Arizona Cardinals First Round Recap and Look Ahead

Nov 16, 2013; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Ka Deem Carey (25) is tackled by Washington State Cougars safety Deone Bucannon (20) during the third quarter at Arizona Stadium. The Cougars beat the Wildcats 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals waited until pick number 27 to find their man they wanted for their first-round draft pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.  They took a guy unknown to many Cards fans including yours truly but after a quick read you know why the Cards were high on him all along.

The Cards took safety Deone Bucannon from Washington State with their first-round pick on Thursday night.  He was a projected mid to late second-rounder.  The Cards never mentioned him as a possibility and rightfully so.  They did a good job keeping him under the radar.  If there is ever anything we’ve learned from Steve Keim, Cards general manager, is to expect the unexpected.

Bucannon is known as a hard hitting safety.  He is second all-time in solo tackles at WSU with 268 of them.  He also was a first team All-American with 78 solo tackles in 2013 alone.  I think at 27, he was well worth the risk.  Really though, was it a big risk?  Not when you are fulfilling a position of need and the guy you got is one of the highest ranked guys left at the position.

Will the Cards surprise more today in the second and third rounds of the draft?  I wouldn’t put it past them.  There are still needs to fill.  Defensive end, offensive line, linebacker, tight end, receiver, quarterback are all positions the Cards could address in day two of the draft.  Still on the board is quarterback Derek Carr but I would not be surprised to see the Houston Texans grab him up right away as the second-round starts.  There are some other decent quarterbacks out there but maybe no one in the second round.  Now I’d look to the third-round for that possibility.  Don’t be surprised though if the Cards continue to shore up both lines first.  The all-day guessing will be a lot of fun.  What do you think?