Review of the Card's 2023 Draft

[GimmedaBall]

I’m working on the outcome of the first MO draft in 2023. Consider this a ‘working draft’ so if you see corrections/additions, etc let me know. The full twists-and-turns during the 2023 draft that brought the Cards PJJ (among many others) are mind-bending—you have to go into the Matrix to follow who went where and who got what. (AI didn’t know what to do with this query—so there is still room for the individual writer. Any errors are on me and not technology. LOL.)

I’ll put the preliminary tally up front in the event you don’t want to read the entire narrative;

Players the Cards traded the opportunity to select when they traded pick choices:

2023 #3 Will Anderson Jr

2023 #12 Jamar Gibbs

2023 #34 Sam LaPorta

2023 #96 Broderick Martin

2023 #105 Kelee Ringo

2023 # 33 QB Will Levis to Tenn

Players to the Cards via the various trades (not just the Texan trade):

2023 #6 Paris Johnson Jr

2023 #41 BJ Ojulari

2023 #72 Garrett Williams

2023 # 94 Michael Wilson

2023 #122 Jon Gaines II

2023 #139 Clayton Tune

2024 #27 Darius Robinson

2024 #71 Isaiah Adams

2024 #90 Elijah Jones

History of the 2023 Cards Draft

Pre-draft 2023

Before the draft, Cards had to settle with the Eagles for tampering done to discuss the HC job with Gannon. In that settlement:

EAGLES got from the Cards:
Round 3, 2023: No. 66 -- DB Sydney Brown

CARDINALS got from the Eagles:
Round 3, 2023: No. 94 -- WR Michael Wilson
Round 5, 2024(not sure if this is Xaiver Thomas?)

(*Note. Cards got their hands slapped and one outcome was getting WR M Wilson. He might turn out to be the steal of the draft for the Cards if he becomes our WR1.)

Draft 2023

There was some promise in that initial trade given the draft picks the Cards got in return: The Cards dealt their #3 and #105 overall picks in 2023 to the Texans in exchange for the #12 and #33 in 2023 plus a #1 and #3 in the 2024 draft. The Texans selected Will Anderson/Alabama with the #3 pick. (This was paired with their other top pick QB C.J. Stroud). Texans traded that #105 pick Round 4 to Philadelphia who took CB Kelee Ringo. The Cards traded the #33 from the Texans to Tenn who took QB Will Levis in 2nd round.

MO used that draft capital from the Houston trade to swing trades with Detroit and move up to #6 in order to take the ‘best’ LT in the draft in PJJ. Arizona dealt their now #12 pick, # 34 and #168 picks to move back up. Cards got Detroit’s #6 and #81.

On Day 1 of the Draft

CARDINALS get from the Lions:

Round 1, 2023: No. 6 (from Los Angeles) -- OT Paris Johnson
Round 3, 2023: No. 81; Pick traded to Tennessee -- RB Tyjae Spears

LIONS get from the Cards:
Round 1, 2023: No. 12 (from Houston through Cleveland) -- RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Round 2, 2023: No. 34 -- TE Sam LaPorta
Round 5, 2023: No. 168 (compensatory selection); Pick later traded back to Arizona -- LB Owen Pappoe

On Day 2 of the Draft

CARDINALS get from the Lions:
Round 4, 2023: No. 122 (from Miami) -- OG Jon Gaines II
Round 5, 2023: No. 139 (from Broncos) -- QB Clayton Tune
Round 5, 2023: No. 168 (compensatory selection) -- LB Owen Pappoe

LIONS get from the Cards:
Round 3, 2023: No. 96 (compensatory selection) -- DT Brodric Martin

On to the 2024 Draft

With future picks that came back to the Cards, we have several selections in the 2024:

2024 #27 Darius Robinson. From Profootball Reference: April 27, 2023: Traded by Texans as 2024 1st round pick (27th overall) with 2023 1st round pick (12th overall subsequently traded, Jahmyr Gibbs), 2023 2nd round pick (33rd overall subsequently traded, Will Levis) and 2024 3rd round pick (90th overall, Elijah Jones) to Cardinals for 2023 1st round pick (3rd overall, Will Anderson) and 2023 4th round pick (105th overall subsequently traded, Kelee Ringo)

2024 #71 Isaiah Adams. From Profootball Reference: April 28, 2023:Traded by Titans as 2024 3rd round pick (71st overall) with 2023 2nd round pick (41st overall, BJ Ojulari) and 2023 3rd round pick (72nd overall, Garrett Williams) to Cardinals for 2023 2nd round pick (33rd overall, Will Levis) and 2023 3rd round pick (81st overall, Tyjae Spears)

