Niner Noise
FanSided

2020 NFL Draft: 32-team Round 1 mock after Week 4

By Peter Panacy

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 29: The Iowa Hawkeyes offensive line during their game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial stadium on November 29, 2013 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 29: The Iowa Hawkeyes offensive line during their game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial stadium on November 29, 2013 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /

The Arizona Cardinals would have loved to see either Andrew Thomas fall to them at No. 7 overall in Round 1.

That said, Iowa offensive tackle Alaric Jackson would be a solid consolation prize.

Arizona is in a similar position the Dolphins will be to start 2020: needing to protect a young franchise quarterback, thereby preventing him from enduring a lot of up-front punishment early in his career.

So far, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been sacked 20 times, which is tops in the league. Also not surprisingly, Football Outsiders has Arizona’s offensive line ranked in the bottom five in pass protection.

For head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense to truly take flight, Murray will need adequate protection. Jackson helps provide that in a big way.