The Transfer Portal CFB Draft Team is excited to continue our newest series, The Pick Is In! In this series of articles, you will see members from our Draft Team play GM and select a pick for an NFL team. In some articles we’ll have a special guest write a pick too! You’ll see plenty of first-round selections but a good dose of day two and three picks as well. We hope you enjoy this series! The clock is ticking as the Arizona Cardinals are on the clock…

Andrew Wilson

The Pick Is In: Boye Mafe EDGE – Minnesota (23rd Overall)

The Cardinals will not be able to replace Chandler Jones, but what they can do is develop a great edge rusher from this class. If you told me I had the opportunity to have a young defensive end who has all of the athletic tools learn from one of the greatest defensive ends of this generation, I’d be pumped. JJ Watt is on the last year of his contract, and even is he doesn’t put up the 20-sack season like he could have in his past, he can use his role to mentor a young player like Boye Mafe. 

Minnesota’s Boye Mafe having himself a helluva pre-draft process! #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/hRCcxfa9mT pic.twitter.com/Z6LXTakbI7

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 16, 2022

Boye explodes off the line. He has good hands and can force you into the quarterback however possible. As someone who got to watch him live a lot this year, you can feel his energy radiating into the stands when he’s on the field. Whatever team drafts him will get someone who can turn a ton of heads at the next level with his ability to play. I feel like his situation in Arizona could replicate a lot of what Green Bay did with drafting Rashan Gary into a role with Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, who helped him find his way and played a role in creating the beast that Rashan is today. JJ Watt mentoring Boye would give him an automatic leg up on the competition in the future as a freak athlete and effective pass rusher. 

Boye Mafe vs iOL isn’t a fair fight w/ the way he fires off the ball…. Getting better w/ hands each year, some stiffness in lower half/hips but works hard to flex ankles when trying to flatten rushes@MoveTheSticks recently mocked 19th to Eagles - pairing w/ Hasson Reddick 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/9H1zTh4wAN

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 23, 2022

Karan Jangra

The Pick Is In: Drake London WR – USC (23rd Overall)

The Arizona Cardinals need offensive firepower, and they need it badly. Following back-to-back seasons where they self destructed down the stretch, and questions surrounding 2019 first overall pick Kyler Murray’s future with the team, Steve Keim has no option but to provide Murray and fourth-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury with more support offensively. With the departure of Christian Kirk, plus newly re-signed AJ Green turning 34 this summer, the Cardinals receiver depth looks bleak to say the least. Seeing as they have yet to add personnel to the receiver room in free agency, all signs lead to the Cardinals spending their top pick on a receiver.

With the 21st overall pick, there would be no better fit for Arizona than USC’s very own, Drake London.

just hate 6'4" fluid athletes pic.twitter.com/hBNr4B962Z

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) April 13, 2022

London is everything the Cardinals need. He can beat defenses over the top with his legs and dominate in the red zone. The ability to line him up across from a fellow matchup nightmare in DeAndre Hopkins, and sliding Rondale Moore into the slot would be beneficiary for all sides involved. London also has the versatility to slide inside if needed, leaving more options for Kingsbury to present defenses with.

Whether it be Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald or DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals have consistently struck gold on strong physical receivers who aren’t afraid to use their bodies to their advantage. With Kyler Murray’s patience seemingly running out, there’s no reason the Cardinals shouldn’t swing for the fences and take a player with the athletic profile of Drake London.

Liam Blutman

The Pick Is In: Shermari Jones RB – Coastal Carolina (6th Round)

The Arizona Cardinals find themselves in an interesting situation come draft weekend. As of right now, they hold three picks in the top 100: 23, 55, and 87. And then they don’t hold a pick until the sixth round at pick 201! That really is crazy, and I’m all but certain the Cards will trade down and accumulate some mid-round picks in this draft. I’m not here to craft a trade down scenario, I’m here to make a selection. Why not take a shot at an underrated, small school RB with a sixth-round pick? Shermari Jones, welcome to Arizona.

Shermari Jones has been nuts this season. Another TD for the talented Coastal RBpic.twitter.com/TGyd3qGU80

— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) October 8, 2021

I would guarantee that nobody expected to see a Julius Chestnut pick in this series, and I’ll double down and guarantee that nobody expected to see a Shermari Jones pick either. You just know I love late-round RB’s (all positions) from lesser-known schools finding success in the NFL and silencing all those haters. The Arizona Cardinals aren’t in the greatest spot at the RB position. James Conner will look to carry the load once again, and he’s backed up by Eno Benjamin, Jaylen Samuels, and Jonathan Ward. It’s optimal that they add some much-needed quality depth to this backfield, and Jones is a guy who’d be ready to compete for snaps. Jones boasts a 6-foot, 213-pound build and most recently ran for 6.5 YPC in 2021. He was a stud RB for Independence Community College in 2018 and 2019. That’s right, Shermari Jones was actually on the hit show “Last Chance U.” I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jones put a tackler in the dirt with a powerful truck on multiple occasions. But make no mistake about it, he can zig and zag very well too. While he lacks top-tier speed, Jones is able to make defenders look silly with solid footwork paired with explosive playmaking skills. You just never know what Jones will do in the open field, maybe he’ll truck you or maybe he’ll side step you or hurdle over you. He’s a super fun RB to watch tote the rock with his patience and explosion. This would be a quality late day three pick that adds depth to a much-needed position in Arizona.

Shermari Jones dodged the defense to score for Coastal Carolina ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/HJPIYwNPau

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 29, 2021

I’m positive that Shermari Jones will be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. It’ll be a surprise to many, but many of us know he’s worthy of that accolade and won’t stop grinding at the next level. He’s proved himself at the FBS level and is so close to making the league after playing at Independence CC… Crazy. Shermari Jones will have some bright moments in the NFL. Let’s hope the Arizona Cardinals read this piece and offer Jones a chance to compete.