Welcome back to Mock Draft Monday, Arizona Cardinals fans!

The Cardinals only have five draft picks currently and would certainly be interested in getting some more ammo for a draft class loaded on defense – which should be the top priority for upgrading this offseason.

Fear not, for I found a trade candidate to move down and get an extra day two pick along with a future second-round pick in 2026! The move helped me land a crucial depth player, but the slide down the board netted me the hottest name in college football right now.

Let’s dive in.

TRADE:
Arizona sends pick 16 to Cleveland
Cleveland sends picks 33 and 67 and a 2026 second-round pick

The mock saw the Browns select Travis Hunter with the second overall pick and bypass a quarterback. But, when they saw a chance to go up and get a sliding Kelvin Banks and shore up the offensive line, they pounced.

The Cardinals, who are plenty happy with Paris Johnson Jr., gladly accepted a move down to secure an early third-round pick and a second-round pick in 2026.

The man of the hour as of late, Sawyer is the hottest name in college football after his unbelievable strip-sack and subsequent scoop-and-score touchdown against Texas to seal Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl win and send the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Beyond the scope of that game, Sawyer has made plays all year long and he’s put together a marvelous senior year as a swan song for his time with Ohio State. The 6’5 and 260lbs edge rusher has improved each season and is primed to crash the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Cardinals will joyfully add the veteran pass rusher to their floundering room and see an instant jump in production. Sawyer will become a fan favorite in no time.

Golden isn’t the most popular man in the desert after being one of the biggest players involved in ending the Arizona State Sun Devils season at the Peach Bowl, but he’s a damn good receiver. Like Sawyer, Golden has made himself some serious money in the College Football Playoff and he’s also on a collision course to potentially crash day one of the draft.

Texas’s passing attack took a big step forward this season with Golden stepping up as Quinn Ewers’ top target, posting just under 1,000 receiving yards and 17 yards per reception along with nine touchdowns.

Arizona needs some more depth at wide receiver and someone to take the top off the defense, something Golden can provide for both needs.

With an extra third-round selection, the Cardinals get Dante Stills a partner-in-crime from the interior of the defensive line with Sanders, who is rising up boards and can blow everyone away with a good NFL Scouting Combine showing.

On what was one of college football’s best pass rushing defenses, Sanders managed four sacks from the inside plus 51 tackles, which led all the Gamecocks’ defensive linemen and was fifth overall. In three seasons, Sanders nabbed 9.5 total sacks and 110 tackles.

Sanders will come to the desert and find himself a role as a rotational player along the defensive line. With any luck, he can quickly separate himself from the pack with his pass rushing abilities.

We mentioned the confidence in Paris Johnson earlier at left tackle, but the right tackle spot is wide open. Jonah Williams isn’t a lock for 2025, but even his return shouldn’t dispel adding depth.

Cornelius went from a no-star commit at Rhode Island to a key component of the offensive line for Oregon. A four-year starter at right tackle, Cornelius has the size profile at 6’5 and 310lbs to grow and become a stalwart on the strong side of the line.

There will be a learning curve for Cornelius, but he’s well-traveled with tons of play time. With the right coaching and development, he’ll become a starting right tackle with a decently high ceiling.

The Fighting Irish are in the CFP National Championship Game thanks to a stellar defense and Kiser has been one of its most integral pieces. The fifth-year senior recorded 85 tackles (51 solo) to pace Notre Dame. Kiser also added two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries to his resume.

Kiser found a significant role with Notre Dame’s defense in all five seasons in South Bend. He amassed 271 tackles with six sacks, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, and two touchdowns (both in the 2021 season).

The resume speaks for itself, and Kiser could conclude his storied career with the Fighting Irish with a ring. No matter how it ends, the Cardinals need a linebacker heir to Kyzir White, who could possibly depart in free agency.

Moore entered the 2024 season with expectations of becoming a superstar pass rusher after a 14-sack season in 2023 with UTSA. Instead, Moore struggled to consistently find the field on a stacked Texas defense and failed to see those lofty expectations.

But stop me if you’ve heard this before – Moore made waves in the CFP and has re-established himself as a name to watch. Moore ended the season with 5.5 sacks, three in the postseason including two in the Peach Bowl. Once he found his rhythm, Moore started to look like what we wanted him to be.

I believe Moore could make more money by returning to Austin for his final season of college, but his late-season surge and athleticism could still place him as a climber in the draft. Moore has starting upside and is at worst a great rotational player – a.k.a. someone who is perfect for the Cardinals.

PHOENIX — Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs knows she is outnumbered this legislative session, with Republicans having expanded their majorities in the statehouse after the last election.

But the first-term governor sees room for bipartisan compromise as she looks to advance policies that have long been stymied under the GOP-controlled Legislature.

