2016 NFL Mock Draft: February edition

29th Pick – Arizona Cardinals (13-3)
Yannick Ngakoue – OLB
Maryland – Junior
6-2, 250 Pounds
The Cardinals again limped to the finish line this year, and to many surprised by the Carson Palmer play, I was not surprised by the comments of him being ready for the new year. The Cardinals didn’t just wear down offensively, they wore down defensively, especially along the defensive line. I know the importance of stopping the run game, but if the Broncos taught us anything, it’s that pressure is just as important. The feeling around the organization is that Dwight Freeney could do it by himself, when in fact he is a good rotational guy this time of his career. We should all be so lucky to have a big-bodie defensive end like Calais Campbell, who had 15.5 tackles for loss, the Cardinals had a great rookie in Rodney Gunter who would take up a few blocks, and the Cardinals are expecting Corey Peters back.

Steve Keim said at the end of the year that they need more pressure on the quarterback, the only problem is that it’s going to cost a lot to get it during the off-season. This late in the first round, you have to think about what is best for the team in terms of value. Yannick Ngakoue is a sack-master from Maryland, and led the NCAA in sacks this last year. He plays as a speed rusher, played mainly defensive end, and showed his ability to get to the quarterback fairly easily. Ngakoue is obviously a guy who isn’t being considered for a day-1 pick. On many draft boards he is a late day-2 pick. To me, Ngakoue has great tools, he is big, uses his hands very well at impact, and plays the speed-rush better then any prospect this year.

The Cardinals need a lot of things this year, especially with 17 unrestricted free agents, and linebacker help is just one of them. You’re not just going to see them drastically get better at pressuring the quarterback overnight, so don’t get your hopes up. This selection compares a lot to what the Cardinals did a few years ago when they selected Deone Bucannon, not because of the popularity of the prospect, but because of the added dimension he brought to the team. Production sometimes translates from college to the pros, this should be one of those instances. Markus Golden is emerging as a possible playmaker, for years to come, so get him a running mate.

Player Comparison: Rob Ninkovich – New England Patriots

Next: The Panthers are on the clock