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The Arizona Cardinals added a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft with a trade-down in Round 5, and with that pick (No. 211 overall), they selected Texas offensive lineman Hayden Conner.
Conner was a three-year starter at left guard for the Longhorns and started next to Cardinals tackle Christian Jones, whom they drafted in the fifth round in 2024, for two seasons.
Conner is big and versatile, able to play all five positions on the offensive line. He showed he could even play center, stepping in when starting center Jake Majors got injured.
So what grade do the Cardinals deserve with that pick?
The Cardinals finally addressed the offensive side of the ball in Round 6, selecting five defensive players in the first five rounds.
Conner joins a large group of interior linemen. Evan Brown, re-signed to a two-year deal, returns as a starter and Hjalte Froholdt will be the starting center. The right guard job is uncertain, but they have 2024 third-round pick Isaiah Adams, free agent addition Royce Newman, third-year guard/center Jon Gaines, free agent addition Jake Curhan, 2024 late-season addition Matt Jones and offseason signing McClendon Curtis.
Versatility is key for Conner.
Now, in the sixth round, you can grade only on a few things. One is need, and the Cardinals do need interior offensive line youth and depth. Was there a better option on the board? Not really. The other is whether there is a better option at a different position. At that point in the draft, there was no one that stood out who was clearly a better option. They could have gotten a running back or a tight end, but there should be no complaints about the pick.
Now, is Conner going to make any impact in 2025? Probably not, so he doesn't warrant an A-grade.
Grade: B
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL draft grades: Arizona Cardinals get solid mark for 6th-round pick
Continue reading...
Conner was a three-year starter at left guard for the Longhorns and started next to Cardinals tackle Christian Jones, whom they drafted in the fifth round in 2024, for two seasons.
Conner is big and versatile, able to play all five positions on the offensive line. He showed he could even play center, stepping in when starting center Jake Majors got injured.
So what grade do the Cardinals deserve with that pick?
Arizona Cardinals draft grade: OL Hayden Conner
The Cardinals finally addressed the offensive side of the ball in Round 6, selecting five defensive players in the first five rounds.
Conner joins a large group of interior linemen. Evan Brown, re-signed to a two-year deal, returns as a starter and Hjalte Froholdt will be the starting center. The right guard job is uncertain, but they have 2024 third-round pick Isaiah Adams, free agent addition Royce Newman, third-year guard/center Jon Gaines, free agent addition Jake Curhan, 2024 late-season addition Matt Jones and offseason signing McClendon Curtis.
Versatility is key for Conner.
Now, in the sixth round, you can grade only on a few things. One is need, and the Cardinals do need interior offensive line youth and depth. Was there a better option on the board? Not really. The other is whether there is a better option at a different position. At that point in the draft, there was no one that stood out who was clearly a better option. They could have gotten a running back or a tight end, but there should be no complaints about the pick.
Now, is Conner going to make any impact in 2025? Probably not, so he doesn't warrant an A-grade.
Grade: B
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL draft grades: Arizona Cardinals get solid mark for 6th-round pick
Continue reading...
