NFL mock draft: Peter Schrager predicts the Arizona Cardinals' pick

ESPN's Peter Schrager is one of the more dialed-in NFL insiders when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals. So when he releases a mock draft, while the specific player might not be perfect, you have to pay attention to the position.

He released the first of two mock drafts he will do before the actual draft, and the Cardinals don't take an offensive lineman as many people expect.

Cardinals take pass rusher

After he has the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall and the New York Jets taking Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey second overall, Arizona takes the next potential impact pass rusher — Ohio State's Arvell Reese.

As part of the loaded NFC West, Arizona has to face three of the NFL's best teams twice every season, and the defense was frankly not very good last year, allowing 28.7 points per game (29th). Reese fills a need in Arizona as a potentially elite pass rusher, and I've heard rave reviews on what he can bring off the field from coaches. With the changing of eras in Arizona, the Cards should be seeking out new cornerstone pieces like Reese this month.

This would be a perfectly Cardinals pick. He has elite athletic traits. He is from Ohio State. If he is viewed as an edge defender, it is a premium position. The Cardinals have only selected players from the Big Ten and SEC in the first and second rounds under general manager Monti Ossenfort.

There is some projection with Reese. He has played more off the ball, but many believe he can do what Micah Parsons did in the NFL after he was an off-ball defender for Penn State. Reese's play off the ball also suits the Cardinals' 3-4 defense well.

And with a solid two-down edge defender in Zaven Collins, Reese wouldn't have to play every down.

Bailey would be a more prototypical selection, but if he is off the board, what can they do?

Potential wild card

Schrager included a little nugget to pay attention to.

One wild card to watch here is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

Yes, they brought back James Conner and signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency, so there would be some redundancy at the position, but this isn't the first we have heard this. Another recent report said there is at least one voice in the room for the Cardinals pushing for Love, who might be the best player in the draft.

If the Cardinals can't get the pass rusher they want and can't trade back, keep an eye on this.

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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Peter Schrager predicts the Arizona Cardinals' pick