2016 NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals Post-Combine Seven-Round Mock

By Bryan Zarpentine

The Arizona Cardinals are coming off an impressive 2015 season in which they reached the NFC Championship Game and pronounced themselves the team to beat in the NFC West. Of course, replicating that success in 2016 won’t be easy, as the Cardinals have some areas to address through the draft. Here is a prediction of what Arizona may do in the 2016 NFL Draft.

2016 NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals Post-Combine Seven-Round Mock

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Round 1, No. 29 Overall - Leonard Floyd, Linebacker, Georgia — The trade for Chandler Jones has addressed Arizona's need for a pass rusher, but when it comes to getting after the quarterback, there's no such thing as too much. Floyd, much like Jones, has a tall, long frame that he can use to cause a lot of problems for opposing quarterbacks. The two could give the Cardinals a great pass-rush duo for years to come.

Round 3, No. 92 Overall - Shawn Oakman, Defensive End, Baylor — Oakman has massive size on the defensive line, more so than nearly any player in the draft. The Cardinals could move use him at multiple positions on the defensive line, and with his combination of size and athleticism, Oakman could grow into a difference maker on the Arizona defense.

Round 4, No. 128 Overall - Spencer Drango, Offensive Guard, Baylor — Evan Mathis was a good signing, but he's a veteran who may not have too many good years left. Meanwhile, Drango would be a good project for the Cardinals, as he has good upside for a fourth-round pick but will need time to adjust to a pro-style offense. Drango has the size and tools to be a starting lineman in the NFL and could be Mathis' eventual replacement after a year or two.

Round 5, No. 167 Overall - Temarrick Hemingway, Tight End, South Carolina State — Hemingway is a late bloomer and a raw talent, but he has the upside to be an impact tight end in the NFL. His size and athleticism stand out, and the Cardinals could really use a tight end who's a weapon in the passing game. It may take some time for Hemingway to develop, but the talent and potential are definitely there.

Round 5, No. 170 Overall - DeAndre Houston-Carson, Safety, William & Mary — Arizona could use some depth in their secondary behind Tyrann Mathieu, and Houston-Carson could be a nice find on Day 3. He played at the FCS level in college, but his production was impressive. His size and skill set stand out as well. Houston-Carson needs to improve as an open-field tackler, but he can be a fine backup safety and may even be able to play cornerback in the NFL, making him a versatile addition to the Arizona secondary.

Round 6, No. 205 Overall - Kevin Peterson, Cornerback, Oklahoma State — Peterson wasn't a standout player in college, in part because he played opposite Justin Gilbert for part of the time. But he played in a pass-heavy conference that has plenty of NFL-caliber wide receivers, so he's been challenged and won't be intimidated by facing professional wideouts. The Cardinals could use some depth at cornerback, and Peterson is a nice pickup at this stage in the draft.

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