Predicting who the Cardinals will select in each of the seven rounds of the NFL Draft

NFL mock drafts are tough enough to produce with any accuracy when it only involves how things might play out in the first round. Trying to pinpoint which players will end up with a specific team through all seven rounds is impossible.

Nevertheless, we've taken a shot at that daunting task. Here’s a look at how it could all shake out for the Cardinals, who have eight picks in this year’s draft set for April 28-30.

First round

Pick No. 23 overall – Wide receiver Treylon Burks, Arkansas, Jr.

Hometown: Warren, Arkansas

Vitals: 6-3/225

How he fits: Projects as team’s No. 2 wide receiver opposite DeAndre Hopkins. Though he disappointed in his 40 time at the NFL scouting combine, Burks is a versatile weapon who can line up anywhere and be a mismatch for defenders. He will fight for balls in traffic, packs a powerful stiff arm and is a smooth and natural route runner who can also carry the ball out of the backfield if asked. The Cardinals had Burks in town for one of their 30 official prospect visits.

College: Had Arkansas team-highs 66 catches, 1104 yards and 11 touchdowns, rushed 11 times for 112 yards and one TD in 2021.

Highlights: 2021 All-SEC First Team, two-time All-SEC Second Team, SEC All-Freshman Team; made eight catches for 179 yards against Alabama’s top 10-ranked defense last year.

Strengths: Great size and speed ratio with body control; tough stiff arm tactic to outduel cornerbacks on routes and make big gains after short catches; former all-state baseball outfielder with keen eye to track deep balls

Weaknesses: Tries too many one-handed catches; allows too much reaction time for defenders in coverage when going after 50/50 balls; needs to improve consistency on contested catches.

Measurables: Arms — 33 1/2; Hands — 9 7/8; 40 Yard — 4.55; Vertical — 33 in; Broad jump — 122; 3 Cone Drill — 7.28.

Second round

Pick No.55 overall – EDGE Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State, Sr.

Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland

Vitals: 6-3/256

How he fits: He can be groomed as an eventual starter at outside linebacker and getting regular reps as a pass rusher in a rotation situation. He’s very good at using his hands and leverage to slide his way into the backfield and is explosive off the snap. He can play inside as well if they need him to slide from defensive tackle or defensive end.

College: The Cameroon-born Ebiketie began his college career at Temple before transferring to Penn State for the 2021 season.

Highlights: 2021 FWAA Second-team All-American, All-Big Ten First Team, 2020 All-AAC Second Team; Led Penn State with 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 62 total tackles, two fumbles, two blocked kicks. He was a basketball and soccer player before he began playing football his high school sophomore year.

Strengths: Disrupts zone plays with clever snake moves attacking gaps; powerful, quick and accurate hands; flattens angles well on the pass rush; has efficient inside stab hand to recover for over-setting tackles.

Weaknesses: Needs to improve his base by bulking up his lower half to mitigate hip tightness in his pass rush; upper half needs to be more slippery to evade punch; not as efficient against bulldozers inside.

Measurables: Arms — 34 1/8; Hands — 10 1/4; Vertical — 38; Broad jump — 128

Third Round

Pick No.87 overall – Cornerback Tariq Woolen, Texas-San Antonio, Sr.

Hometown: Forth Worth, Texas

Vitals: 6-4/205

How he fits: Woolen is raw for a cornerback, having only played the position for two years after switching from wide receiver, but he’s got freakish size, length and speed and can immediately challenge for a spot in Vance Joseph’s defense. Woolen ran a 4.26 in the 40-yard das, the fourth-fastest time ever, at this year’s scouting combine and he has one of the highest ceilings for any player in this year’s draft. He could end up being a steal for the Cardinals.

