2025 NFL Draft: Tracking Every Cardinals Update

ARIZONA -- The 2025 NFL Draft is here.

After months of mock drafts, rumors and speculation, the Arizona Cardinals are set to introduce some fresh faces to their draft class - beginning with the 16th overall pick.

Arizona has five total selections remaining entering Friday, which obviously could change depending on how GM Monti Ossenfort wants to approach the next two rounds.

This page will be updated throughout the course of the draft with all the latest Cardinals picks, news, analysis and more:

Round 1, Pick 16 - DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Sep 28, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive linemen Walter Nolen (2) waits for the snap during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Cardinals add another imposing presence to their defensive line, taking DT Walter Nolen with their first-round selection. Nolen is proficient in both pass rushing downs and run defense, and picked up 6.5 sacks and 14 TFLs in his final season of college football.

The Cardinals' defensive line has undergone a complete overhaul, with Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell coming to the desert in free agency. Now, Arizona will have a first-round talent to rotate in alongside second-year DL Darius Robinson.

More on the Cardinals drafting Walter Nolen

Round 2, Pick 47 - CB Will Johnson, Michigan

The Cardinals add to their growing young secondary with an elite CB prospect from a national championship-winning program in Michigan. There are some concerns with Johnson, namely a knee issue that appeared to push him down from his initial first-round grade.

But Johnson is an excellent zone corner, and a player who can go get the football. Paired with DB whisperer Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals might have potentially landed their next franchise CB to work the outside, with Garrett Williams locking down the slot next to him.

More on the Cardinals drafting Will Johnson

Round 3, Pick 78 - OLB Jordan Burch, Oregon

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) runs through Oregon Ducks defensive end Jordan Burch (1) during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cardinals keep the defensive players rolling in the third round, drafting Oregon edge rusher Jordan Burch with their third selection. It's little surprise Arizona wants to continue beefing up a defensive front that is already vastly improved, but there was no clear-cut edge rusher opposite Josh Sweat.

Burch is athletic, but with plenty of size. He profiles more as a pure pass rusher, but still noted respectable run defense numbers.

More on the Cardinals drafting Jordan Burch

Round 4, Pick 115 - LB Cody Simon, Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Cody Simon (0) celebrates a sack during the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It seems inevitable at this point to see a member of the Buckeyes drafted to the Arizona Cardinals. But Arizona was in dire need of an off-ball linebacker, and they pick one up in Cody Simon. Simon racked up 112 tackles in his senior season, and is a similarly refined prospect, with five years of college experience.

Simon is a high-motor player with an ability to fly all over the field. He's both an excellent run defender and a proficient pass rusher depending on the defensive set. Ossenfort filled yet another need with a potential future stalwart.

More on the Cardinals drafting Cody Simon

TRADE: Round 5, Pick 174 (via DAL) - CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State

Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (10) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ossenfort couldn't live with the idea of not owning a sixth-round pick in this draft, so he dropped 22 spots to pick 174, swapping fifth-rounders with the Dallas Cowboys and picking up their sixth (pick No. 211).

With 174, the Cardinals selected CB Denzel Burke, yet another product of Ohio State. Arizona's CB room now adds two rookies in the Draft, with Burke coming in alongside second-round pick Will Johnson.

More on the Cardinals drafting Denzel Burke

Round 6, Pick 211 (via DAL) - OL Hayden Conner, Texas

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Hayden Conner (76) and Cole Hutson (54) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

With the sixth-round pick Arizona received from the Cowboys, they select a Texas player, and their first offensive player of 2025. Conner is an interior OL, playing mostly guard, and could be seen as a developmental piece for Arizona.

The Cardinals are somewhat thin in the interior OL department, and add some serious beef with the 6-foot-6, 314-pound OL.

More on the Cardinals drafting Hayden Conner

Round 7, Pick 225 - S Kitan Crawford, Nevada

Sep 14, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) runs the ball as Nevada Wolf Pack safety Kitan Crawford (4) defends during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Somewhat puzzlingly, the Cardinals dip back into the DB market, taking safety Kitan Crawford with their seventh-round pick out off Nevada. Arizona's secondary is already quite loaded with young rising players, and the Cardinals already drafted CBs Will Johnson in the second round and Denzel Burke in the fifth.

Crawford played four years at Texas before transferring to Nevada, though he did rack up 76 tackles in his final season.

More on the Cardinals drafting Kitan Crawford

When is NFL Draft/How to Watch

The first round of the NFL Draft is Thursday, April 24 at 5:00 PM PST. Day 2 (Friday, April 25) will begin at 4:00 PM PST and Day 3 (Saturday, April 26) will begin at 9:00 AM PST.

You can view multiple streams of the 2025 NFL Draft on places such as NFL Network and ESPN.

What Draft Picks Do Cardinals Have?

Round 1, Pick 16
Round 2, Pick 47
Round 3, Pick 78
Round 4, Pick 115
Round 5, Pick 152
Round 7, Pick 225

The Cardinals own picks in all rounds but the sixth, where they dealt their selection to the Denver Broncos last season in exchange for outside linebacker Baron Browning.

Cardinals Draft Rumors

LINK: Two Teams Cardinals Could Trade With

LINK: Final Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft

LINK: Three Cardinals NFL Draft Narratives to Watch

LINK: Cardinals Looking to Trade Top Pick

LINK: Cardinals Have Draft's Worst-Kept Secret

Cardinals Pre-Draft Comments

Monti Ossenfort on challenges at picking at 16: “Yeah, I think it is different. It certainly is different. I think now it's more we sit and wait, and it's hard to predict. We (do) try. We'll do a few exercises next week where we try to take a look at what we think's going to happen, but in all reality, there's 32 teams and their boards will look 32 different ways. So, challenges? Yeah, but really, it's just staying flexible and being ready to have options for whatever comes our way. We'll be ready to do that at 16.”

Jonathan Gannon on how draft process has evolved: “I think you always have your process. When we got here year one, we kind of developed our process together with everybody that he just mentioned—which man, we're paying a lot of people-- but they deserve it. You kind of get your process in order, and then I kind of tweaked some things that we think we can do better. That's in all areas of our program. I feel really good about where we're at right now, what we're doing and the projects that I have to still do. Because as it gets closer, it becomes a little more real. It's kind of like game day, but it'll be fun and exciting. I'm excited for it.”