The Arizona Cardinals enter the 2023 NFL Draft with a strong hand, holding the No. 4 overall pick and a promising quarterback in Kyler Murray. However, with the draft expected to begin with a run on quarterbacks, the Cardinals could receive enticing offers from teams eager to acquire the fourth passer remaining on the board.
A recent report indicated that the Cardinals have engaged in conversations with three teams, with a fourth on their radar. Offers for the Cardinals’ No. 4 selection are believed to have already been received. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports that two offers featuring trade parameters have been made. Jones also suggests that the Cardinals are comfortable drafting Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 but may not view a significant difference in value between Harrison and LSU’s Malik Nabers. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport believes the Cardinals may not trade back too far due to their need for a wide receiver. Moving down the board could push Arizona out of contention for a top wideout prospect, potentially influencing their decision regarding offers from the Vikings or Broncos, who own the Nos. 11 and 12 picks, respectively.
The Cardinals’ interest in wide receivers could play into the hands of the New York Giants, who hold the No. 6 pick. If the Cardinals trade down two spots with a team interested in drafting a quarterback at No. 4, the Giants could still have the opportunity to select either Harrison or Nabers at No. 6. Both players have visited the Cardinals, and reports during the draft run-up have suggested that some teams view Nabers, who initially trailed Harrison on prospect ranking lists, as the better prospect. Nabers, who was Jayden Daniels’ target for two years at LSU, clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash time at LSU’s pro day. Despite not participating in drills at the combine or pro day, Nabers has maintained his draft stock.
The Cardinals have a glaring need at wide receiver, but if the Vikings or Broncos present a more attractive offer than the Giants, it would put Monti Ossenfort’s decision-making abilities to the test. Last year’s Cardinals’ decision to slide from No. 3 to No. 12 and then out of No. 33 demonstrated Ossenfort’s willingness to move down the board. However, it’s worth noting that Arizona subsequently traded back up to No. 6 (for Paris Johnson) last year. Some speculate that the Cardinals could move outside the top 10 and make a similar move by climbing back up – presumably for a wideout – soon after.
While the Giants have conducted extensive research on this year’s wide receiver class, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson notes that teams view them as a potential landing spot for a quarterback. As of Tuesday, both the Giants and Vikings are reportedly more interested in Drake Maye than J.J. McCarthy, although it’s important to consider the possibility of smokescreens during this time of year. If Maye is no longer available, would New York or Minnesota be willing to make a move for the Michigan alum? The Vikings are believed to be more open to acquiring multiple quarterbacks compared to other teams in need of a passer, so they could still be interested in trading up with the Cardinals.
Ultimately, the Cardinals must decide whether they are comfortable dropping to a draft position where they risk losing out on Harrison, Nabers, and Rome Odunze. They are not expected to make a trade until Thursday night when they go on the clock.
