Cardinals move down in second round, draft LSU EDGE BJ Ojulari

(AP Photo/Alberto Mariani)

Cardinals move down in second round, draft LSU EDGE BJ Ojulari

Arizona Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort made a splash Thursday night when he traded the No. 3 overall pick to the Houston Texans for the 12th pick.

Then he moved back up to No. 6 to pick Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

On Friday, Ossenfort did it again.

Shortly after the Cardinals went on the clock at pick No. 32, Ossenfort swapped picks with the Tennessee Titans to move back to No. 41 in the second round to draft LSU edge rusher BJ Ojulari.

Ojulari was a standout pass rusher for the Tigers, appearing in 10 games – making one start – as a freshman. He recorded 16 total tackles, five for a loss in his first season. As a sophomore he led the Tigers in sacks with seven and was received first-team All-SEC honors last season after he recorded 58 total tackles, 8.5 for a loss and 5.5 sacks.

According to ESPN’s Booger McFarland, Ojulari had the “best pass rusher toolbox” in this year’s draft.

He brings speed and power to the edge for the Cardinals, who lost future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt to retirement and released Markus Golden in March.

The trade to land Ojulari also involved the Cardinals trading pick No. 81 in the third round to move up to No. 72. They also received a 2024 third-round pick.

The Titans used the No. 33 overall pick to draft Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, who fell out of the first round on Thursday night.