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Arizona Cardinals: Draft blueprint

By Vijay Singaraju

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (right) with general manager Steve Keim (center) and team president Michael Bidwill on the field prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Saints 31-19. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (right) with general manager Steve Keim (center) and team president Michael Bidwill on the field prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Saints 31-19. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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What positions will the Arizona Cardinals target in each round of the draft?

The NFL Draft is still 52 days away and teams are still trying to get a feel for this year’s talent pool. The Cardinals traded their seventh round pick last off season to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Matt Barkley, leaving them with 6 picks in this year’s draft.

Arizona will be looking to improve areas of weakness through the draft. Among those positions in most desperate need of an upgrade are defensive line, linebacker, secondary, and offensive line among others. With a limited amount of picks in hand, the Cardinals will be looking to make the most out of these said picks. With specific positions being targeted, let’s predict, round by round, a blueprint of what positions the team will target.

Round one:

Prediction: Defensive lineman

The lack of a potent pass rush was one of the primary reasons for the Cardinals being unable to win the Super Bowl. The title window of the team is closing due to the age of quarterback Carson Palmer, and the Cardinals will need to build a formidable defensive line if they want to make the most of their contention window. The draft is one of the most talented on the defensive side, and the lack of productive pass rushers being a pressing issue, it seems like a sur thing for Arizona to target a defensive lineman with the number 29 pick.

Round two:

Prediction: Defensive lineman or linebacker

With the amount of defensive talent present in this draft, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Cardinals double dipped at the same positions two rounds in a row. The Cardinals ranked 21st in the league with 36 sacks. The Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos on the other hand ranked 1st with 52 sacks. The NFC Champion Carolina Panthers ranked 6th with 44 sacks. You see a pattern here.

I see Arizona signing a big name pass rusher in free agency, making it feasible for the team to take a linebacker with their second round pick. Similar to when the Cardinals took Kevin Minter in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Aside from an underrated Deone Bucannon, an aging Dwight Freeney and an emerging Markus Golden, it wouldn’t hurt for the Cardinals to add some more depth to an otherwise underwhelming line backing corp.

Round three:

Prediction: Cornerback

It is expected that Tyrann Mathieu will miss time, and it is uncertain whether Jerraud Powers will be re-signed. Currently, the only corners on the roster are Justin Bethel and Patrick Peterson. Bethel started the remaining four games of the season at corner after Mathieu went down with an ACL tear, and opposing quarterbacks picked on him. Since Bethel, so far, has shown to be somewhat of liability and the lack of depth at the position makes it all the more reason for the Cardinals to draft a cornerback,

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Round four:

Prediction: Quarterback

While quarterback is not the most pressing need, it will be wise to avoid a similar situation to the one that occurred after Kurt Warner’s retirement. It is unclear as to what the Cardinals plan with Matt Barkley is, and should be actively looking to find Carson Palmer’s replacement. While the top rated passers will be long gone in round four, Arizona should still expect to find a passer who they can sit behind Palmer for 2 or 3 seasons and develop as a project.

Round five:

Prediction: Offensive lineman

Aside from Jared Veldheer and Mike Iupati, the rest of Arizona’s offensive line is in limbo. Lyle Sendlein is 32 years old, and it is my hunch that he won’t be back for the 2016 season as the team will be looking to get younger. Bobby Massie is expected to sign elsewhere and one can hope that Ted Larsen isn’t still starting next season. The Cardinals expect D.J. Humphries to start next season and one can hope that Johnathan Cooper can find his way into the starting lineup. With the right side of the line in flux, the team should look to draft a right guard or right tackle who can also play center the center position.

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Round six:

Prediction: Safety

Rashad Johnson is 30 years old and the Cardinals will have to make a tough decision regarding his future with the team, if there is one. D.J. Swearinger was a pleasant surprise as a mid season signing, and Tony Jefferson recently got his RFA tender. With their last pick in the draft, Arizona will look to increase the number of bodies in the secondary by taking a safety to lineup in third and long situations and possible make plays on special teams.

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