👋 GOOD MORNING
Happy Thursday! Or, as I like to call it, Friday Eve. I’m going to look at various Cardinals mock drafts below, but before I dive into that, HUGE congratulations to Cards wide receiver Michael Wilson and his wife, USWNT Olympic gold medalist Sophia Wilson, who announced yesterday they’re expecting their first child. The couple met in college six years ago, and got married earlier this year.
One thing is for sure — that kid is going to be a gifted athlete! Wouldn’t be surprised if there are already scholarship offers rolling in.
On to the show!
What the Pundits Are Saying About the Cardinals’ Upcoming Draft
Lambeau Field is going to be hopping.
In April.
The historic venue is home to the 2025 NFL Draft from April 24 – 26, but hey, it’s never too early to start doing your homework. The Cardinals are in the middle of the pack this year, picking 16th after finishing the 2024 season with an 8-9 record. The general consensus is that, barring a trade, Arizona will focus on bolstering its defense with its first-round selection.
Favorites as Projected By NFL Experts
OK, the term expert may be thrown around a lot these days, but there really are some, beginning with ALLCITY’S very own Fran Duffy. The NFL analyst and PHLY contributor spent three weeks on the road earlier this year scouting some of the league’s brightest prospects, and he also just wrapped up his coverage of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where he was wowed by some of the best college talent from around the country. But, what is the collective NFL world saying?
- Fran Duffy, ALLCITY – EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
- Charles Davis, NFL.com – DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com – WR Luther Burden III, Missouri (selected 25th after trade with Houston)
- Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports – DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
- Jordan Reid, ESPN – DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
- Nate Tice, Yahoo – DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
- Joseph Acosta, SBNation – DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
- Jason McIntyre, FOX Sports – DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
My take: These picks will continue to change in the weeks leading up to the draft, but I thought it would be nice to put out a little recap in one place. Honestly, the only one that’s puzzling to me is the prediction of the Cardinals trading back to select a wide receiver. To be fair, terms of the imaginary deal weren’t listed in Zierlein’s post, but I don’t understand why Arizona would use yet another first-round pick on a wideout, unless upper brass is channeling its inner Detroit Lions, circa 2003-05. And if you don’t remember that fiasco, it was Charles Rogers (2003), Roy Williams (2004) and Mike Williams (2005). Yeah. Don’t do that, Cardinals.
Take a Deeper Dive: Check out Duffy’s Diehard Draft Guide! It’s an incredible resource that not only allows you to keep tabs on the brightest stars, but you can also see how he ranked your favorite players.
It’s Almost Phoenix Rising Season!
Rémi Cabral’s 2024 season was a heartbreaking one. The loan forward missed a good number of Rising FC’s games after heartbreakingly losing his father, and he also battled injuries throughout the year. With that in mind, PHNX Rising FC reporter Owain Evans took a look at what the 25-year-old can bring to the table if he’s able to engage for a full season.
- Colorado Rapids declined Cabral’s option, opening the door for him to stay in Phoenix.
- He still led the team with seven goals despite missing an extended amount of time.
- He has recorded a four-goal game and a three-goal game in recent friendlies (admittedly against lesser opponents) last month.
Make sure to check back for Rising coverage as the club prepares for its season opener at home on March 8 vs. FC Tulsa!
Musings From Around (and Sometimes Beyond) The Valley
Off and Running In KC: The Sun Devils kicked off the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament in style, upsetting 10-seed Cincinnati 82-75 to mark the team’s second win since Jan. 4. Their reward is a matchup against 6-seed Iowa State, which won the regular season matchup 90-83 on Jan. 8. Arizona, meanwhile, will meet up against ninth-seeded Colorado, which won its first-round matchup over Houston. The Wildcats had a first-round bye.
Sunny on the Beach: ASU women’s beach volleyball duo Daniella Kensinger and Ava Williamson were named the Big 12 Pair of the Week after going 4-0 while winning each of its duals in straight sets. Congrats, Sand Devils!
Keep it Runnin’: The Tucson Roadrunners took a huge game in Ontario last night, beating the Reign 4-1 to keep pace in the Pacific Division playoff race. The win was especially meaningful considering Bakersfield won its game as well, so the Roadrunners maintained their two-point lead for the final playoff spot. As luck would have it, Tucson and Bakersfield square off in a two-game set this weekend.
🧢 Tip of the Hat
Is it too early to start thinking about college football again? No. The answer is no.
