The Gambo 5: Predicting the Cardinals’ 1st-round NFL Draft pick – Arizona Sports
2025-04-23T23:42:21Z
The Gambo 5 is back! John Gambadoro narrows down the prospects he believes the Cardinals could add with the No. 16 pick in the NFL Draft.
I honestly can’t remember the first year we did The Gambo 5.
I just know that in 2017 we nailed Hasson Reddick in the first round and Budda Baker in the second.
Every year since then, we have a lot of requests the weeks before each draft for The Gambo 5.
And the track record speaks for itself.
We even did a Gambo 5 for the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and had Christian Kirk. Since I am old now and can’t remember what I had for breakfast this morning, I asked AI about The Gambo 5 and this is what it said:
2017: “Yes, The Gambo 5 did indeed predict Budda Baker to the Cardinals. In fact, The Gambo 5 predicted Hasson Reddick in the first round and Baker in the second round, and it was accurate for both.”
2018: “In 2018, The Gambo 5 predicted that Josh Rosen would be the only quarterback the Cardinals would move up for. … There is evidence that The Gambo 5 predicted Christian Kirk being drafted by the team.”
2020: “Yes, The Gambo 5 model predicted Isaiah Simmons to the Cardinals in the 2020 NFL Draft.”
2021: “Yes, The Gambo 5 model predicted Zaven Collins to the Cardinals in the 2021 NFL Draft.”
Now each year, I always tell my co-workers I am not doing it. I get so busy with the end of the Suns season and the beginning of the Diamondbacks that I just don’t believe I have the time it takes to do this right.
But in the end, I give in and do the work necessary to put together what I believe is a list of five players that I usually guarantee that the Cardinals will take.
So far so good.
There is no money back guarantee here. So, if for some reason I do get this wrong, you get nothing. This year is extremely difficult with the Cardinals picking 16th and the uncertainty of this draft with a lack of star power and a tremendous amount of depth.
Now, if the Cardinals trade down from No. 16, all bets are off — I cannot under any circumstance know what they may do if they move down. So, this model is only for the 16th pick.
For context, I usually start by using process of elimination.
The Arizona Sports Mock Draft Tracker has 25 different players being mocked to the Cardinals. The pick at No. 16 is truly all over the map.
So, I begin with eliminating players and positions I do not believe the Cardinals will be interested in with the first-round pick.
This year, I have eliminated wide receiver and cornerback — so I can take off Jahdae Barron, Matthew Golden, Will Johnson, Benjamin Morrison and Luther Burden III.
I can also rule out Arizona moving up in this draft. Although I will NOT rule out them trading back a few spots.
From there, I turn my attention to the positions that I believe the Cardinals will have the most interest in and that is O-line and D-line.
As of this weekend, I had seven players on my list at these positions. So last night, I had to eliminate two to get to The Gambo 5, though I did find another player that I believe Arizona will have interest in, you get an honorable mention.
Now, the absolutely toughest part of this is knowing that it is the likelihood of three of these players not being on the board when the Cardinals pick. But this draft is really difficult to figure out what other teams will be doing, especially with the lack of quarterbacks that will be drafted before Arizona selects.
It is likely when the Cardinals pick only two or three of these guys are available. But I just could not eliminate any of them because of how bad the feel of the draft is for the teams ahead of them.
So, without further ado, The Gambo 5:
– Tyler Booker, Alabama G
– Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas OT
– Josh Simmons, Ohio State OT
– Walter Nolen, Ole Miss DL
– Mykel Williams, Georgia pass rusher
Honorable Mention: Derrick Harmon, Oregon DT
Now the two I eliminated were Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr. and Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart. Maybe if Arizona trades back Stewart could be an option, but I just felt he was too risky to take at No. 16.
So, there you have it, a The Gambo 5 heavy on OL and DL. I hope you enjoy it and have fun with it. I try my best and although I joke that I guarantee it will be one of these guys, I really can’t guarantee anything.
The skinny on The Gambo 5
By Tyler Drake
Tyler Booker, Alabama G
Booker didn’t put up impressive NFL Draft Combine numbers but has proven he can maul with the best of them along the interior.
The 6-foot-5, 321-pounder appeared in 38 games for Alabama across three seasons. He was named a Second Team All-American in 2024.
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas OT
Banks is coming off an impressive third and final season at Texas where he took home the Outland Trophy, and Lombardi Award.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder lined up exclusively at left tackle during his time at Texas.
Josh Simmons, Ohio State OT
Simmons flashed his ability to play both sides of the offensive line during his time at Ohio State.
After working at right tackle in 2022, the 6-foot-5, 317-pounder was the team’s left tackle the past two seasons.
The added bonus when it comes to Simmons is his already established relationships within the Cardinals offensive line room.
Not only did he play under new offensive line coach Justin Frye in college, he spent time opposite Arizona left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. in the trenches during their time at Ohio State.
Walter Nolen, Ole Miss DL
Nolen is coming off his first and final season at Ole Miss where he registered career highs in sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (14) and passes defensed (three).
The 6-foot-4, 296-pounder was named a First Team All-American for his efforts and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy.
Mykel Williams, Georgia pass rusher
In 12 games played last year, Williams registered five sacks, nine tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Those were all career marks for the pass rusher.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder earned Second Team All-SEC honors in each of the past two seasons.
Derrick Harmon, Oregon DT
Harmon is coming off his lone season at Oregon where he racked up five sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles, all career marks.
The 6-foot-4, 313-pounder picked up a Second Team All-American nod for his play.
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