2024 #90 Elijah Jones From Profootball Refrence: April 27, 2023: Traded by Texans as 2024 3rd round pick (90th overall) with 2023 1st round pick (12th overall subsequently traded, Jahmyr Gibbs), 2023 2nd round pick (33rd overall subsequently traded, Will Levis) and 2024 1st round pick (27th overall, Darius Robinson) to Cardinals for 2023 1st round pick (3rd overall, Will Anderson) and 2023 4th round pick (105th overall subsequently traded, Kelee Ringo)

Sources

Source includes the tally done by ProFootball Reference for each draft:
2023 NFL Draft: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2023/draft.htm

Card players drafted in 2023 (including those not part of the trading frenzy):

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/2023_draft.htm#all_draft

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_NFL_draft#cite_note-ArizonaHouston-12

Pro Sports Transactions goes through each pick of the 2023 draft here:

https://prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/Years/2023.htm

Revisiting Blockbuster Cardinals, Texans NFL Draft Trade

Did the Arizona Cardinals ultimately do well?

www.si.com

Great summary article for the 2023 portion of the trades:

Arizona Cardinals 2023 Draft Recap

Note the overwhelming number of complicated chess moves being made by all the teams/GM. It gives pause to the debates and hand-wringing on this forum where we have a tough time picking between two players. LOL.

So, what to make of the trade that kicked off the series of events described above? Did the Cards get value for trading away the pick that could have brought them a top-tier D player in Will Anderson? With every draft there is that ‘woulda-shoulda’ thought on players skipped over. Scan down the draft order and check out some of the players who went after PJJ in the first: RB Bjian Robinson, DL Jalen Carter, RB Jamar Gibbs, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

I’m still trying to complete the picture of how the trades played out, let alone make a value determination. This draft is about way more than just a PJJ comparison to Will Anderson given the roster building MO engaged in after that initial move.

MO shuffled his assets (LOL) and picks and it shows in the current roster. Texans certainly hit the lottery with their two picks at the very top of the 2023 draft that brought them their QB and anchor for the D. Even still, QB Stroud didn’t show very well in the 2025 playoffs. Texan fans were not very pleased with the outcome of that draft past their top two picks.

The grades are in: reviewing the 2023 Houston Texans Draft Class

It's been three years. Time to review how Houston did.

sports.yahoo.com

So, did MO ace the 2023 draft? Or would you still rather have Will Anderson?

 

[Harry]

You know if Bidwill had sold the Cards in 1947 they would likely be much better today. Of course they might not be in AZ.

 

[kerouac9]

I mean we were 3-14 last year and looking forward to a season when their o/u is 4.5 wins.

So I’d say Monti messed this one up.

 

[kerouac9]

2023 #12 Jamar Gibbs

RB Jamar Gibbs

Jahmyr Gibbs

 

[GimmedaBall]

Jahmyr Gibbs

Thanks. Spell check is highlighting the correct spelling as an error. LOL. Keep 'em coming.

 

[GimmedaBall]

I mean we were 3-14 last year and looking forward to a season when their o/u is 4.5 wins.

So I’d say Monti messed this one up.

A draft class is best evaluated after two-three years to evaluate how the players performed, stayed on the roster, etc. I'm a little more lenient than some given the large # of IR/injuries we had last year.

A 3-14 record has plenty of failure for all involved to be held accountable. Puzzling that MO and Rallis stay and JG and DP are fired???

 

[Goldfield]

Three solid draft picks with PJJ Wilson and Garrett Williams. The Darius Robinson pick isn’t looking good but I loved the gamble with a rookie QB for the Texans to get a very high pick the next year with Caleb Williams being the top prize.

BJ Ojulari has been injured it seems the entire time. So the rest haven’t done much at all.

I think it was an ok draft for a rookie GM

The injury’s we have had is mind blowing to me. Also makes it hard to evaluate.

 

[kerouac9]

Three solid draft picks with PJJ Wilson and Garrett Williams. The Darius Robinson pick isn’t looking good but I loved the gamble with a rookie QB for the Texans to get a very high pick the next year with Caleb Williams being the top prize.

BJ Ojulari has been injured it seems the entire time. So the rest haven’t done much at all.

I think it was an ok draft for a rookie GM

The injury’s we have had is mind blowing to me. Also makes it hard to evaluate.

Those third-round picks have started a combined 30 games. Monti is butt.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Three solid draft picks with PJJ Wilson and Garrett Williams. The Darius Robinson pick isn’t looking good but I loved the gamble with a rookie QB for the Texans to get a very high pick the next year with Caleb Williams being the top prize.

BJ Ojulari has been injured it seems the entire time. So the rest haven’t done much at all.

I think it was an ok draft for a rookie GM

The injury’s we have had is mind blowing to me. Also makes it hard to evaluate.