College: 25 tackles (17 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, one interception, one QB hurry

Career highlights: 2021 All-Conference USA Honorable Mention; played in Senior Bowl; helped lead UTSA defense to force 25 turnovers (10th in FBS) and allowed 114.7 rushing yards per game (14th-ranked in the nation), started all nine games he was available, had season-high nine tackles against Illinois on Sept. 4, 2021. Many of Woolen’s cornerback skills were self-taught when the pandemic began, after he switched from wideout, and were also developed on UTSA’s baseball field by indoor football player and FedEx delivery worker Thailand Pierce who became his personal trainer after discovering him on Instagram. He also learned various types of coverages from playing Madden NFL video game.

Strengths: Ideal for outside corner for zone and situational play press; can crowd releases and cap routes; his length diminishes catch space; fluid hip motion in lateral transitions from his burst

Weaknesses: Decision-making on coverage instincts; lack of comfort playing off contact and tackling; being self-taught tends to create bad habits in developing his technique and being fundamentally sound; loses track of ball with back to the QB; misreading depth from zone.

Measurables: Arms — 33 5/8;Hands — 9 1/8; 40 Yard Dash — 4.26; Vertical jump — 42

Sixth round

Pick 201st overall – Tight end Cole Turner, Nevada, Sr.

Hometown: Clackamas, Oregon

Vitals: 6-6/240

How he fits: The Cardinals are set for starters between Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams (if he’s fully recovered from a torn ACL) and free-agent addition Stephen Anderson. Turner, however, could provide even more depth behind them in what is becoming a crowded tight end room and the Cardinals liked him enough to bring him in for an official pre-draft visit.

College: Had 62 catches for career-high 677 receiving yards was eighth in the nation among tight ends last season; had 10 TD receptions in 11 games played to lead all tight ends in Mountain West, tied for second-most in the nation among tight ends (behind Georgia freshman Brock Bowers’ 11)

Highlights: 2021 All-Mountain West Second Team, 2020 All-Mountain West First Team; produced career-high 12 catches for a single-game career-best 175 yards against Hawaii on Oct. 16; had two TDs four times in games last season, played in Senior Bowl. Switched from wideout to tight end in 2020; tied for Nevada team-high with nine TD catches in nine starts (49 catches, 605 yards, 12.3 yards per catch) as a junior.

Strengths: Has length from being a former high school basketball player he uses well for 50/50 balls at the high point, and as a blocker on DBs; tracks and adjusts to deep balls well; maximizes his size on fades and back-shoulder passes near the end zone

Weaknesses: LBs stack and play through him; contact thwarts his balance from having a narrow base; short-stepper lacking separation tactics; ineffective on special teams; needs to improve on contested catches.

Measurables: Arms — 33; Hands — 9 7/8; 40 Yard Dash — 4.76; Vertical jump — 27; Broad jump — 120; 3 Cone Drill — 7.06; 20 Yard Shuttle — 4.41

Sixth round

Pick No. 215th overall – Running back James Cook, Georgia, Sr.

Hometown: Miami

Vitals: 5-11/190

How he fits: The younger brother of Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook, James Cook might be an option in Arizona behind starter James Conner as a nice, change-of-pace ballcarrier in the mold of Chase Edmonds who can also change games with his pass-catching abilities. He’s got the footwork, hard-cutting moves, and long speed to challenge Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward for the No.2 running back role.

College: Played in all 15 games, started in three in 2021; finished season with career-best numbers in rushing (113 carries for 728 yards, 6.4 yards per attempt, seven TDs; 27 catches for 284 yards, 4 TDs)

Highlights: Had 4 catches for career-high 112 yards and a TD vs. Michigan in 2021 CFP semifinals; career long 67-yard run vs. Alabama in this year’s national championship; 104 rushing years vs South Carolina in 2020.

Strengths: Smooth reads and cuts through the line and up to second level; rapid feet and forward lean; hard cutting to create drastic path alterations; patiently trusts being behind his lead blocks; great hands and runs routes well, maintains long speed downhill for taking to the house.

Weaknesses: Lean lower half; doesn’t possess solid contact balance, causing tendency to be passive in finishing runs; could struggle in protection against NFL linebackers’ blitzes.

