Cardinals’ 2025 NFL Draft: Day 3 Menagerie

Cards add 2 more Buckeyes, a Longhorn and a former Longhorn turned Wolf

On day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft from Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Arizona Cardinals continued on their mission to turn their underwhelming defense into a potential juggernaut. Here is how I described each of the team’s four picks on X yesterday:

Round 4: Cody Simon, ILB, Ohio St.

Cody Simon showed up with a bang at the perfect time for the Buckeyes in 2024 – with the level of his play (87.7) and alpha-type leadership. While he lacks the kind of length and size that NFL DCs covet at ILB, he proved that when you keep him clean, he’s a productive tackler (90.6 RDEF), cover LB (72.7) and blitzer (80.6).

Round 5: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio St.

A year ago, Will Johnson and Denzel Burke were ranked the #1 and #5 CBs in the 2025 draft class. Both of them excel in off ball zone coverage. In 2024, Burke was once again excellent in zone coverage (81.0) where he made many of his nation’s leading 21 coverage stops. Man coverage not being nearly as strong (58.5) led to 72.3% comp rate and passer RTG of 95.4.

Round 6: Hayden Conner, G, Texas

Hayden Conner 6-6, 327, James Conner’s 3rd cousin twice removed (lol), is a running game mauler and pass pro brick wall who needs to hone his run and pass blocking techniques. Not sure how agile he can be on NFL level in the pulling aspects of DP’s wide zone blocking schemes. But he sure can pin and down block with the best of them. If Justin Frye develops him, what a brute force he could be for Cardinals offensive line. He’s a workout warrior in a JJ Watt inspired kind of way. Watch him stifle the vaunted Michigan defensive linemen here:

Round 7: Kitan Crawford, S, Nevada

I’ve been mocking S Kitan Crawford to the Cardinals in R7. Bill F. and I have been thinking that adding another S could mean that Monti may elect to trade Jalen Thompson. Crawford has legit 4.4 speed; he storms the alleys like a pro, and he’s instinctive in pass coverage. Should be roster-worthy right away as a special teams’ gunner. Could carve a niche as a nickel safety in a Cover 2 package adjacent to the Rabbit.

PFF Profiles:

Cody Simon, CB, Ohio St.

Simon is a traditional inside linebacker who would play best in a 3-4 with a fellow inside linebacker next to him. His length and overall athletic limitations likely make him a rotational and reserve linebacker who plays soundly to round out a depth chart.

Shades Of

Blake Martinez

Pros

• Traditional between-the-tackle linebacker
• Good feel for run defense
• Sound between his gaps

Cons

• Lower weight profile does show up when trying to disengage blocks
• Could be more violent when taking on blocks (needs to as a smaller player)
• Seems to have shorter arms than average

Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio St.

Review

Burke is a natural mover with good eyes and a feel for bump-and-run coverage in off-zone coverage alignments. His long speed/recovery speed are limiting factors to man/press coverage versatility, but his experience as a four-year starter should get him a roster spot as a depth cornerback.

Shades Of

Sean Murphy-Bunting

Pros

• Natural, smooth mover
• Good eyes in zone
• Good feel for spacing to bait throws/warrant no throws
• Willing to be in position in run defense (not as reliable to finish tackles)
• High forced incompletion rate despite lack of INTs

Cons

• Feet can be a tick slow to mirror out of press
• Top speed is average at best. Can get grabby against faster WRs
• Has a difficult time finishing tackles despite being in good position

Hayden Conner, G, Texas

By Lance Zierlein

NFL Analyst

Draft Projection

Round 6

Overview

Experienced guard with the measurables to get a longer look from NFL teams. Conner has a broad, well-built frame and his natural power is evident when he lands with some momentum. He played well against Michigan’s Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, but a lack of athleticism makes him scheme-dependent. His size impedes static pass rushers looking to push the pocket, but he’s ill-equipped to match the movements of an active rusher. Conner is above average as a run blocker, but he might be too overmatched athletically to make it long-term.

Strengths

• Excellent size and heavy on contact in run game.
• Connects and drives opponents when centered.
• Good feel for angles and positioning to execute blocks.
• Thuds heads-up rush with firm punch and core power.
• Able to shove twisters and edge runners off course.

