The Arizona Cardinals make a local kid their fifth round pick.
The Arizona Cardinals moved back in the fifth round, added a sixth round pick and drafted another Ohio State Buckeyes product.
This time though, he’s a local high school kid who has been successful at every stop.
Denzel Burke is a cornerback who played high school ball at Saguaro High in Scottsdale, now he is back home playing for the Arizona Cardinals.
From Dane Brugler’s The Beast:
A four-year starter at Ohio State, Burke was primarily an outside cornerback in former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme (variations of Cover 1, Cover 3 and Cover 4 quarters). From setting an Ohio State record for true freshman snaps at cornerback to returning for his senior year and winning a national title, his career in Columbus ran the gamut and should have him emotionally prepared for the next level.
Burke stays aware in zone to balance his eyes between the backfield and route concepts, which forces indecision from the quarterback. Though he has man-cover tools, he is missing a consistent feel, which leads to separation and catches downfield or deep (see Oregon tape). Overall, Burke is missing a true distinguishing trait at a position that’s heavily scouted based on the stopwatch and measuring tape, but he plays alert, physical and determined. He has a chance to earn a backup role in the NFL while fighting for starting reps.
Welcome back home, Denzel.