The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft, with General Manager Monti Ossenfort saying on Apr. 20 that building strong offensive and defensive lines remains a key priority for the team.
The draft is seen as an important opportunity for the Cardinals to strengthen their roster, particularly in positions known as the trenches—offensive and defensive linemen—which are crucial to team success. The Cardinals currently hold the third overall pick in Thursday’s draft, giving them a chance to select top prospects at these positions.
Ossenfort reflected on past decisions, including a trade that allowed the selection of left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., who recently had his fifth-year option picked up by the team. “That is a challenging aspect,” Ossenfort said when discussing evaluating college players’ transitions to professional roles. “That is not always a clean evaluation. I think when you’re talking about a big school guy versus a small school guy that jump in competition is probably a little cleaner to see from a guy coming from a big school. In terms of position, I think you really just have to look at, ‘Hey, what was this player asked to do?'”
This year, outside linebacker David Bailey and linebacker Arvell Reese are among those considered by experts as potential picks for Arizona. Bailey led college football with 14.5 sacks last season at Texas Tech, while Reese impressed analysts with his athleticism but had fewer snaps as a pass rusher than some peers.
When asked about measurements like arm length affecting player evaluations—an issue raised around prospect Rueben Bain Jr.—Ossenfort said: “I think ultimately it always goes back to the tape… But there’s always exceptions.” The Cardinals have also added new players through free agency such as Elijah Wilkinson and Isaac Seumalo while drafting five offensive linemen since Ossenfort became GM.
According to Sharp Football Analysis, teams like the Rams have built successful lines through drafting their own players; they led in yards before contact per running back rush last season and ranked high in pressure rate allowed. The trend of developing homegrown talent aligns with how many of the league’s top teams operate.
The Arizona Cardinals stand as the oldest continuously operating professional football franchise in the United States and serve the greater Phoenix area. They host home games in Glendale and compete in the NFC West division, having captured an NFC championship in 2008 according to their official website.
Looking ahead, Ossenfort said: “Every decision affects every decision moving forward… Our goal is to put as competitive as a team as we can to go into ’26 and go 1-0 every week.”