Weaknesses

• Lacks athleticism to consistently execute stretch blocks.
• Below-average pad level when staying connected with two-gappers.
• At a loss when adjusting to moving targets.
• Drops feet behind him when punching.
• Overextends when mirroring, opening him to counters.
• Heavy slides are slow to cut off gaps to speed.

Kitan Crawford, S, Nevada

Crawford is an athletic prospect who finally got a chance to start at Nevada after spending four years as a role player at Texas. He earned an outstanding 88.5 coverage grade in his lone season as a starter. His athleticism is his primary appeal and could get him drafted. He needs to become more refined and a. better tackler to earn something more than a special teams’ role.

By Lance Zierlein

NFL Analyst

Draft Projection

Rounds 4-5

Kitan Crawford Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

Overview

Fifth-year senior who made his way to Nevada for his final season after four years at Texas. Crawford lacks height and arm length, but he’s compact and very explosive. His testing at the combine showed off his long speed. He needs to play with better timing to make it work for him more consistently, though. Crawford is inconsistent as a run defender but is more than willing to hit. He needs to find a position fit as either a big nickelback or backup safety to pair with a starring role on special teams.

Strengths

• Plays with athletic feet and smooth hips underneath.
• Hammers through pass-catchers’ arms to eliminate catches.
• Runs the alley and accelerates through his target.
• Plenty of special-teams experience.
• Impressed with speed and explosiveness at the NFL Scouting Combine.
• Will stand out on kick-cover teams.

Weaknesses

• Average burst out of his stance and to the throw.
• Fails to shrink angles for running back in run support.
• Needs to prioritize wrap-ups over collisions as a tackler.
• Started in just 4 of 46 games during four seasons at Texas.

Cardinals’ 2025 Draft Assessment:

What this draft proved, imo, is that Monti Ossenfort is at his best when he sticks and picks. Look at the way the draft unfolded for him like a charm. Who would have ever believed the Cardinals could come away from this draft with both Walter Nolen and Will Johnson? And for that matter, being able to add Jordan Burch and Cody Simon.

The one predictable critique I have is of the 5th round trade because it appeared to cost Monti and the Cardinals a chance to pick Marcus Mbow of Purdue, Miles Frazier of LSU or Jackson Slater of Sacramento St.

Mbow was Mel Kiper’s #5 G prospect and one of his draft sleepers. Frazier was his #9 G and Slater his #4 C. Mel had Hayden Conner ranked #18 G.

Yet choosing Hayden Conner is very likely a matter of style in that he is more of a mauler and little less athletic than Mbow, Frazier and Slater. All should depend on how well Justin Frye can adapt Conner’s game to the NFL.

While I think highly of Denzel Burke as a zone CB, it continues to feel unfathomable that of Monti Ossenfort’s 31 picks in 3 years, 7 of his picks are CBs (23% of the entire picks) —- for a head coach who cut his teeth in the NFL coaching CBs. It makes no sense whatsoever, especially for a GM who vowed to sync up the scouting and the coaching.

53-Man Roster Questions:

1. With Walter Nolen bringing his pass rushing and run stopping ability to the defensive interior, could this mean that Monti may try to trade or release Bilal Nichols, L.J. Collier or Justin Jones?
2. With the acquisition of Will Johnson, what about Sean Murphy-Bunting? And which of the young CBs (Kei’Trel Clark, Max Melton, Elijah Jones, Starling Thomas V, Denzel Burke) do not make the roster?
3. With Cody Simon on board and after signing UFAs Mack Wilson Jr. in 2023 and Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykal Walker in 2024, does this squeeze Owen Pappoe, by far the team’s best cover ILB off of the roster?
4. With Hayden Conner’s ability to play guard and center, what does this mean for Jon Gaines II?
5. With Kitan Crawford added at safety, will Monti try to trade or release Jalen Thompson?

Your answers to questions 1 – 5?

I am of the mindset to move on from a number of veterans in favor of keeping the team’s young talent. But I am worried that JG seems to pander to veterans. Do you agree?