2020 NFL Draft: Potential first-round targets for Arizona Cardinals

Last offseason, the Arizona Cardinals traded a sixth-round compensatory pick for Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Gilbert suffered a knee injury and spent nearly the entire season on injured reserve. With both Gilbert and former first-round pick, D.J. Humphries set to become free agents this offseason, offensive tackle becomes the biggest need for the Arizona Cardinals.

Georgia’s Andrew Thomas is a top ten offensive tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft class. On film, he displays power in his hands which gives him a special edge in the run game. He shows a powerful lower half, which allows him to get good leverage on opponents. And while he’s not the lightest on his feet, Thomas moves fairly well and handles both power and speed fairly well.

Additionally, should the Arizona Cardinals decide to bring back either Humphries and Gilbert for the future, Thomas could kick inside to guard. Interior offensive line is another big need for Arizona, however, there isn’t a Quenton Nelson-type of prospect worth taking in this draft class. The power he shows and his 6-foot-5 320-pound frame could make him a formidable interior lineman at the next level.

Thomas is one of three potential offensive tackles the Arizona Cardinals could select with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. While they could look to select Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, teams such as the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers sit in front of them and both are in need of an offensive tackle. And the same applies to Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, one of those two teams could covet his athleticism over Thomas’s power.