Where does the team stack up heading into round one?
We are finally here one and all.
The NFL Draft is in Green Bay and the Arizona Cardinals are going to be on the clock in less than 12 hours.
What do the Cardinals need to breakthrough and get back into the playoffs?
To know what they need, we need to visit what they have, so let’s take a look at the teams current roster in depth chart form to see where the needs lie.
As we enter draft day, the Arizona Cardinals biggest candidates to be drafted in round one are defensive line/edge, offensive line and cornerback according to our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook. Based on the roster would you agree?
Quarterbacks
Starter: Kyler Murray
Backup: Jacoby Brissett
Reserve: Clayton Tune
Seems like the room is full.
Running backs
Starter: James Conner
Backup: Trey Benson, Emari Demercado
Specials: DeeJay Dallas
Reserve: Michael Carter
Deep Reserve: Bam Knight
Seems like the room is full, could a falling star change that?
Wide Receiver
Starters: Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson
Slot: Greg Dortch
Reserves: Zay Jones, Xavier Weaver, Simi Fehoko
Deep Reserve: Andre Baccellia, Tejhaun Palmer, Quez Watkins, Trishton Jackson
While the room has been addressed, it needs the talent to step up. Marvin Harrison Jr. has the most single season yards among the group and people were “disappointed” with his rookie season.
Tight End
Starer: Trey McBride
Backup: Tip Reiman, Elijah Higgins
Reserve: Travis Vokolek, Bernhard Seikovits
I think you can upgrade from Higgins, but it is not a need.
Offensive Line
Tackles: Paris Johnson Jr., Jonah Williams
Backups: Kelvin Beachum, Christian Jones
Reserves: McClendon Curtis
Guards: Evan Brown, Isaiah Adams
Backups: Jake Curhan, Royce Newman
Reserve: Nick Leverett, Matthew Jones
Center: Hjale Froholdt
Backup: Jon Gaines
Reserve: Sincere Haynesworth
Like wide receiver, a concerted effort has been made, but upgrades can be had at everywhere but left tackle and center.
Defensive Line
Left Defensive End: Calais Campbell
Backup: Justin Jones, L.J. Collier
Reserve: Anthony Goodlow
Nose Tackle: Dalvin Tomlinson
Backup: Bilal Nichols
Reserve: PJ Mustipher
Right Defensive End: Darius Robinson
Backup: Dante Stills
Reserve: Ben Stille
Not going to lie. The starters looks great… When was the last time we said that going into the season? The lead backups are not bad, but this looks like a one to two year thing at best. So, getting someone young who can be maybe even be a third string backup until an injury is a must. Is that a first round guy? Honestly, for good teams absolutely.
Linebackers
Edge Rushers: Zaven Collins, Josh Sweat
Backups: Baron Browning, BJ Ojulari, Xavier Thomas
Reserve: Elliot Brown, Benton Whitley
Inside Linebackers: Mack Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither
Backups: Owen Pappoe, Mykal Walker
Reserve: Vi Jones, Milo Eifler
Again, for the edge rushers this is nutty looking back at past seasons. However, Ojulari and Thomas are not exactly worth passing on a premier talent… right?
The off-ball linebacker position has never been a high priority in the Jonathan Gannon defense. So, it looks like a need, but what he got from T.J. Edwards, Kyzir White, Mack Wilson, etc makes sense why fans see a massive need, and maybe the organization has not.
Cornerbacks
Starters: Sean Murphy-Bunting, Max Melton, Garrett Williams
Backups: Starling Thomas, Elijah Jones, Kei’Trel Clark
Reserves: Darren Hall, Jaylon Jones, Jaden Davis, Ekow Boye-Doe
Looking at things, while investments were made, there is only one player here who you look at and see a certified starter, and that is Williams.
So, seeing the people think this is a need makes sense.
Safeties
Starters: Jalen Thompson, Budda Baker
Backups: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Joey Blount
Reserve: Jammie Robinson
Again, you like the look of the top three, but Baker is getting older and Thompson is done after this year. Even if you love Rabbit, you have to see this as a day three type of thing, and could make sense to see a day two pick if the right guy is there.
I think we can agree that immediate need is really nothing, but looking at the names, you can see where improvements can be made at offensive line, wide receiver, off-ball linebacker and corner… While seeing the improvement on the defensive line is undeniable, but Calais is on one year, and Jones, Tomlinson and Nichols all have only two years left, so restocking the defensive line needs to be a priority, along with continuing to grow the edge group.
What do you think?