Zipper'S MOCK DRAFT
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Zipper'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON APR 27, 2025

Cardinals 2025

  • Zipper DRAFTING FOR THE
    Cardinals
Draft Selections
Walter Nolen Head Shot
PICK: 16 RND: 1 (ARI)
Walter Nolen
DT Ole Miss
Will Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 17 RND: 1 (ARI)
Will Johnson
CB Michigan
Donovan Ezeiruaku Head Shot
PICK: 47 RND: 2 (ARI)
Donovan Ezeiruaku
DE-EDGE Boston College
Jordan Burch Head Shot
PICK: 78 RND: 3 (ARI)
Jordan Burch
DE-EDGE Oregon
Cam Skattebo Head Shot
PICK: 115 RND: 4 (ARI)
Cam Skattebo
RB Arizona State
Donovan Jackson Head Shot
PICK: 123 RND: 4 (ARI)
Donovan Jackson
OT Ohio State
Cody Simon Head Shot
PICK: 134 RND: 4 (ARI)
Cody Simon
LB Ohio State
Tory Horton Head Shot
PICK: 139 RND: 5 (ARI)
Tory Horton
WR Colorado State
Ty Robinson Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (ARI)
Ty Robinson
DL Nebraska
Lathan Ransom Head Shot
PICK: 158 RND: 5 (ARI)
Lathan Ransom
S Ohio State
Willie Lampkin Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (ARI)
Willie Lampkin
OG North Carolina
Hayden Conner Head Shot
PICK: 187 RND: 6 (ARI)
Hayden Conner
OG Texas
CJ West Head Shot
PICK: 199 RND: 6 (ARI)
CJ West
DT Indiana
Jaylen Reed Head Shot
PICK: 223 RND: 7 (ARI)
Jaylen Reed
S Penn State
Shaun Dolac Head Shot
PICK: 235 RND: 7 (ARI)
Shaun Dolac
LB Buffalo
Draft Picks Received
Will Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 17 RND: 1 (CIN)
Will Johnson
CB Michigan
Donovan Jackson Head Shot
PICK: 123 RND: 4 (PIT)
Donovan Jackson
OT Ohio State
Cody Simon Head Shot
PICK: 134 RND: 4 (PHI)
Cody Simon
LB Ohio State
Tory Horton Head Shot
PICK: 139 RND: 5 (MIN)
Tory Horton
WR Colorado State
Lathan Ransom Head Shot
PICK: 158 RND: 5 (LAC)
Lathan Ransom
S Ohio State
Willie Lampkin Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (PHI)
Willie Lampkin
OG North Carolina
Hayden Conner Head Shot
PICK: 187 RND: 6 (MIN)
Hayden Conner
OG Texas
CJ West Head Shot
PICK: 199 RND: 6 (LAC)
CJ West
DT Indiana
Jaylen Reed Head Shot
PICK: 223 RND: 7 (SEA)
Jaylen Reed
S Penn State
Shaun Dolac Head Shot
PICK: 235 RND: 7 (TB)
Shaun Dolac
LB Buffalo
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (CIN)
NEXT YEAR (2026)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (MIN)
NEXT YEAR (2026)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (PHI)
NEXT YEAR (2026)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Nazir Stackhouse Head Shot
PICK: 225 RND: 7 (TB)
Nazir Stackhouse
DL Georgia
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 1 (PHI)
NEXT YEAR (2026)
 
Players Gained
Head Shot
Henry Byrd
OG
Head Shot
DeMarcus Lawrence
DE
Head Shot
Chris Rumph II
LB
Head Shot
Max Scharping
OG
Head Shot
Rasheed Walker
OT
Draft Grade — Cardinals
Overall B-
ValueB- NeedB- TradesA+ FutureD+
The Cardinals worked the phones like thieves and earned a B-.

You can hear the double-takes from here. The Cardinals took Shaun Dolac at the 235th overall pick, roughly 103 spots before his name belonged. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B-.

On value alone, Jackson makes the weekend a net positive. They robbed the room blind at the table, and it lifts the grade on its own. The quarterback spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.

In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the quarterback spot they never got to.

Pick Analysis
Pick16 Rnd1 Walter Nolen
No edge and no loss on Walter Nolen in the 16th pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick17 Rnd1 Will Johnson
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Will Johnson. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Pick47 Rnd2 Donovan Ezeiruaku
Donovan Ezeiruaku in pick No. 47 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick78 Rnd3 Jordan Burch
They jumped the gun on Jordan Burch, taking him earlier than his grade liked. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick115 Rnd4 Cam Skattebo
They will replay Cam Skattebo at pick 115 for years; that is how good the value is. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick123 Rnd4 Donovan Jackson
Donovan Jackson at Round 4, Pick 21 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick134 Rnd4 Cody Simon
Cody Simon at pick No. 134 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick139 Rnd5 Tory Horton
They robbed the room for Tory Horton here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick152 Rnd5 Ty Robinson
A big swing on Ty Robinson at slot 152, well ahead of any board in the building. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick158 Rnd5 Lathan Ransom
You do not let a safety like Lathan Ransom reach the Round 5 slot and blink. They did not. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Pick161 Rnd5 Willie Lampkin
They talked themselves into Willie Lampkin at Round 5, Pick 23, and the board did not agree. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick187 Rnd6 Hayden Conner
Hayden Conner in the 187th pick is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick199 Rnd6 CJ West
A tidy bit of business in the 199th overall pick, where CJ West graded well above the range. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick223 Rnd7 Jaylen Reed
Taking Jaylen Reed in No. 223 is close to grand larceny; a safety that good had no business lasting this long. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Pick235 Rnd7 Shaun Dolac
A real head-scratcher, Shaun Dolac in the 235th pick is miles ahead of his ranking. The roster fit checks out.