Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, coach Jonathan Gannon discuss draft, other topics

If there were any doubts that Arizona Cardinals General Manager Monti “Haul” Ossenfort wouldn’t be willing to play “Let’s Make a Deal” and consider trading up and/or down — or both —  in the upcoming NFL draft, he put those thoughts to bed on Wednesday.

He’ll be ready to do business once again, just like he did a year ago when he traded out of the No. 3 overall pick down to 12 for a slew of draft capital only to trade back up to No. 6 to select Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

“There will be a big neon sign that says ‘open,’ ” Ossenfort said during a news conference with coach Jonathan Gannon at the team’s Tempe training facility. “I don’t like it blinking — that kind of messes with my eyes — but we’ll always have the conversation. We may not get to the point where the deal makes sense, whether it’s at 4 or anywhere we’re picking, but we’re always going to have the conversation.

“And if it makes sense and it’s attractive to building our team, then it’s something we’ll certainly consider no matter where we’re at in the draft.”

After finishing 4-13 last season, the Cardinals presently are slated to pick fourth overall. They also have the 27^th overall pick in the first round, courtesy of last year’s draft-day trade with the Texans, the third pick in the second round (No. 35), and six selections overall in the top 90.

And yes, Ossenfort said the phone has been ringing.

“There’s been a little more action,” he said. “I’d say those phone calls are starting to pick up a little bit and I’d say they’d probably continue into next week when we go down to Florida for the owners’ meetings. Most teams are in a similar position to us in that they’re starting to finalize their boards and the Pro Days is kind of the final on-field piece with evaluation purposes, so I would imagine some of those conversations would continue to pick up.

“But honestly, they probably won’t get real serious until we get right up until the week of the draft, similar to last year.”

There’s already been speculation that the Vikings, who now have both the 11th and 23^rd overall picks, could have real interest in trading up with the Cardinals to No. 4 to draft a quarterback, possibly J.J. McCarthy from Michigan. That would mean missing out on the chance to draft prized wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State.

Like the scouting combine, Harrison chose not to work out Wednesday at his Pro Day in Columbus, although the Cardinals did reportedly send a scout to cover it. Ossenfort, as he did a month ago, downplayed Harrison’s decision to decline on-field workouts.

“I’m a big fan of the more good information we can have in the draft process, the better, but it’s not going to be the first time that a player doesn’t check off every box for the spring process and it won’t be the last time,” he said. “In Marvin’s case, it’s his decision and what he felt was best for him. We respect that and we’ll continue our evaluation process not only on him but every draft prospect and we’ll evaluate the best we can with the information we have.”

Analysis: Arizona Cardinals should resist temptation to trade out of No.4 draft slot

Ossenfort and Gannon touched on a variety of other subjects, including the Cardinals’ recent series of moves in free agency in which they acquired several new players and re-signed a healthy share of their own.

They also discussed such moves as releasing longtime left tackle D.J. Humphries and the trade that sent receiver Rondale Moore to the Falcons for quarterback Desmond Ridder, who is expected to be the primary backup behind Kyler Murray.

Ossenfort said it was “brutal” letting Humphries go, although it seemed inevitable after the veteran suffered a torn ACL late last season and his release would save tons in salary cap space.

“It was just really unfortunate with the timing of the injury for us as a football team and obviously for D.J. on a personal level,” Ossenfort said. “The salary cap situation and the way contract things work, it was a very tough situation. I can’t say enough about how I feel about D.J. as a football player and even more so as a person, just being around him and his energy, the leadership he brought to this team. We’re certainly going to miss him.”

Ossenfort wouldn’t rule out a possible reunion with Humphries, either.

“Who knows what’s going to happen down the line?” he said. “I’d have zero hesitation to bring D.J. back.”

As for the acquisition of Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, Ossenfort said it was an opportunity to add competition and depth to the position, adding Ridder provides some valuable experience that Clayton Tune, the other QB on Arizona’s roster, doesn’t yet have.

Asked what he likes about Ridder, who started 17 games for the Falcons, Gannon said, “Skillset, big guy, arm talent, mobility, smart, plays fast. That’s what jumped off the tape to me.”

Other highlights from Wednesday’s news conference included:

—Gannon on who will start at left tackle, Paris Johnson Jr., or free agent addition Jonah Williams: “Because you guys are going to ask me 132 times, we will know who’s playing where the Friday before we play Week 1. So when you guys ask me, ‘Where’s this guy playing? Who’s the starters? What are we doing, blah, blah, blah,’ you’ll see Week 1. That’s how we’ll do that.”

—Ossenfort on whether the Cardinals have finished ranking their draft board and how many prospects have a first-round grade: “We’re still working through our board right now to answer your (other) question, we don’t necessarily talk in those terms about how many first rounders there are. … We’re trying to evaluate what a player is, what a player’s role will be, to what level. … But we’re going to be in a good position when it comes to the draft.”

—Gannon on where the offensive line is after signing Williams, center Evan Brown, and re-signing interior linemen Elijah Wilkinson, Trystan Colon and Keith Ismael: “I would say like all the other rooms are, never a finished product. Every day we try to do things a little bit better and make our team better and however that comes about, it comes about. Love the additions, love the guys coming back, excited for the competition that’s going to happen and we’ll see as we keep going what happens here, but I feel really good about that room.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, coach Jonathan Gannon talk draft, more