While President-elect Donald Trump swept the battleground state, Hobbs noted in a recent interview with The Associated Press that Arizona voters also elected Democrat Ruben Gallego to the U.S. Senate, sending the message that they want their political leaders to work across the aisle to solve the thorniest of issues.

“The issues we’re facing — affordability for families, water security, protecting our border and keeping communities safe — those are not Republican or Democratic issues,” she said. “They’re just Arizona issues that our elected leaders, myself included, need to work together to solve.”

Hobbs, who will be up for reelection next year, is expected to outline her priorities when she addresses lawmakers at the start of the session Monday.

Here’s a look at key policy areas:

It was just two weeks after the November election when Hobbs visited the Arizona-Mexico border and vowed to work with Trump’s administration on issues like stopping fentanyl trafficking. But she also acknowledged some families are worried about the president-elect’s deportation threats.

While not wanting to speculate, Hobbs says Arizona will focus its limited law enforcement resources on keeping violent criminals off the streets, regardless of their immigration status.

Arizona voters last year approved a measure empowering local police to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the border, so it’s unclear what new restrictions on immigration Republicans might push beyond ensuring adequate funding for law enforcement.

Hobbs will look to pressure lawmakers again to plug regulatory holes to protect groundwater sources. Her calls last year to update the state’s water laws failed to win legislative approval, leaving her administration to take executive action in December to curb unchecked pumping in one rural area.

This time around, Hobbs is optimistic she can reach a deal with lawmakers on revamping groundwater regulations. In the absence of a pact, Hobbs says she won’t hesitate to act unilaterally.

The stakes are high as Arizona has grappled with long-term drought and needs to come up with a plan by the end of 2026 to manage its dwindling share of water from the over-tapped Colorado River.

Reining in Arizona’s school voucher program remains on Hobbs’ wish list.

The program, which started in 2011 for disabled children and expanded to all students in 2022, lets parents subsidize private-school tuition and other educational costs with public money.

Hobbs and fellow Democrats have criticized the program, saying it contributes to a drain on the state’s coffers. Republican lawmakers have championed the program as a cornerstone of the school choice movement. The budget approved by lawmakers last year after weeks of negotiations with Hobbs’ office included only a small cut in spending for the program.

Unlike last year, the state isn’t facing a budget crunch. The latest revenue projection for the next fiscal year is up $231 million compared to the forecast last summer, according to legislative analysts.

___

Gabriel Sandoval is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

The Arizona State Sun Devils’ furious rally fell just short on Saturday night as they lost to Baylor 72-66 in overtime.

The Sun Devils trailed by 12 at halftime, but outscored Baylor 41-29 in the second half to force an extra period. Senior guard Adam Miller tied the game at 61-61 on a driving layup with 1.9 seconds left in regulation.

The Sun Devils went cold in overtime, though, shooting just 2-of-10 from the field. The loss dropped ASU to 10-5 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12. It was also ASU’s first loss at home this season.

Jayden Quaintance, Joson Sanon Struggle

Arizona State’s 5-star freshmen, Jayden Quaintance and Joson Sanon, struggled against Baylor’s suffocating defense. They combined for just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting.

Sanon, who came into the game as Arizona State’s leading scorer at 13.5 points per game, saw his first game action since spraining an ankle vs. BYU on New Year’s eve. He played 18 minutes off the bench, shot 2-of-5 from the field and finished with 5 points and no rebounds. He looked good early, but couldn’t get it going.

Quaintance, one of the nation’s leading shot blockers, finished with just 5 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in 40 minutes. He struggled with Baylor’s length and athleticism — as did the entire ASU team. The Sun Devils were outrebounded by Baylor 43-35 and they gave up 15 offensive rebounds.

BJ Freeman Has Big Game

Milwaukee transfer BJ Freeman had his highest-scoring game of the season, dropping in 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the field.

Freeman, a 6-foot-6 senior, shot 0-of-3 in overtime and fouled out with 56 seconds left.

His performance came in front of multiple NBA scouts who were there to watch Quaintance, Sanon and Baylor freshman VJ Edgecombe. A projected top-5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Edgecombe finished with 15 points and 4 rebounds.

Arizona State Drops, Baylor Rises In NET Rankings

The loss dropped the Sun Devils fell to No. 56 in the NCAA NET Rankings, which are used as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

ASU will have to rise into the top 30 of the NET to have a legitimate chance for an at-large berth in March Madness. With so many Quad 1 games remaining in the Big 12, the Sun Devils have an opportunity to play their way into the tourney.

Baylor jumped to No. 19 in the NET with the victory. The Bears are 3-4 in Quad 1 games and are currently projected as a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

More Arizona State & Big 12 Analysis