Revenge of the Birds
Talking about the 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
Happy Friday one and all.
We are entering the final countdown to the 2025 NFL Draft, less than a month until round one in fact.
To celebrate, let’s take a look at Matt Miller’s Seven Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft on E$PN.
Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
The Cardinals made a big move early in free agency in signing edge rusher Josh Sweat from the Eagles, but they need an upgrade opposite him. Green led the FBS with 17 sacks in 2024 and has the ideal body type and movement skills to be a stand-up rusher in Jonathan Gannon’s 3-4 scheme. Green’s first step is his best asset, and he uses speed to stun blockers. He’s developing a bull-rush counter, which we saw at the Senior Bowl, but he moves best from a two-point stance. Green has elite production and high-end traits, but his NFL success will hinge on developing a consistent counter to his speed rush and learning to overcome his shorter arm length (32 inches).
47. Arizona Cardinals
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
The Cardinals got Marvin Harrison Jr. last year — now it’s time to pick his running mate. Noel is a slippery route runner with excellent start-stop quickness and sure hands. He secured Round 2 status during Senior Bowl week thanks to his agility and technical skills as a route runner, but then he ran a 4.39 in the 40 at the combine and moved even higher up my board. Noel is also a dangerous return man who uses that run-after-catch talent to make tacklers miss.
78. Arizona Cardinals
Emery Jones Jr., G, LSU
The Cardinals’ best chance of a playoff run comes by keeping quarterback Kyler Murray protected. Jones has right tackle experience but projects as a starting guard in the NFL.
115. Arizona Cardinals: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
152. Arizona Cardinals: Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
225. Arizona Cardinals (via NYJ/KC): Shemar James, LB, Florida
We discussed Mike Green yesterday, so we will bypass that conversation.
I like Jaylin Noel and while they do need a receiver with speed, but I would have taken Carson Schwesinger who went the next pick.
The Jones pick is a good one, a right tackle with guard versatility.
I do not like the Walker pick at all. I love the player, but he has been having issues with a pars defect, a small fracture between two verterbraes, and at his size, 6-7 331lbs, I don’t care if it is the fourth round, there are no such thing as used to having a bad back.
I have no opinion on late round picks, but I don’t mind how things went, but I would have done a couple of things differently.
