Five Inside Linebackers the Arizona Cardinals Could Draft

Zach Cunningham is another terrific athlete at linebacker

In contrast to McMillan, a big run stuffing linebacker, is Zach Cunningham, who excels in coverage. He’s a speed player with the kind of savvy at the position that NFL teams look for. He will get lots of attention as the draft approaches.

At 6’3″ and 230 pounds, he has the look of a terrific athlete, and it shows on the field. He flies all over the field making plays, and does it against both the run and the pass. His speed, and ability to change direction make him better as a pass defender than most of the other linebacker prospects. He’s also stronger than he looks, and takes on blockers like a much bigger player.

Cunningham might be better suited to an outside linebacker spot in the NFL, so he might not be a perfect fit for Arizona. He’s also not the polished tackler that McMillan and Foster are. This might keep him from being selected in round one, making him a possibility for the Cardinals early in round two.

Whichever team drafts Cunningham will get an automatic upgrade in terms of athleticism at linebacker. He has some limitations, but if he’s available when the Cardinals pick in the second round, he has to be in play.