With the NFL draft kicking off Thursday, analysts across the league have released their final mock drafts for all 32 teams. The Arizona Cardinals have needs across multiple positions, with defensive line and edge as the most mocked positions, according to Arizona Sports Mock Draft Tracker.
But NFL Draft analyst Chad Reuter has Arizona going offense with Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. — an area where the Cardinals can go younger as Jonah Williams is coming off an injury-riddled season and Kelvin Beachum is nearing the end of his contract.
The Cardinals took Paris Johnson Jr. sixth overall in 2023, started him at right tackle as a rookie, then moved him to the left side last season. They could approach Banks’ NFL transition in a similar fashion, thanks to his length, strength and mobility, starting him at left guard as a rookie, then shifting him to the right tackle spot, either this year (if Jonah Williams, who played in six games last season, misses time to injury again) or in 2026 (if Williams moves on as a free agent).
Despite Banks having played all his snaps at left tackle in his three college seasons, Arizona can bank on his versatility to move around the line, at tackle or guard in the NFL. He allowed only one sack in his sophomore and junior seasons.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pound lineman earned several top honors this past season including the Lombardi Award (nation’s top offensive lineman) and the Jacobs Blocking Trophy.
Banks’ versatility is his best attribute, but one of his few downsides is his lack of arm length, according to PFF:
Banks is an NFL-caliber athlete at the tackle position whose movement skills and run-blocking abilities give him positional versatility. His lack of arm length could hinder him at offensive tackle, but he projects as an impact starter at either tackle or guard.
Arizona adds speedy wide receiver in the second round
The Cardinals double down on offensive upgrades in Round 2, selecting Virginia Tech wide receiver Jaylin Lane at No. 47 overall, according to Reuter’s mock draft.
He is the sixth receiver off the board in the draft. Though not a consensus top-100 prospect, Lane’s athletic attributes turned heads at the combine.
These Virginia Tech Hokies players can run ?
Jaylin Lane FLIES to a 4.35u!
?: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork?: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/izs7k4qcbG
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025
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Flexibility critical for Arizona Cardinals this NFL Draft
40-yard dash: 4.34 seconds (fourth among WR) 10-yard split: 1.50 seconds (third) Vertical: 40 inches (third) Broad jump: 11 feet (third) Three-cone: 6.75 seconds (second) Shuttle: 4.12 seconds (third)
Flexibility critical for Arizona Cardinals this NFL Draft
40-yard dash: 4.34 seconds (fourth among WR) 10-yard split: 1.50 seconds (third) Vertical: 40 inches (third) Broad jump: 11 feet (third) Three-cone: 6.75 seconds (second) Shuttle: 4.12 seconds (third)Lane recorded 203 receptions, 2,532 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in five total seasons at Middle Tennessee State and Virginia Tech. The versatile receiver also carried the ball 46 times for 264 yards and three TDs.
On special teams, he tallied 733 yards and two touchdowns on punt returns and 852 yards on kickoff returns.
Chad Reuter’s 7-round mock draft for Cardinals
Here’s a full look at all six of Arizona’s draft picks in Reuter’s mock draft:
Round 1 (No. 16 overall): OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Round 2 (No. 47): WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
Round 3 (No. 78): DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
Round 4 (No. 115): CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
Round 5 (No. 152): Edge Tyler Baron, Miami
Round 7 (No. 225): LB Jay Higgins, Iowa
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