Arizona Cardinals mock draft 2024: Putting Kyler Murray in a position to succeed

Credit: Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

We knew the Arizona Cardinals would be in for a rough season in 2023 from the moment Kyler Murray tore his ACL in Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season. Knowing they likely wouldn’t be competitive, the Cardinals planned ahead, with GM Monti Ossenfort trading down while acquiring an extra first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, it’s time to replenish the roster for coach Jonathan Gannon with our 2024 Cardinals mock draft.

The Cardinals invested in key positions in last year’s draft, with the addition of Paris Johnson Jr., BJ Ojulari, Garrett Williams, and Michael Wilson. These players will continue shaping the future of the Cardinals’ franchise, but more help is needed. With Murray starting the season healthy this time around, the 2024 NFL Draft will be crucial for a quick turnaround this season.

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Arizona Cardinals draft picks 2024

Here are the Arizona Cardinals draft picks ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft

1st Round, 4th overall
1st Round, 27th overall
2nd Round, 35th overall
3rd Round, 66th overall
3rd Round, 71st overall
3rd Round, 90th overall

4th Round, 104th overall
5th Round, 133rd overall
5th Round, 140th overall
6th Round, 188th overall
7th Round, 225th overall
7th Round, 227th overall

Related: 2024 NFL Draft order

Arizona Cardinals team needs 2024

Here are the Cardinals team needs entering the 2024 NFL offseason.

Wide Receiver
Cornerback
Defensive Line

Edge Rusher
Offensive Line
Linebacker

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Arizona Cardinals mock draft

1st Round, 4th overall: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Without the need for a quarterback, the Arizona Cardinals can emerge from the 2024 NFL Draft with the best player in the class, Marvin Harrison Jr. Getting him at No. 4 is a steal, and the best part is he’ll get to hit the ground running, by being paired with an experienced playmaker like Kyler Murray.

Harrison’s presence immediately gives the Cardinals offense the potential to be dangerous in 2024; the only question is how dominant he can be as a rookie. A player who shouldn’t have any trouble topping 1,000 yards in his first season, suddenly the Cardinals have a big weapon at wide receiver.

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1st Round, 27th overall: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

With Murray locked in as the franchise QB, now the Cardinals need to give him everything needed to develop a high-powered offense capable of competing in the NFC West. Building in the trenches is the best way to do just that, boosting the running game while keeping Murray upright.

With Paris Johnson Jr. set to man the blindside after the ACL injury to DJ Humphries, Washington’s Troy Fautanu can focus on being Arizona’s right tackle for the next ten years. With both bookends settled, the Cardinals can worry about improving the interior either in free agency, or later in the draft.

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2nd Round, 35th overall: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

After letting both Patrick Peterson and Byron Murphy leave in free agency the past few years, the Arizona Cardinals don’t have much left at the cornerback position. Last year’s third-round pick, Garrett Williams, will have one starting spot, but the Cardinals need more young talent capable of developing into a shutdown corner.

Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is coming off an impressive college career that saw the six-foot-tall corner make an impact in pass defense and as a run defender who doesn’t shy away from contact. Jonathan Gannon would love to add a player like Rakestraw to the secondary in Arizona.

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3rd Round, 71st overall: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson

While the Cardinals still need to add to the trenches, we couldn’t pass up on one of the best linebackers in the 2024 NFL Draft class. Gannon needs better linebackers to run his defense effectively, and the Cardinals don’t have anyone they can trust quite yet.

Kyzir White is a stopgap at best, but Jeremiah Trotter Jr. should have no trouble seeing early playing time, using his advanced football IQ to see the field as a rookie. Trotter may be a bit undersized (6-feet, 230 LBs), but he’s still a plus run defender with enough burst to make an impact in the pros, just like his father did.