Arizona Cardinals' 2023 NFL draft trade speculation swirls in NFL mock draft projections

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic
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Will the Arizona Cardinals trade the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL draft?

Several recent NFL mock draft projections for the April 27 first round have the Cardinals trading down, as other teams are eager to move up and use that selection to select a quarterback.

The Cardinals appear to be in rebuilding mode and trading down would potentially give them extra draft picks this year and next year in order to try to strengthen the roster for the future.

Could Arizona make one of these moves or a move similar to it before their first pick in the NFL draft?

For now, we get to wait and see. Meanwhile, the speculation around Arizona and the No. 3 pick continues to swirl with each new mock draft trade projection.

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PFF.com: Cardinals get a haul for trading first-round pick to Detroit Lions

The site has Arizona landing the No. 6, 48 and 81 picks this season in addition to a first-round and fourth-round pick in 2024 for the No. 3 pick.

With that No. 6 pick, it has the Cardinals taking Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson.

Brad Spielberger writes: "Arizona begins overhauling its roster with a trade-down to stockpile draft capital, then they take a prospect with insane traits and tools who could develop into a special player under the tutelage of new head coach Jonathan Gannon. Wilson’s 35 5/8-inch arm length is in the 98th percentile, and his 7-foot-2 wingspan is one inch shorter than Giannis Antetokounmpo's. At 271 pounds, Wilson can generate a lot of power and drive back opposing tackles and guards, allowing him to line up all over."

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NFL.com: Cardinals trade down to No. 4 with Indianapolis Colts

The site has Arizona landing Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 4 pick. It doesn't say what the Cardinals get for trading down a spot with Indianapolis.

Eric Edholm writes: "Anderson could be to the Cardinals what Haason Reddick was to the Eagles last season (or what Reddick was to the Cardinals in 2020, if you will)."

NFL.com's Chad Reuter has Arizona making the same trade with the Colts, and taking the same player, Anderson Jr., with the Cardinals getting third-round picks in 2023 and 2024 and a fourth-round pick this year for moving down a spot.

He writes: "New head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis worked well together in Philadelphia, and they very well could see a Haason Reddick-type edge rusher in Anderson. While the All-American's stats dropped to mere-mortal levels in 2022 (17 tackles for loss with 10 sacks against 34.5 and 17.5, respectively, in 2021), his ability to win off the edge is still ripe for development."

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Could the Arizona Cardinals trade down and still land Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. in the NFL draft? Some sites think so in their NFL mock draft projections.
Could the Arizona Cardinals trade down and still land Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. in the NFL draft? Some sites think so in their NFL mock draft projections.

CBS Sports: Cardinals trade back twice in 2023 NFL draft

Yes, this site has Arizona making two trades in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

It first has the Cardinals trading with the Colts to go back one spot to No. 4. Then, it has Arizona trading with the Raiders back three spots to No. 7 overall. With that No. 7 pick, it has the team taking Georgia DL Jalen Carter.

Josh Edwards writes: "After trading back from No. 3 overall to No. 4 overall, and then again to No. 7 overall, the Cardinals finally make a pick. Jalen Carter would have been under consideration at their original pick, but Arizona was able to pick up some additional draft capital to move along that rebuild."

Interestingly, last week Edwards had the Cardinals trading the No. 3 pick straight to the Raiders with a 2024 first-round pick going back to Arizona as part of the trade.

With the No. 7 pick in that mock draft, he had the Cardinals selecting Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez, writing: "Arizona just needs to add young talent to its roster, and it could go in a number of directions from offensive line to defensive line to the secondary. In this scenario, the Cardinals take a cornerback with the best combination of athletic traits."

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Fansided: Cardinals trade down a spot with Colts in 2023 NFL draft

In this trade, Arizona acquires the No. 4 pick and a 2023 third-round selection, as well as a 2024 fourth-round selection for the No. 3 pick.

The Cardinals pick Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 4 pick in this mock draft.

Jacob Schyvinck writes: "The Arizona Cardinals make a move down in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, and while it wasn’t a big one, they get a bit of extra draft capital this year and next. Arizona still secures a blue-chip defender in Will Anderson. The Cardinals did draft a pair of defensive linemen last year, but Anderson is on another level as a prospect. His ability to affect all three downs at a high level is unmatched on the edge."

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL mock drafts: Arizona Cardinals trade No. 3 pick in 2023 NFL draft