Cardinals GM Ossenfort Delays Trading No. 4 Pick Until Draft Night

Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort has informed four interested teams that he will not trade the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft until the Cardinals are on the clock on Thursday night, according to Albert Breer of MMQB. The Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and New England Patriots are expected to select quarterbacks with the first three picks, potentially leaving the Cardinals with an opportunity to trade down from the No. 4 spot if a team is interested in drafting Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

The Cardinals have reportedly received two offers for the No. 4 pick, with teams like the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders rumored to be interested in moving up in the draft. The Broncos, in particular, are said to be looking to either trade up for a quarterback or trade down to accumulate more draft capital.

Ossenfort has shown a willingness to make trades, as the Cardinals did last year when they traded the No. 3 pick to the Houston Texans. However, it appears any potential trade involving the No. 4 pick will have to wait until Thursday evening when the Cardinals are on the clock.

Why this matters: The Cardinals' decision on the No. 4 pick could have significant implications for the rest of the first round and the quarterback market in the NFL. If a team trades up for McCarthy, it could trigger a chain reaction of moves and alter the plans of several franchises.

The Cardinals currently have 11 total picks in the draft, with six coming in the first three rounds, including picks 4 and 27 in the first round. Ossenfort said the Cardinals are comfortable taking Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 overall, but they could also trade back and continue assembling more draft capital for the team's offseason needs. The Cardinals may follow a similar strategy to last year, where they traded back and then moved up, allowing them to get their top target while also adding draft assets.

Key Takeaways

• Cardinals GM Ossenfort won't trade No. 4 pick until draft day
• Bears, Commanders, Patriots expected to draft QBs 1-3
• Cardinals received 2 offers for No. 4 pick, teams interested
• Cardinals open to drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. or trading down
• Cardinals have 11 total picks, 6 in first 3 rounds