Vote for your grade of Monti’s job on Day 2
On Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, GM Monti Ossenfort dug deeply into his Belichickean roots to deliver a bonanza of systematic personnel fits for the Arizona Cardinals.
Belichick always loved to trade back on Day 2 in order to acquire extra picks.
Two Trades:
Trade details with the Falcons. pic.twitter.com/CXj2pLeLMI
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 26, 2024
We have agreed to terms with the Colts pic.twitter.com/ZtaldKP0Up
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
There is no doubt in my mind that Monti felt comfortable trading back from #35 to #43 believing he could still select his top guy at CB Max Melton. For whatever reason, Monti did not have a higher grade on Cooper DeJean and apparently neither did a number of other GMs.
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) April 27, 2024
Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
MadMax, welcome to the desert pic.twitter.com/PUvcKNbgSK
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
CB Max Melton is a classic Belichick pick from Rutgers pipeline. Dude has all the tools to play press man and combo zones. Former WR with 4.39 speed and A+ ball skills. In D-Rob and Max Cardinals tapping 2 of the most radiant stars at Senior Bowl. My comp: Christian Gonzalez
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) April 27, 2024
Always respected his game fr https://t.co/RJJbcTzLWi
— Marvin Harrison Jr. (@MarvHarrisonJr) April 27, 2024
Real Recognize Real
Coach Saban: “This is my sleeper corner in the whole draft.“
: #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/YBf2ldacbu
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 27, 2024
Melton’s Fit: Press CB on a #1 or #2 WR. Special teams ace as gunner, punt/kick rusher.
Trey Benson, RB, Florida St.
From garnet to Cardinal red pic.twitter.com/djXEZ5hK86
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
One of the main reasons why Florida St. went 13-0 until their bowl game was the stellar play of RB Trey Benson (6-0, 216). Monti is cooking with a Benson Burner . Ran 4.39 at Combine. This dude is a chiseled and tough downhill runner who absorbs and bounces off of contact.
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) April 27, 2024
Trey Benson. Where do I start. This guy is an ABSOLUTE BEAST. He will tout that pill and gets stronger the more you give him the rock. He can contribute in the pass game and doesn’t have a ton of tread on his tires from @FSUFootball. Again Ossenfort with another pick to help K1. pic.twitter.com/GHkjf90T67
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 27, 2024
Benson’s fit: RB2
Isaiah Adams, G, Illinois
The perfect fit pic.twitter.com/ZocANp7Hml
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
Isaiah Adams (6-5, 315) is tailor made to play mauler G in the Cardinals wide zone blocking scheme. He excels in zone blocking. He’s also played T but he’s a natural G in the NFL. Was Jim Nagy’s offensive sleeper at Senior Bowl. Nagy had Michael Wilson last year as his sleeper.
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) April 27, 2024
Welcome to the #Birdgang Isaiah Adams!
The interior IOL is getting much better with him on board! https://t.co/hZESohzTaF
— Andy Kwong (@akwong31) April 27, 2024
Our top sleeper for 2024 #NFLDraft is Illinois G/T Isaiah Adams.
Draft is tomorrow and there’s been very little buzz about Adams, which is surprising after he made it look easy at times vs. Top-100 DL at @seniorbowl.
My comp for Ontario native is former… pic.twitter.com/FxocCeIZiD
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 24, 2024
Adams’ Fit: G who could be developed into a starter, if not this year, perhaps by next year. Also provides the team with G/T versatility as a game day swing OL.
Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
Welcome to AZ! pic.twitter.com/5hDFBDPmrJ
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
Tip Reiman ran a 4.6 at 6-5 271 at the Combine. Think about that. Had the #1 athleticism score for TEs in Indy at 87. He will be TE Ben Steele’s pet project to develop his blocking and receiving skills as a Y in-line TE. Reiman could be a superb fit in Drew Petzing’s offense.
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) April 27, 2024
#illini TE Tip Reiman hears his name called on TV pic.twitter.com/M7sqtFoC7S
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) April 27, 2024
Tip Reiman is my favorite dude in the 2024 NFL Draft. He goes third round to the @AZCardinals . This was a JOY on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Ie7NqYvYYE
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 27, 2024
Reiman’s Fit: Y TE2 with possible flexibility to play H-Back and TE. Special teams dynamo.
Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
Got a new CB on the block. pic.twitter.com/D8fVOYEDcy
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
OMG, as a BC alum I am elated to see the Cards draft CB Elijah Jones. Every one of his 5 interceptions this year were game changers. At 6-2, 185, runs a 4.4 with a 42″ vertical. 90.2 man coverage grade this yr w a passer rating of 18.1 (not a typo) Another Senior Bowl gem.
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) April 27, 2024
Elijah Jones bolstering the Cardinals defense in year 2 under head coach Jonathan Gannonpic.twitter.com/QqYy6XiwEu
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) April 27, 2024
Teased it over weekend.
Our top sleeper for 2024 #NFLDraft is @BCFootball CB Elijah Jones.
Only two days from draft and still haven’t seen this ballhawk in any Top-10 CB rankings.
Here’s why Jones will be a steal for some team.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/o5pwC9nP47
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 23, 2024
Jones’ Fit: Boundary CB
Summary:
Monti did more of his own thing on Day 1. He stayed put this year (no trades!) and he drafted a WR in the first round —- something Bill Belichick was disinclined to do. However, Belichick was never drafting high enough to consider an extraordinary talent with the pedigree of Marvin Harrison Jr., a consensus two-year All-American from Ohio St.
However, on Day 2 Monti Ossenfort cooked up a Patriots’ type of casserole of the prototypes whom Bill Belichick loved to stockpile at the CB, IOL, G and TE positions. In New England they call them high priority positional “stables.” Not “rooms” —- “stables.”
While there were CBs, Gs and TEs on the board whom fans and pundits felt were stronger choices —- e.g. players who were more highly rated by draft pundits and Mock Draft Simulators —- there is a common theme here with regard to 4 of the team’s picks —-> the Senior Bowl.
A cadre of Cardinals assistant coaches had the chance to coach at the Senior Bowl. Clearly, the coaches came away from that week feeling especially high on DT/DE Darius Robinson, CB Max Melton, G Isaiah Adams and CB Elijah Jones. There is no better intel on a player than having the chance to work with him on the field.
As for TE Tip Reiman, he caught the Cardinals’ attention at the East-West Shrine Bowl where he displayed superb size, strength and. athleticism.
With RB Trey Benson, whom Lindy’s comps to Breece Hall, he came into the draft ranked at or near the top of the RB board.
ROTB Poll:
How did you vote and why?