The Arizona Cardinals made headlines on Thursday night, double-dealing within the top 10 picks to secure a bounty of draft capital in addition to elite left tackle prospect Paris Johnson Jr.

While not their most pressing of needs, Johnson Jr. represents one of the few cornerstone positions that the new Cardinals regime values early in drafts. This is a stark contrast in comparison to ex-GM Steve Keim, who built his reputation on tweeners and undersized “playmakers”.

Thanks to Keim, there’s a gluttony of needs still staring down this franchise. What will new GM Monti Ossenfort opt to target beginning on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft?

The easy answer is a defensive line that has been grossly underserved for far too long but following a run on quality front-seven players on Thursday night, that’s easier said then done. The defensive secondary could also use a shot of adrenaline, with Marco Wilson being the lone, true stalwart at cornerback left by the previous regime.

Could history repeat itself, just four years after making Byron Murphy the 33rd overall pick, with Arizona targeting his replacement atop round 2?

What about DeAndre Hopkins and his current status with the club? Despite Ossenfort’s stern message to the media on Thursday, I am still very much in the camp that someone will cave to at least part of the Cardinals’ demands for the All Pro receiver. There is simply not enough high-end talent remaining at the position for contending teams to talk themselves into over the likes of Hopkins. Additionally, I don’t think Ossenfort nor Jonathan Gannon want any part of this Hopkins’ saga dragging into the summer months.

Somethings gotta give…

Now let’s dive into my Day 2 mock draft…

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
33. (TRADE) Washington Commanders – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
*Arizona Cardinals receive picks 47, 97 and 150
34. Detroit Lions – Keelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
35. Indianapolis Colts – DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
36. Los Angeles Rams – Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennesse
37. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
38. Los Vegas Raiders – O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
39. Carolina Panthers – Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
40. (TRADE) Detroit Lions – Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennesse
*New Orleans Saints receive pick 48, 152 and a 2024 2nd round pick.
41. Tennesse Titans – Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
42. Green Bay Packers – Cody Mauch, T, North Dakota State
43. New York Jets – Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
44. Atlanta Falcons – Keion White, DL, Georgia Tech
45. Green Bay Packers – BJ Ojulari, DE, LSU
46. New England Patriots – Brian Branch, S, Alabama
47. Arizona Cardinals – John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota
48. New Orleans Saints – Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
49. Pittsburgh Steelers – Steve Avila, OG, TCU
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Derick Hall, DE, Auburn
51. Miami Dolphins – Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami (FL)
52. Seattle Seahawks – Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
53. Chicago Bears – Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
54. Los Angeles Chargers – Joe Tippman, OC, Wisconsin
55. Detroit Lions – Clark Phillips, CB, Utah
56. Jacksonville Jaguars – Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
57. New York Giants – Jaydeen Reed, WR, Michigan State
58. Dallas Cowboys – Luke Musgrave TE, Oregon State
59. (TRADE) Arizona Cardinals – Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame
*Buffalo Bills receive pick 94 and WR DeAndre Hopkins
60. Cincinnati Bengals – Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
61. Chicago Bears – Sydney Brown, S, Illinois
62. Philadelphia Eagles – Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
63. Kansas City Chiefs – Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
64. Chicago Bears – Chandler Zavala, OG, NC State
65. Houston Texans – Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
66. Philadelphia Eagles – Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
67. Denver Broncos – Juice Scruggs, OC, Penn State
68. Denver Broncos – Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
69. Los Angeles Rams –  Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
70. Las Vegas Raiders – Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
71. New Orleans Saints – Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama
72. Tennessee Titans – Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
73. Houston Texans – Jaeyln Duncan, OT, Maryland
74. Cleveland Browns – Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
75. Atlanta Falcons – Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina
76. New England Patriots – Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
77. Los Angeles Rams – Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M
78. Green Bay Packers – Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
79. Indianapolis Colts – Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
80. Pittsburgh Steelers – Tuli Tuipulotu, OLB, USC
81. Arizona Cardinals – Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
82. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
83. Seattle Seahawks – DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
84. Miami Dolphins – Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
85. Los Angeles Chargers – Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
86. Baltimore Ravens – Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
87. Minnesota Vikings – Zach Harrison, DE, Ohio State
88. Jacksonville Jaguars – Cory Trice, CB, Purdue
89. New York Giants – Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
90. Dallas Cowboys – Tank Bigsby, RB Auburn
91. Buffalo Bills – Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford
92. Cincinnati Bengals – Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
93. Carolina Panthers – Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
94. Buffalo Bills – Byron Young, LB, Tennessee
95. Kansas City Chiefs – Braeden Daniels, OG, Utah
96. Arizona Cardinals – Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh
97. Arizona Cardinals – Christopher Smith, DB, Georgia
98. Cleveland Browns – Karl Brooks, DT, Bowling Green
99. San Francisco 49ers – Luke Wypler, OC, Ohio State
100. Las Vegas Raiders – Moro Ojomo, DE, Texas
101. San Francisco 49ers – Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State
102. San Francisco 49ers – Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh

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