The Arizona Cardinals will look to add to their defensive line, according to PFF’s 2025 NFL mock draft.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema projects Arizona to take defensive lineman Kenneth Grant ninth overall in the draft.
The Cardinals have made solid moves with their recent rookie classes, allowing the draft to fall to them comfortably during their multi-year rebuild. However, they have yet to address their need for an impactful interior defensive lineman, which has become glaring in 2024. The 335-pound Grant moves incredibly well for his size and has earned run defense grades above 70.0 in each of the last three seasons.
Arizona’s blowout loss against the Washington Commanders on Sunday was a testament to their need for improvement on defense.
The Cardinals’ defense allowed 216 yards rushing on 37 attempts and four touchdowns on Sunday. Arizona failed to sack Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels during the entire game.
RELATED STORIES
Ahead of the 2024 season, PFF’s Sam Monson graded the Cardinals last in his defensive line rankings due to the team’s lack of solid starters.
The Cardinals signed defensive tackles Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols to multi-year deals to improve the group.
However, Jones was placed on injured reserve following his tricep injury during the team’s matchup against the Detroit Lions and will miss the rest of the season.
Arizona also added rookie defensive end Darius Robinson, a projected starter. Robinson has yet to make his NFL debut following his calf injury during a team practice on Aug. 22.
Grant could provide the talent needed to help rebuild the Cardinals’ defense.
A versatile player, Grant excels in both the run game and pass rush and is known to be quick on his feet.
The Michigan Wolverines DL has had eight tackles and two sacks so far this season.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 339 pounds, Grant is surprisingly nimble, given his large stature.
Grant was ranked third on The Athletic’s college insider Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List, which features 101 college football athletes whose talents seem to defy the laws of nature.
Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh told the outlet that Grant ran a sub-5.0 40. His max velocity was timed at 18.75 mph.
Grant is equipped with pass-rush moves like push-pull and double-hand swipes, which allow him to defeat his opponents quickly.
He and his fellow Michigan DL Mason Graham were the only two defensive tackles taken in PFF’s projection.
Arizona Wildcats’ Tetairoa McMillan to the Tennessee Titans
Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was also named among the top ten in Sikkema’s mock draft.
Sikkema projects the Tennessee Titans to select McMillan with the sixth overall pick in the draft.
The Titans might be in the quarterback market next April, but I’ll still give Will Levis time to work through the typical young quarterback mistakes. Wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd are both set to become free agents, and the 6-foot-6, 210-pound McMillan brings shades of Mike Evans every time you watch him.
McMillan set a new school record with 304 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 10 catches during the Wildcats’ 61-39 win over New Mexico on Aug. 31.
He has 29 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 17.3 yards per reception this season.