Five Inside Linebackers the Arizona Cardinals Could Draft
By Jeremy Meek
The Arizona Cardinals could target an inside linebacker in this year’s NFL Draft
With the 2016 season over, the focus for the Arizona Cardinals and their fans has shifted to the NFL Draft. For a team that was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender, it’s a chance to add enough talent to make one last run with their current players, and win the franchise’s first championship in more than five decades.
When discussing the upcoming selection process, fans point to quarterback, receiver, or cornerback as the biggest positions of need. With Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald on the verge of retiring, the first two make sense. Free agency in the secondary means a cornerback would also be a logical pick.
One position that the Cardinals could address early, that gets less attention, in the 2017 draft is inside linebacker. Last season, Kevin Minter and Deone Bucannon manned the two inside spots with mixed results. Bucannon has been solid in his career, but suffered an injury to end his season. Minter had a solid 2016, but is limited athletically, and he’s a free agent.
If the Cardinals decide to address the linebacker spot, either for depth, or a new starter, there are options. Here are five guys they could select in the coming NFL Draft to be the future of the position.