With The First Pick
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Cardinals: 5 possibilities with 16th pick in 2021 NFL Draft

By Jelani Goodridge-Reid

Nov 15, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury talks with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury talks with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2. Cornerback

This is arguably the biggest need for the Cards. Their secondary haas the potential to look different in the 2021 season due to free agency. Eight-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson, Dre Kirkpatrick, Kevin Peterson and veteran Johnathan Joseph are four unrestricted free agents at cornerback. Additionally, Robert Alford who missed the 2020 season due to a training camp injury, is set to hit free agency next year. The likelihood is that they won’t be keeping all of them so, it makes complete sense for Arizona to use a pick towards their depth in this area within their defense.

Byron Murphy Jr. is expected to remain the cover guy in the slot however, the questions are mainly regarding the status of starters Peterson and Kirkpatrick. As for Peterson, 31, he recently considered a report pointing to his possible departure as a “dirty rumor“. Even though he has said the reports of him leaving aren’t quite true as he prefers finding a way to stay a Cardinal. It doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind though especially considering certain teams in contention for a title could want his services as he’s still considered a high quality corner.

If he left, he would leave huge shoes to fill after all he’s accomplished in Arizona. On the other side, Kirkpatrick played pretty well in the place of Alford who missed his second straight season due to a pectoral tear. On the other hand, Kirkpatrick is getting older and isn’t seen as a long term solution at the starting cornerback position moving forward.

Nevertheless, Cardinals fans will be hoping that a top cornerback talent like Patrick Surtain II or Caleb Farley falls all the way to 16. Many mocks make those odds seem highly unlikely but, you never know come draft day. If they want a top corner in this draft who features a good  size along with the ability to use his length to his advantage against receivers, someone who could be on Arizona’s radar is the son of former Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn, South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn. At 6-foot-1, Horn is big enough to cover other big targets and uses his physical nature to disrupt passes. He’s considered one of the best cover corners to come out of the SEC this year, earning him a chance to be someone coming off the board in the middle of the first round.

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