Except for WR Wilson---all the other players can be traced back to that trade with the Texans and their desire to take a keystone D player in Will Anderson.

If the Cards had not traded and used that #3 on Anderson, we most like would have only a few of the names.

 

[MadCardDisease]

The Cardinals started the day with 8 2023 draft picks and three of them were used (marked in red) in the three draft day trades that started with the Anderson trade.



2023 #3 overall (Traded away)
2023 #34 overall (Traded away)
2023 #66 overall (Tampering forced to trade with Eagles but not related to Anderson trade)
2023 #96 overall (Traded away and not related to the Anderson trade)
2023 #105 overall (Traded away)
2023 #168 overall
2023 #180 overall
2023 #213 overall


From those three Anderson related trades, they ended the draft with the following, the stuff in green was a part of or became part of what the Anderson trade started:

2023 #6 overall (PJJ)
2023 #41 overall (BJ Ojulari)
2023 #72 overall (Garrett Williams)
2023 #94 overall (Michael Wilson) (Added but not related to the Anderson trade)
2023 #122 overall (Jon Gaines) (Added but not related to the Anderson trade)
2023 #139 overall (Clayton Tune) (Added but not related to the Anderson trade)
2023 #168 overall (Owen Pappoe)
2023 #180 overall (Kei'trel Clark)
2023 #213 overall (Dante Stills)

2024 #27 overall (Darius Robinson)
2024 #71 overall (Isiah Adams)
2024 #90 overall (Elijah Jones)

 

[mel typer]

Love this topic. Just saying that Time was horrible playing as much as a pick.

Let's stand ground and not get a D Robinson. Let's make an effort with some balls

 

[GimmedaBall]

The Cardinals started the day with 8 2023 draft picks and three of them were used (marked in red) in the three draft day trades that started with the Anderson trade.



2023 #3 overall (Traded away)
2023 #34 overall (Traded away)
2023 #66 overall (Tampering forced to trade with Eagles but not related to Anderson trade)
2023 #96 overall (Traded away and not related to the Anderson trade)
2023 #105 overall (Traded away)
2023 #168 overall
2023 #180 overall
2023 #213 overall


From those three Anderson related trades, they ended the draft with the following, the stuff in green was a part of or became part of what the Anderson trade started:

2023 #6 overall (PJJ)
2023 #41 overall (BJ Ojulari)
2023 #72 overall (Garrett Williams)
2023 #94 overall (Michael Wilson) (Added but not related to the Anderson trade)
2023 #122 overall (Jon Gaines) (Added but not related to the Anderson trade)
2023 #139 overall (Clayton Tune) (Added but not related to the Anderson trade)
2023 #168 overall (Owen Pappoe)
2023 #180 overall (Kei'trel Clark)
2023 #213 overall (Dante Stills)

2024 #27 overall (Darius Robinson)
2024 #71 overall (Isiah Adams)
2024 #90 overall (Elijah Jones)

Thanks for your work and corrections. The Anderson trade created a ripple effect down the rest of the draft. I envision MO moving off his original draft board as the guys he had pegged for a certain round came out of the overall pool of players---this is what I meant by everything flowing from the Anderson trade

Unless we can get a copy of MO's draft grades, we'll never know how many of his guys he actually drafted and how many were those he had graded down and settled on as a result of his own trades. Of course, the other teams doing the same wheeling-dealing compounded the situation. If that makes any sense???

Do you remember when the Cowboy's draft board was accidentally broadcast when cameras were allowed into their war room.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Love this topic. Just saying that Time was horrible playing as much as a pick.

Let's stand ground and not get a D Robinson. Let's make an effort with some balls

The player with big balls, Chris Jones has already been drafted by KC. I wouldn't have the same self-sacrifice to take a header on the turf to cover myself:

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[oaken1]

The player with big balls, Chris Jones has already been drafted by KC. I wouldn't have the same self-sacrifice to take a header on the turf to cover myself:

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Howdafuq yo D fall out in those tight ass shorts?? Those are like cycling shorts.

Damn... I hope dude ran well his second time. Because you know the No Fun League ain't giving no do overs

 

[House of Cards]

The 2023 draft and trades just prove that the cards are the franchise with the worst luck in the NFL.

After the draft, everyone thought the Texans pick for 2024 would be top five. There was not one pundit that could’ve predicted the Texans making the playoffs much less winning a game in the playoffs. What would you think of this trade had the Texans given the Cardinals a top five pick in 2024.

They would’ve taken MHJ and could’ve gotten either Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels or at the least would’ve had Joe alt.

That would’ve been an unbelievable trade, no matter who you are ranking it. I’m not saying MO has done a good job of drafting or being a GM but for that trade I think he made the right call it just so happens, He made the call for the Cardinals and he got Cardinals results.