Measurables: Arms — 30 3/4; Hands — 9 3/8; 40 Yard Dash — 4.42; Vertical jump — 33; Broad jump — 124

Seventh Round

Pick No. 244th overall – Guard Tyrese Robinson, Oklahoma, Sr.

Hometown: McKinney, Texas

Vitals: 6-3/324

How he fits: The Cardinals need depth at the guard position and Robinson can play both guard and tackle, which makes him that much more versatile. He plays with a mean streak, has tremendous power in his upper body and hands and although he will need time to develop, it’s been said he is like running into a brick wall.

College: Started all 13 games last season at right tackle; started in all 11 at right guard as a junior, allowed just two sacks on 400 pass plays.

Highlights: 2021 All-Big 12 Second Team; his 84.2 PFF grade in 2020 was the highest among Oklahoma’s starters

Strengths: Massive chest, powerful upper body with mean streak; finds block finishes well; clamps down opponents with Thanos-like hands; keeps his elbows in through punch and clinch; curtails inside moves on him with acceleration.

Weaknesses: Needs improvement on lateral movement for outside zone and staying connected on counter moves; loose hand technique occasionally causes him to grab and hug, which lead to holding penalties; opponents sliding out from his power zone post-contact; lacks agility for fluid move blocks.

Measurables: Arms — 33 1/8; Hands — 9 3/4; 40 Yard Dash — 5.25; Vertical jump — 22.5; Broad Jump — 100; 3 Cone Drill — 8.35; 20 Yard Shuttle — 4.94.

Seventh Round

Pick No. 256th overall – Wide receiver Ty Fryfogle, Indiana, Sr.

Hometown: Lucedale, Mississippi

Vitals: 6-2/205

How he fits: Late-round prospect who could compete for a spot near the end of the depth chart and/or practice squad candidate. He possesses good size with decent speed and can make room for himself in the secondary.

College: 46 catches, 512 yards, one TD, longest reception was for 52 yards in 2021 in 12 starts last season.

Highlights: Ranks sixth on Indiana’s career lists in receptions (158) and yardage (2,231), and tied for 10th in receiving touchdowns (10) in 53 games and 33 starts. AP Third-team All-American selection, Big Ten’s Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year winner, and All-Big Ten First Team (media), and Indiana’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year in 2020; 2021 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Produced 25 catches, 560 yards and six TDs within three games vs. Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State in 2020.

Strengths: Solid build-up speed working vertically; rhythmic in running routes; boxes out defenders on his hip; full-extension to quickly stab balls out of the air.

Weaknesses: Needs suddenness in and out of breaks; his catch focus wavers; blocking; avoids working the middle.

Measurables: Arms — 30 3/4; Hands — 9 3/4; 40 Yard Dash — 4.53; Vertical jump — 39; Broad jump — 127

Seventh round

Pick No. 257th overall – Defensive tackle Marquan McCall, Kentucky, Sr.

Hometown: Detroit

Vitals: 6-3/379

How he fits: McCall is a massive combination of size and strength who can compete for a shot at backup nose tackle only because of his ability to absorb blocks, especially double teams, and clog up interior gaps. The Cardinals have a need at nose tackle with veteran Corey Peters, a fellow Kentucky alum, being an unsigned free agent.

College: Nicknamed “Bully,” McCall played in 40 career games with 11 starts; totaled 57 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, three QB hurries, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup

Highlights: East-West Shrine Game invitee, and played in nine of 13 games (started in eight) in 2021; had nine tackles, 3.5 tackle for loss and two QB hurries.

Strengths: Lost about 40 points during last off-season (381 to 344); stellar snap quickness; explodes into A-gaps and forces his way into the backfield; capable of getting his head around blockers to spot on ball-carrier; talented spinner off the block to enter run lanes; excellent lower-body anchor and uses his girth to occupy blocks.

Weaknesses: Doesn’t provide help much as a pass rusher; initial hand strike not quick; lacks in separating and controlling blockers; knockback isn’t powerful as expected for his size.

Measurables: Arms: 33 1/4; Hands — 11

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Predicting who the Arizona Cardinals draft in all seven rounds