Arizona Cardinals need 2017 draft to be productive

After getting very little production out of their 2016 class the Arizona Cardinals will need to do a lot better this April

The Arizona Cardinals will be quick to tell you there’s still hope for their 2016 draftees. As loyal fans of the team, we have to hope they are correct. Management will have to get some immediate contributions from this year’s group, something that didn’t happen last season.

The club’s first-round selection in ’16, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, was considered a top-ten talent by many draftniks. Off-field woes, along with a questionable motor, dropped him all the way to Arizona, who held the 29th pick. They rolled the dice, feeling they were obtaining value with the problem child despite the red flags.

With his first season now in the books, it’s apparent why 28 NFL teams shied away from the University of Mississippi product. His work ethic and maturity were called into question by the organization. Now, with Calais Campbell’s departure, it’s imperative that the youngster erases the doubts and produces.

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Without a second-round pick (traded for Chandler Jones), the Cardinals didn’t pick again until the third round. To say general manager Steve Keim reached with cornerback Brandon Williams with the 92nd overall pick would be an understatement.

With a pressing need for a corner, Keim chose to draft one who had only played the position for one year at Texas A&M. It’s admittedly 20/20 hindsight, but there were better options at pick #92, bona fide cornerbacks. Anthony Brown, Tavon Young, Rashard Robinson, Jalen Mills, Justin Burris and Leshaun Sims all were available, and all would’ve been smarter selections.

Fourth-round pick Evan Boehm was brought in to challenge veteran A.Q. Shipley for the starting center job. It apparently wasn’t much of a competition, and Shipley has recently been re-signed to be Arizona’s center again this fall. Boehm may be given a chance to start at right guard in ’17, but even that is not a given.

Fifth-round safety Marqui Christian showed well in the preseason, but was released early on in the season. Offensive lineman Cole Toner, another fifth-rounder, didn’t contribute. Sixth-rounder Harlan Miller was drafted to play cornerback, but saw a small bit of action late in ’16 at safety due to injuries.

Next: Cardinals May Look to Youngsters in 2017

The 2016 rookie class was the least productive group of the Cards’ current regime. That puts even more pressure on Keim and his cohorts to draft kids who can contribute right away in September. Hope they’re doing their homework.

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