starting role in a few years. These are the types of calculated bets that help teams round out rosters with depth and potential.
Lastly, Arizona can use one of their final picks on a special teams ace. Nehemiah Pritchett, a cornerback from Auburn, has experience as a gunner and returner, plus the athletic traits to eventually carve out a defensive role. With special teams often being the difference between wins and losses, investing in a player like Pritchett late in the draft is wise.
Each of these picks represents a perfect fit not just for scheme, but for the Cardinals’ long-term vision. Ossenfort and Gannon are building a program centered on player development, versatility, and culture. It’s not just about finding talent — it’s about finding the right talent.
If the Cardinals can hit on even a handful of these ideal picks, they’ll emerge from the 2025 NFL Draft with one of the league’s most improved rosters. With Kyler Murray healthy, a bolstered offensive line, explosive weapons, and more juice on defense, Arizona could surprise a lot of people in 2025. A smart, strategic draft is the next big step in turning this promising rebuild into a legitimate playoff contender.
