As the top teams in the 2024 NFL draft. The Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and the New England Patriots become increasingly keen on taking quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye.
With their respective top three picks, attention is shifting to the Arizona Cardinals’ No. 4 pick.
The fourth position held by the Cardinals has emerged as a significant point of conversation and speculated trade interest.
Cardinals’ General Manager, Monti Ossenfort, suggests the organization is already feeling the heat from other franchises.
There’s been an influx of calls recently concerning the possibility of trading down the coveted fourth overall pick.
Interestingly, Ossenfort does not envisage any trades materializing soon.
“I’d say those phone calls are starting to pick up a little bit. I would say they’ll probably continue into next week when we go down to Florida for the owners’ meetings,” Ossenfort said. “I think most teams are in a similar spot to us, starting to finalize their boards, and the pro day pieces are the final on-field pieces for evaluation purposes. So I would imagine some of those conversations will continue to pick up, but honestly they probably will not get real serious until we get right up until the week of the draft, similar to last year. They have definitely picked up, but I would expect that to continue here for the next month.”
Cardinals say phone calls about trading down from No. 4 are starting to pick up. https://t.co/2gUXA5jwMW
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 21, 2024
If the industry prediction holds and Williams, Daniels, and Maye snag the first three spots, the team landing the No. 4 could be eyeing Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The speculation made stronger by the Minnesota Vikings, who having traded up to collect the Houston Texans’ first-round pick, are now a potential candidate for increasing their draft rank.
Other teams have also been showing interest in the Cardinals’ valuable position, aligning with Ossenfort’s assertion where he conveyed their welcoming attitude towards inbound offers.
Affirming the team’s readiness, Ossenfort stated, “We’re always going to be listening. I think we’ll always have the conversation.”
In case the Cardinals hold onto their No. 4 pick, Marvin Harrison Jr., the Ohio State wide receiver, is a high-profile contender according to betting circles.
But Ossenfort cautions that drafts frequently buck predictions. This suggests that on draft night, the Cardinals may not be picking at No. 4 after all.
“We pick at four. That means we don’t know what’s going to happen at one, two and three,” Ossenfort said.
