The Arizona Cardinals have a hole at cornerback currently. The two players set to start are Byron Muprhy and Robert Alford. They will certainly add another and hopefully multiple players even before the draft.
But what will Murphy’s role be?
Will he take a No. 2 corner role and play outside or will he remain as the team’s nickel corner?
His versatility gives the Cardinals options, but they clearly have a preference.
“Byron can play outside. He’s done it before,” general manager Steve Keim said to reporters this week in a press conference. “(But) to find guys who can play inside is a little more difficult than years in the past. It’s a really tough position with two-way go’s and the quickness that’s required to play inside.
“We think Murph is one of the better inside corners in the NFL.”
With that in mind, the Cardinals will target either experienced cornerbacks who play outside and the same will apply in the NFL draft.
Now, even though Murphy will play in the slot, that doesn’t mean he will only play in nickel downs. Cardinals fans should expect to see him on the field every down, playing outside when there are only two cornerbacks on the field and then sliding inside to the slot when they add a corner for coverage.
So when the Cardinals eventually sign a cornerback, it will be a guy who can play outside.
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