The Arizona Cardinals used the 16th pick in the 2025 NFL draft to select defensive lineman Walter Nolen III. They are very excited about the type of player he can be.
But he perhaps was not their Plan A.
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Now, when you pick 16th in the draft, you can rarely bank on having you top player, just your top player available.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals had their sights set on a player who ended up with a division rival.
In the first round, the Cardinals had eyes on eventual pick Walter Nolen and pass rusher Mykel Williams, who went five spots before them. It feels as if they were going defensive line regardless.
This should surprise no one. Williams has great physical traits, a solid ceiling as a pass rusher and already is a great run defender. The Cardinals have been dead set on improving both the defensive interior and the defensive edge.
Williams landed with the 49ers, which is a great fit for him and the 49ers, as he will be opposite one of the best pass rushers in the NFL in Nick Bosa.
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Personally, Williams would have my preferred choice for Arizona, but that never was a possibility.
But since he might have been on the board, it is always fun to get a peek into what they were thinking when it came to the draft.
And with Williams landing so close in the division, it can be a frame of reference to compare — who ends up being the better player? Were both teams right? Did the Cardinals miss out or did the Cardinals end up with the better player?
This will be a small miniplot to watch for the next few seasons.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals targeted 49ers first-round pick Mykel Williams