Cardinals Could Shock Fans With Top Pick
ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals have a wide array of options available to them with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, though fans and media have a few names in mind of who they should take.
The consensus pick seems to be Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. - who would provide an explosive playmaker for Arizona's offense. Should Harrison himself be gone, other receivers such as Washington's Rome Odunze or LSU's Malik Nabers could fit the bill.
Should the Cardinals opt for other top options, tackles such as Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olu Fashanu make sense too.
With different flavors available, there's not a great deal of room for surprise when it comes to general manager Monti Ossenfort and his selection once they're on the clock.
One NFL exec's prediction would raise some eyebrows, however.
The Athletic's Mike Sando gathered opinions from NFL general managers and high ranking executives to formulate a mock draft of the top ten picks.
With Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye off the board as the Cardinals ready for the No. 4 pick, it was Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner who saw his name pop on the ticker.
“I think they have to go pass rush if they stay there,” one of the execs said to Sando.
“It could be Dallas Turner. Verse might be a safer pick. I would think they will be looking to move down. There is enough rush, even a Chop Robinson, to get him lower. Seven (Titans) and six (Giants) could trade up for a tackle.”
“Turner is squarely in the top 10 now,” said another league executive.
Arizona undoubtedly needs more help getting to the quarterback - something we've mentioned extensively on this site.
Sando did mention in the article there was "zero consensus" with the pick, so expectations are across the board for what Arizona could do. Turner was the pick because the Cardinals' defense "badly needed reinforcements" according to Sando.
Turner is considered to be one of the best pass-rushing prospects in the draft, and though he indeed fits the "unpopular" train of thought from Cardinals fans and mock draft experts alike at No. 4, the talent would still help Arizona's defense regardless.
Still, most believe the Cardinals would trade down if they coveted Turner over most prospects.
“I would expect them to trade the pick,” Another league executive said. “Look at how they moved back last year, and then the fact that this is going to be an attractive spot because it allows someone to come up from a distance to get the player they want.”
Another NFL insider in Diana Russini also spoke with league executives who believe the Cardinals could trade down:
