3 Most Likely Cardinals Draft Targets With the 3rd Overall Pick

Following a disappointing 4-13 season and the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury, all eyes are on the Arizona Cardinals rebuilding/retooling efforts. The Cardinals need upgrades across the roster. The good news is that the front office has some draft capital and cap space needed to make immediate upgrades.

Fortunately, help is on the way. The Cardinals' poor showing resulted in their landing the third overall pick at the 2023 NFL Draft. Unless new general manager Monti Ossenfort completely botches the pick, Arizona should be leaving the draft with a franchise-changing talent. For now, here are the three most likely draft targets for the Cardinals with the third overall pick.

Arizona Cardinals 2023 NFL Draft

1. Will Anderson, Edge (Alabama)

Anderson dominated offensive tackles in both the run and pass game while recording 54 tackles for loss the past two seasons. He's the best in his class and could become a generational talent. Anderson won the Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defender in both 2021 and 2022, becoming just the second player ever to win it twice. The 6-4, 240-pound college star totaled 204 total tackles, 58.5 tackles for loss, and 34.5 total sacks in 41 games at Alabama. FanDuel Sportsbook has Anderson (+500) currently as the third choice to go No. 1 overall. So if he falls to the Cardinals at the No. 3 pick, Arizona will have a cornerstone defensive star for the foreseeable future.

2. Jalen Carter, DT (Georgia)

With defense a major need, the Cardinals could take another SEC dominator if Anderson is gone. Jalen Carter of Georgia is a freak athlete at the inside tackle position. The 6-3, 300-pounder anchored the Bulldogs' defensive line while winning two national championships. Carter recorded 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles over 13 games played as a junior last season.

3. Tyree Wilson, Edge (Texas Tech)

The Cardinals may elect to trade down and get more draft picks. The Panthers, Falcons, Raiders, Seahawks, and Colts are all teams drafting in the top 10 who might consider moving up for the right quarterback. Wilson could still be had in the top 10, and the 6-6 bull rusher has strong hands to handle blockers against the run and also chase down ball carriers. He's versatile with a strong motor and can be a 3-down player the Cardinals need.