Arizona Cardinals Draft Preview: OJ Howard

Tight End OJ Howard would be a surprise pick, but would help the Arizona Cardinals immediately

When predicting what the Arizona Cardinals will do in the 2017 NFL Draft, most people look at quarterback, wide receiver, and cornerback as the likeliest options. There’s a good chance that the round one pick is at one of those spots. However, one position not mentioned is tight end, and adding a player like OJ Howard would be shocking to some, but would definitely be an immediate help.

The tight end position hasn’t been a major factor for the Cardinals in recent seasons. In fact, the franchise’s last tight end to record 500 yards receiving was way back in 2003. This has been partly due to offensive scheme, and partly due to the amount of talent elsewhere on offense.

The 2016 Cardinals had Jermaine Gresham as their primary tight end, and he had 37 catches for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns. Darren Fells is their other regular there, but his numbers were pretty negligible. For a team that values offense, adding a top-notch tight end talent could make a lot of sense.

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Howard is nearly universally the top tight end prospect in this year’s draft. He has all the size and skills to not only be a great player in the NFL, but to be a first round pick. He has the potential to be a huge difference maker.

At 6’6″ and nearly 250 pounds, he certainly has the size that NFL teams look for. He has very good speed, tremendous hands, and is a smooth route runner who can make a defense pay in a hurry. He’ll be able to play in multiple formations, and will be a matchup nightmare for opposing coordinators.

The biggest question on Howard might be with his production. He had 595 yards and just 3 touchdowns in 2016, though he showed flashes of what he could do at times. He will also need refinement in his blocking at the professional level. He’s willing, but not always effective.

The Cardinals may not see tight end as a big need, and it might make sense to use their highest picks on other positions. The 13th overall pick might also be too rich for Howard. Still, a play-making tight end might make the Cardinals offense even better than it has been recently. A true mismatch is never a bad thing, and playing with veterans like Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald could speed Howard’s development along.

Next: Cardinals Free Agent Preview: Jermaine Gresham

He might not go to the Cardinals, but Howard is almost certainly a first round pick, and figures to be a very good player in the future. He might not be Arizona’s biggest need, but they should at least consider taking him. A great tight end is a quarterback’s best friend, and with Fitzgerald on the verge of retirement, whoever is under center in 2018 will need a good friend.