Arizona Cardinals land playmaking DB in Peter Schrager’s only mock draft

The 2025 NFL draft begins with the first round on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. The Arizona Cardinals hold the 16th overall pick in the draft. Who will be their selection?

ESPN’s Peter Schrager dropped his one and only mock draft of the first round on Wednesday, based on the things he is hearing from his sources throughout the league.

For the Cardinals, he has them making an interesting selection.

This doesn’t necessarily make sense. Barron projects as a nickel corner who can also play safety. The Cardinals are very happy with their current slot corner in Garrett Williams. Drafting Barron would mean one of two things. Either they project Barron as a great outside cornerback or that Williams can be just as good outside as in the slot, as both will not be able to play nickel.

There is no questioning Barron’s talent or upside. The question is whether having both him and Williams makes the team better. The Cardinals have already drafted five cornerbacks in the last two drafts. Would they add one in the first round?

That is the issue. Now, if they believe Williams can seamlessly move to the outside full time and thrive, well then the pick makes sense.

After all, the Cardinals beefed up the front seven in free agency. Bolstering the secondary would be a logical thing to do as well.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Peter Schrager projects Jahdae Barron to AZ Cardinals

Despite leading by three runs in the first inning, then three again entering the eighth, the Dodgers couldn’t hold on in a wild 11-10, extra-innings loss to the Chicago Cubs, getting outplayed — or, at the very least, outslugged — on a night a wind blowing out turned Wrigley Field into a band box.