Arizona Cardinals 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Supporting Kyler Murray

A Trade Back

In this mock draft, Arizona had the 23rd overall pick in the first round. I had them trading picks with the Kansas City Chiefs back to #30, with Arizona adding an essential day two pick. Here are the trade details.

Round 1, 30th Overall: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

Cornerback is a definite need for the Arizona Cardinals this offseason. Their two starters are youngsters in Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson and aging 34-year-old veteran Robert Alford is set to hit the open market. The Cardinals also play in the high-flying NFC west division where they’re forced to face the dynamic pass offenses of the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks six times per year. Defending the pass is a priority.

Which makes getting a solid corner like Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. at the tail end of the first round a steal. Booth has good size (6’0” 200) and length and can play physically both with receivers in coverage and when coming up in run support.

Booth can also play the ball well while it’s in the air and has shown a great competitive spirit. He excels at getting in a good position and running with the receiver, setting himself up to break up the pass.

He’ll thrive in a system that mixes up its coverages (press man, zone, combo coverages, etc.) and Arizona may look to do that under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph next season. With this pick, the Cardinals address one of their top two defensive needs. They address their other main need with the next pick.