Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft: Retooling the Roster Around Franchise QB Kyler Murray
By Hunter Haas
Round 5, Pick 170: Joe Tippmann, OL, Wisconsin
Joe Tippmann is yet another freaky athlete included in this mock draft. Tippmann, the Badgers starting center, enters the 2023 NFL Draft with a strong pedigree. His natural position is center, and he profiles as a starting option there in the NFL, but pigeonholing Tippmann into one position limits the upside.
Due to his aforementioned athleticism, Tippmann can slide over to either guard position and perform well. His frame is a bit lanky — and can get him in trouble at times — but the Wisconsin offensive lineman projects as a starter anywhere on the interior. A home run pick near the end of the mock draft.
Round 6, Pick 179: DJ Dale, DL, Alabama
Leki Fotu, a promising young man from their 2020 NFL Draft class, holds down the fort at nose tackle. The Cardinals could still stand to add some depth behind him, and DJ Dale feels like a solid addition to the defensive line. Dale is not the biggest defensive lineman you will ever see, but his experience under Nick Saban makes him a valuable teammate.
Dale never played a key role at Tuscaloosa, but the former four-star high school recruit dripped with potential upon his arrival to Alabama. Unfortunately for the mauling defender, his body has let him down. Health concerns and less-than-ideal size make Dale available this late in the mock draft, and the Cardinals should take a chance on his talent.
Round 6, Pick 214: Tiawan Mullen, CB, Indiana
Tiawan Mullen possesses the on-field traits to be an outside cornerback in the NFL, but his frame raises concerns. If Mullen were a bit bigger and a bit faster, we would be talking about him as a day-two prospect. However, the limitations with his frame and top speed are enough to push him into the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Cardinals deployed Isaiah Simmons, Zaven Collins, and Budda Baker in unique ways, but adding Mullen — who could possibly play inside and outside — would add another piece to play around with. Mullen’s measurements and testing will determine where he is drafted, but in this mock draft, the Cardinals get a possible steal in round six.