The Cardinals are something of an oddity among the top four teams of the 2023 NFL Draft in that they are the only one without a pressing need to draft a quarterback.
Whereas the Panthers, Texans and Colts almost certainly will draft a signal-caller with the first, second and fourth overall picks, respectively, the Cardinals are likely to look elsewhere to improve their team. (At least, so long as Kyler Murray remains on the books.)
That said, the Cardinals are in this position in part because they have several areas of concern to address following a 4-13 season. And, for what it's worth, Murray is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 13 against the Patriots.
But the struggles of the 2022 season have created an abundance of opportunity ahead of the draft, especially with Arizona losing several key pieces in free agency. That just leaves more options for general manager Monti Ossenfort and new coach Jonathan Gannon in their first draft together.
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Much of what Arizona needs lies on the defensive side of the ball, with the most obvious areas of concern coming in the pass rush and defensive secondary. Other potential options include improvements at wide receiver, especially considering teams' reported belief the Cardinals will cut DeAndre Hopkins if they are unable to trade him.
Of course, there is also the possibility Arizona will follow the model set by Chicago, trading back with a quarterback-needy team in return for draft capital. That option doubtless would remove some of the top players off their draft board, though several prospects could still be in play depending on how far they move back.
With that, The Sporting News looks at the potential options the Cardinals have with the third pick of the 2023 NFL Draft:
Option 1: Draft Will Anderson Jr.
The Cardinals in 2022 finished tied for 24th in the NFL with just 36 sacks. Of that number, half were lost over the offseason with the retirement of J.J. Watt (12.5 sacks) and free agency departure of Zach Allen (5.5 sacks).
So: Arizona has considerable ground to make up in what was already one of the league's worst pass-rushes. Luckily for Ossenfort and Gannon, Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. should still be on the board as the top overall defensive player of the draft.
The two-time unanimous All-America selection was college football's premier pass-rusher over the last three seasons, totaling 62 tackles for loss, 34.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits. That includes an absurd 2021 campaign in which Anderson registered 34.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. It's rare to see that kind of production in opposing backfields, let alone in a Power 5 conference such as the SEC.
There are other options at No. 3 overall, but Anderson represents a ready-made remedy to what should be the Cardinals' most pressing concern on defense.
Option 2: Draft Jalen Carter
Jalen Carter is a less-obvious selection at No. 3, though one who would give Arizona a new anchor along its defensive line. Gannon's former role as Eagles defensive coordinator could come into play in making this pick: Philadelphia has for some time placed a premium on interior defensive linemen rushing the passer, and there's not a better player at the position this year than Carter.
Drafting him would also shore up an Arizona front that allowed 2,016 rushing yards last season (14th in the NFL), 4.5 yards per carry (tied for 19th) and 21 rushing touchdowns (tied for 27th). The Georgia lineman has ideal size at 6-3, 300-plus pounds, and has been called the best player on a Bulldogs defense that produced five first-round picks in 2022 (including No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker).
But Carter's involvement in a January car crash that killed Georgia teammate Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy has dropped him down several teams' draft boards — as has a poor pro day in which he was notably winded and unable to finish positional drills. His talent is undeniable, but those issues, coupled with more pressing needs by the Cardinals, might make this an odd choice.
MORE: Four teams that should wait until 2024 to draft a quarterback
Option 3: Trade back
If Arizona receives a good-enough trade package, Ossenfort could move back with a team that wants to select the best available quarterback.
If a team such as Las Vegas (seventh overall pick) or Atlanta (eighth) switches draft positions with the Cardinals, it's almost certain Anderson will no longer be available. (Carter's concerns may keep him on the board.) Assuming neither is available, the next-best player would be Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
One of Arizona's biggest areas of need is a defensive secondary that ranked 24th in passing defense (230.3 per game) and 28th in passing touchdowns allowed (29). Gonzalez has been called the best corner of this draft class and would certainly be an upgrade to a group that includes Marco Wilson, Antonio Hamilton and free agency addition Rashad Fenton.
Another potential option would be edge rusher Tyree Wilson, who at Texas Tech logged 29 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in three years. He would satisfy the teams' need to shore up its pass rush while still allowing for more draft capital.
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If the Cardinals trade out of the top 10, then they might instead look to address the wide receiver position, especially with Hopkins potentially on his way out of Arizona.
If that were the case, then TCU's Quentin Johnston (115 catches for 2,190 yards and 14 touchdowns), USC's Jordan Addison (219 catches, 3,134 yards, 29 touchdowns) and Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba (110 catches, 1,698 yards, 10 touchdowns) are all intriguing additions to the receiving corps.