Arizona Cardinals 2017 NFL Draft: RaisingZona Staff Projections
By Jeremy Meek
Teams don’t always find starters in round five, but there are good players to be found
Vance Meek – Jeremy Sprinkle, TE: With Jermaine Gresham re-signed, an early pick doesn’t need to be used on a tight end, but Troy Niklas can’t be counted on. Sprinkle could go as early as day two, so there’s value here. He’s a terrific blocker with receiving upside.
Jim Koch – D’Onta Foreman, RB: Foreman is built like a tank (6’1″, 250) and led the nation with 2,028 rushing yards in 2016. He wasn’t asked to catch many balls out of the backfield, but could certainly spell starter David Johnson on rushing downs.
Joseph Comeau – Jordan Morgan, G: Starting right guard is still a question mark heading into the draft. Though Jordan Morgan may not be a day-one starter, he is a college tackle who could eventually develop into a starting NFL guard. Morgan is the kind of small school prospect for which the Cardinals have shown an affinity, and he would be a developmental prospect, à la Earl Watford.
Isaiah Addair – Tanoh Kpassagnon, DL: Kpassagnon is a monster at 6’7″ and almost 300 pounds. He also has 4.83 speed. Playing for a small school like Villanova may damage his draft stock enough to have him fall to round five, and if it does, expect the Cardinals to pull the trigger. His size, versatility, and athleticism are in line with former Cardinals’ DL Calais Campbell.
Joseph Vasquez – Johnathan Ford, S: Ford is a safety that has speed and can tackle. He also can play corner if needed too and that’s a huge plus.