TEMPE, Ariz. -- The 2023 NFL draft ended Saturday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The Arizona Cardinals made nine of the draft’s 259 picks, beginning with the No. 6 selection of the first round after trading back from No. 3 on Thursday night.

ESPN's pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Cardinals’ selections is below.

Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart

Round 1, No. 6 overall: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

My take: This is the type of pick that could be foundational for new coach Jonathan Gannon. He can use Johnson as a building block for years regardless of where they line him up. It was crucial for the Cardinals to get more blocking help for quarterback Kyler Murray. This is the first year since Murray was drafted (2019) that the Cardinals drafted an offensive player in the first round. Protecting Murray will be paramount as he returns from ACL surgery and Johnson will be part of that.

Will he start as a rookie? That’s the biggest question surrounding Johnson. The odds are that Johnson will start -- the question is where. He played left tackle last season, but Arizona already has a franchise left tackle in D.J. Humphries, who has three years left on his contract. Johnson played guard in 2021 at Ohio State so left guard could be an option for him with the idea that he replaces Humphries down the road.

Ties to the team to know: Johnson’s dad, Paris Johnson Sr., was drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round of the 1999 draft. He played one year for Arizona and then bounced around the practice squads of the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. Johnson told Cardinals general Monti Ossenfort during his 30 visit that he wanted to finish what his father started with the Cardinals.

Round 2, No. 41 overall: BJ Ojulari, OLB, LSU

My take: After losing three of their primary pass-rushers in J.J. Watt, Zach Allen and Markus Golden during this offseason, the Cardinals were in desperate need of reinforcements and that started with Ojulari. No returning Cardinal had more than four sacks last season so the need to build out the pass rush was among the priorities for this draft. He showed in college the ability to pressure the quarterback and Arizona hopes -- err, needs -- him to do that again at this level.

Will he start as a rookie? There’s a definite chance Ojulari could be a Day 1 starter for the Cardinals. Since he fits a need, as long as Ojulari progresses throughout the offseason and training camp, and shows signs of being able to produce from the jump, he could get those early reps with the first team. The knock on him will be his size at 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds but former Cardinal Haason Reddick was effective at 6-1 and 240.

Round 3, No. 72 overall: Garrett Williams, DB, Syracuse

My take: This pick was made for the future. Sure, the idea of drafting a cornerback addresses a need but Williams is still rehabbing an ACL injury that ended his season in October . Then comes the phase of testing the knee, getting comfortable on it and not thinking about it -- on top of the mental hurdles that accompany a return from a major knee injury. When he’s healthy and ready, he should boost the Cardinals’ cornerbacks room, which needs depth.

When will he be expected to get regular playing time? This is the biggest question surrounding Williams. He could be on the field by Week 1, according to his timetable of a July return but he may not see regular playing time until midseason -- if at all this season. The learning curve for a cornerback in the NFL is steep. Add in returning to the field from the injury on top of learning how to play at the NFL level and Williams faces significant hurdles which could delay his ability to get regular playing time.

Round 3, No. 94 overall: Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford

My take: The biggest question that’ll surround Wilson as he enters the Cardinals' offseason program is where he fits. Arizona needed more receivers so there will be an opportunity for Wilson but whether he breaks the rotation could depend on whether Deandre Hopkins is still on the roster come training camp. Wilson's best shot at making the team, preliminarily, could be as a depth player who plays special teams.

Key stat for Wilson: He played just 14 games in his last three seasons at Stanford because of a foot injury that spanned the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and a collarbone injury that ended his 2022 season after six games. He said Friday he’s healthy but that lack of reps, despite a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, may lead to him having a steeper learning curve.

Round 4, No. 122, Jon Gaines II, G, UCLA

My take: Gaines’ versatility could end up being an asset for the Cardinals, who are looking to fill some holes on the offensive line, namely center. He has the size at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds to be a long-term staple. What will benefit Gaines and the Cardinals is his experience in college. He played 45 games in five years -- one of those came in his freshman year -- so making the jump to the NFL may not be as tough for him as it would be for other rookies.

Round 5, No. 139 overall (from Broncos via Lions): Clayton Tune, QB, Houston

My take: Tune becomes the fifth quarterback on the Cardinals' roster and -- depending on how he progresses during OTAs, minicamp and training camp -- he could fight it out to be Arizona’s third-string quarterback. He has the arm strength to play at this level, but his challenge will be the learning curve, especially coming from a traditional air-raid offense. Arizona’s quarterback room is deep now, so he’ll have to shine if he wants to crack the roster.

Round 5, No. 168 overall (compensatory from Cardinals via Lions): Owen Pappoe, ILB, Auburn

My take: Pappoe has the physical traits that could get him on the field early in the season in specific roles. As an inside linebacker, he may have a difficult time cracking the starting lineup depending on where Zaven Collins ends up lining up in 2023, but Pappoe’s sideline-to-sideline speed and ability to drop back and cover could make him an asset in certain packages for Nick Rallis’ defense, which will rely on adaptability.

Round 6, No. 180 overall: Kei'Trel Clark, CB, Louisville

My take: The Cardinals have been in the market for cornerback help and Clark fills that need. His ability to play both outside and the slot will give him more opportunities to get on the field but his size -- he’s 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds -- could limit just how much he plays and against whom. Clark could find a role in specific packages as well as on special teams. But the more plays he makes on defense, the more reps he'll receive.

Round 6, No. 213, Dante Stills, DT, West Virginia

My take: Stills is the type of rookie whose biggest challenge will be getting bigger -- like NFL big -- at 6-foot-4, 284 pounds. If he can add some weight, the rest of his game will take care of itself. He’ll have his technique refined and learn the nuances of playing interior defensive line from the coaching staff, but he comes to Arizona with a dearth of football knowledge having a father, Gary Stills, who played in the NFL for 10 years. Restocking depth on the defensive line was needed this draft and Stills adds to that.