Arizona Cardinals get the pass rush help they are looking for.
After trading down 3 spots with the Baltimore Ravens, the Arizona Cardinals select Markus Golden, Defensive End from Missouri with the 58th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. With Eli Harold and Randy Gregory still available on the board, the selection of Golden was very surprising.
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After backing up Michael Sam in 2013, Golden started 13 games in the 2014 season. The 6’2″ 260 lbs. lineman is a “give it his all” high motor guy, and has a ton of energy that will be a welcomed addition to the Cardinals front line. Golden also has great ball awareness, and huge hands. He also ran an impressive 4.67 40 yard dash at his pro day.
The positives end there. Golden seems to be slow to come off the ball, and needs the play to occur on his side of the field for him to be able to make an impact on the field. Though having big hands, he doesn’t use them nearly as often as he should be, and is also plagued by his short arms.
This pick definitely seems like a reach with many mock drafts predicting he’d go in the 3rd or 4th rounds. Golden may be a project for James Bettcher and the defensive staff, and if he develops, could turn out to be the player the Cardinals think he could be. With the hole left by Dockett, and with better talent still available, the Cardinals should have gone in a different direction.
What Twitter is Saying:
I know the Cardinals have been looking for a big OLB who can move around the defensive front... That's Golden
— Yup (@SCoxFB) May 2, 2015
R E A C H
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) May 2, 2015
Not getting any pass rush help with this guy
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) May 2, 2015
Sean Weatherspoon and Markus Golden on the same team in Arizona? That might be the manliest tandem ever #GoldenSpoon
— ROCK M NATION (@RockMNation) May 2, 2015
Markus Golden & Sean Weatherspoon are teammates in Arizona. Two of the best leaders to come through Mizzou's program in years.
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) May 2, 2015
Markus Golden for the Cards makes sense
— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) May 2, 2015
How is Markus Golden still available? Someone is going to get a steal with that guy. Huge fan of his. #Mizzou
— Judd Easterling (@JuddEasterling) May 2, 2015
Golden, a DE at Mizzou, said he'll move to OLB in NFL. He played OLB before going to Missouri. He's excited to not have hand in dirt.
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) May 2, 2015
Markus Golden to the Cardinals. I can handle that.
— Amber Moles (@ambermoles56) May 2, 2015
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