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What Would a Perfect Draft Look Like for Arizona Cardinals?

There's pressure on the Arizona Cardinals to nail the 2023 NFL Draft. PFF says this would be the perfect draft.

Despite going 4-13 last season and clearing out the front office/coaching staff, there's pressure on the Arizona Cardinals to walk away as winners from the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Cardinals are in the very beginning of their rebuild, and to be honest: They've done things the right way up to this point. They've made nothing but team-friendly deals in free agency and didn't overspend heading into a 2023 season that very clearly won't see them fight for a postseason spot. 

The next step in the process is to nail the 2023 NFL Draft, particularly the first three rounds where Arizona has a total of four picks - including the third overall selection. 

So, what would be considered the "perfect" draft for new general manager Monti Ossenfort and his staff? 

Pro Football Focus outlined just that. Here's what they offered:

What Would a Perfect Draft Look Like for Arizona Cardinals?

Will Anderson

Trade: Arizona trades No. 3 overall to Las Vegas in exchange for No. 7 and a 2024 first-round pick

Round 1: EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama

Round 2: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State

Round 3: CB DJ Turner, Michigan; WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest; WR Michael Wilson, Stanford

"For the Cardinals to land Will Anderson Jr. at No. 7 overall after a trade with the Raiders, they would need four quarterbacks and the combination of Jalen Carter and Tyree Wilson to come off the board in the top six picks," said Gordon McGuinness.

"However, landing a player who racked up 60 or more pressures in each of the past seasons while picking up a 2024 first-round pick would be a home run draft right away.

"For a team unlikely to compete in 2023, a Day 2 that double-dips on cornerbacks and wide receivers would be a great way to look ahead to 2024."

All Cardinals Reaction

If the Cardinals were to somehow land Will Anderson at pick No. 7, you can start building the statue of Monti Ossenfort now. 

All jokes aside, that would be an incredible scenario for Arizona to gain some major draft capital while also getting who many consider to be the best defensive player in his draft class. 

Double-dipping at corner on Day 2 - especially with Forbes/Turner - would also be great picks. You can never have enough corner help, especially in today's NFL. 

The Cardinals will need to address receiver at some point with the pending departure of DeAndre Hopkins, so taking a WR in the third round isn't a deal breaker. However, double-dipping at pass catcher when there's other prominent needs (anywhere on the offensive line would be a great start) would draw some questions. 

Yet no matter how the Cardinals decide to navigate the first two days of the draft, Arizona will have some sort of major hole to fill moving forward. 

All in all, Cardinals fans would (for the most part) be excited if the draft panned out this way. 

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