Arizona's Acquisitions: 143 Combined starts, 0 Pro Bowls, 0 All-Pro Awards, 0 All-Rookie teams
Trade Partners' Acquisitions: 196 Combined starts, 7 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pros, 4 All-Rookie teams
Commentary:
One of the main purposes in documenting the early results of Monti Ossenfort's draft trades is to refute the on-going claims from Cardinals' fans that Monti made out even in the 2023 Texans' and Lions' trades.
I'd give it a solid B
Franchise LT secured in PJJ. Garrett Williams played out of position in 2025 but was arguably the best slot CB in the NFL in 2024. Michael Wilson is coming off a breakout 1000yd campaign.
Dante Stills has been a good contributor on the DL with 21 career
I'll grade it a D. Could have had one of the best defensive players in the league in Will Anderson Jr. Instead Monti goes and gets Mr. Glass Ojulari and gets the draft bust of Darius Robinson the following draft as part of that trade.
It is actually a really decent class. PJJ is a pro bowl level LT. Williams wasn't great last year but the season before he looked a top end slot corner. Wilson is a 1,000 yard receiver. Stills has been a really nice rotational DT.
Passing on Will Anderson Jr. and reaching for an injured underachiever at LSU in B.J. Ojulari, with Brian Branch still on the board were mistakes, no matter which way one looks at it.
Paris Johnson Jr.is a good player, but the two players the Cardinals gave up to the Lions the #12 and #34 picks are Pro Bowlers, in addition to passing on a 1st Team All-Pro at the top of the draft.
However, if Paris Johnson Jr. emerges as a Pro Bowl worthy LT, Garrett Williams returns healthy and stars in a hybrid zone safety role, Michael Wilson confirms this season that he is a bona fide WR1, Jon Gaines II wins the starting RG and plays well and Owen Pappoe and Dante Stills have breakout seasons in their contract years, then the Cardinals' 2023 draft class can be deemed an overall success, especially if Monti recoups from missing out on Will Anderson Jr. and Brian Branch in 2023 by selecting edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (or David Bailey) and man-to-man slot CB Keionte Scott (or D'Angelo Ponds/Treydan Stukes).
2023 Cardinals Draft Grade: TBD.
Will Monti learn from his past mistakes? Not if this happens:
2026 1st round Trade Winds
There is “buzz” around the NFL that the Cowboys could trade up from the No. 12pickto select Texas Tech DE David Bailey, with the Cardinals being a potential trade partner at No. 3, per Todd McShay.
The major reason why mock trades like this are proposed is that Monti did this in 2023, passing on the top pass rusher to then take an offensive tackle.
The book on Monti is:
1. He's ever eager to trade down.
2. He seems to prioritize offensive tackles more than edge rushers. Which is also why so many pundits and fans have Monti taking T Francis Mauigoa at #3 ahead of Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey.
One of the main arguments for Monti trading down in 2023 is the need he felt to accumulate extra draft picks, at time sacrificing quality over quantity.
After drafting 28 players over the past 3 years and not having one player make a Pro Bowl, high quality is needed in 2026, not quantity. The roster is deep. However, it is not as star-studded as the Seahawks', Rams' and 49ers'. If there ever was a draft for the Cardinals to reach for the stars, then the 2026 draft is the one.
Note --- the overall response is very positive.
The perception remains that Paris Johnson Jr. is a "Pro Bowl level" left tackle. Fact is, he hasn't been thus far.
Another generous perception is that Garrett Williams is one of the best slot CBs in the NFL. In zones, yes. In man-to-man, no.
The greatest value pick of this draft is WR Michael Wilson.
The most talented Day 3 player is G Jon Gaines II, but many fans have written him off.
2023 PFF Grades:
* T Paris Johnson Jr. --- 76.6
* OLB B.J. Ojulari --- 49.0
* CB Garrett Williams --- 62.5
* WR Michael Wilson --- 76.4
* Jon Gaines II --- 60.3
* QB Clayton Tune --- cut
* LB Owen Pappoe - 64.1
* CB Kei'Trel Clark --- 56.1 --- 73.1 Special Teams
Clayton Tune: The Fateful Path of an NFL Legacy by Walter Mitchell photo: @azcardinals.com via Instagram During the second night of the 2023 NFL Draft, Clayton Tune received a call from the Green Bay Packers. The Packers wanted to assure Clayton of their interest in drafting the University of Houston quarterback at some point on day three. When the Arizona Cardinals selected Clayton Tune with the #139 pick a day later, he was surprised, given that the Cardinals had not expressed any significant interest in him during the pre-draft process. The Cardinals were not one of the six teams that brought him in for 30 visits (Texans, Saints, Browns, Steelers, Bucs, Giants). Tune had also been given a private workout by the Rams. The eventual link the Cardinals had to Clayton Tune was that Israel Woolfork was one of his coaches at the Senior Bowl. At that time, Woolfork had just finished his second year of a Bill Walsh/Bill Willis coaching fellowship with the Cleveland Browns. A...
Drew Petzing Deserves More Praise Than Derision image courtesy of @azcardinals.com By Walter Mitchell On X yesterday, there was this chance for Cardinals' fans to grade Jonathan Gannon, Drew Petzing and Nick Rallis thanks to @BirdmanofAZ. Bird Droppings @BirdmanofAZ Bye week report card.......coaching staff Jonathan Gannon ________ Drew Petzing ________ Nick Rallis ________ Here are the average results thus far of the fans' grades: Jonathan Gannon: D Drew Petzing: F Nick Rallis: C Why is it that Drew Petzing has drawn such abject scorn from Cardinals' fans? Going back to last year, the PHNX Cardinals media site has been waging a daily campaign to see Drew Petzing get fired, that is if he can't coach up a weekly magical connection between Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. This season, in light of Kyler Murray's inconsistencies and Marvin Harriso...
Was Will Johnson's Red and White Interception Staged? by Walter Mitchell photo thanks to Tyler Drake at Arizona Sports Cardinals' 2nd round pick, CB Will Johnson of Michigan, is off to a fabulous start just 10 days into training camp. Will Johnson has come to the Cardinals just as advertised. He is a keenly instinctive zone cover corner who reads his man and the QB extremely well, which enables him to jump routes and make timely pass breakups and interceptions. In man coverage, he lacks the requisite recovery speed to stay sticky on speedy receivers. But that's ok, as long as the coaches match him up with receivers whom he can run stride for stride with. We have yet to see whether the 2024 concerns about Will Johnson's tackling, which may have been due to injuries. With him presumably taking over Sean Murphy-Bunting's starting role, the coaches will have to hope that he tackles way better than SMB (29.4 2024 PFF tackling grade). If you look at Will's 2023 ga...
Comments
Post a Comment