The Arizona Cardinals are getting ample contributions from a group of youngsters who they plucked out of this year’s draft
The majority opinion among Arizona Cardinals fans is that general manager Steve Keim has done an insufficient job this year. The club’s top personnel man certainly made a decent amount of blunders this past offseason. Early returns, however, suggest that Keim’s 2018 draft class could turn out to be quite fruitful.
Take this Sunday’s matchup with the San Diego Chargers, for example. Four out of the six players drafted by the Cardinals this past spring are scheduled to be in the starting lineup. The quartet of rookies all happen to be on the offensive side of the ball, and could play a vital role in the squad’s scoring attack for years to come.
Arizona’s first-round pick, quarterback Josh Rosen, is being counted on to be the face of the franchise. The 21-year old took over for Sam Bradford in week three, and has assumed the starting role ever since. Rosen has had an up and down rookie campaign, but the Cards believe that he’ll be much more successful once his supporting cast improves.
Second-rounder Christian Kirk, a wide receiver who was snatched with the 47th-overall selection, looks like a winner. The Scottsdale, Arizona native has flashed game-breaking ability, and is developing a solid rapport with Rosen. Kirk has registered 36 receptions, 495 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 10 appearances this season.
The Cardinals will be starting two first-year offensive linemen against the Chargers this week. Center Mason Cole, taken in the third round, has done an admirable job filling in for the injured A.Q. Shipley. Seventh-rounder Korey Cunningham will be at the left tackle spot for the second consecutive week, due to the fact that D.J. Humphries is sidelined with a bum knee.
Another draft pick will also see action versus San Diego. Running back Chase Edmonds serves as David Johnson‘s understudy, so his touches have been limited. Even so, Arizona’s front office is excited by what they’ve seen from the fourth-rounder out of Fordham University.
The one defensive player drafted by the club this year failed to make the roster. Christian Campbell, a cornerback selected in the sixth round, was waived on September 1st. The Penn State University product is now a member of the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.
So there you have it. Five of the Cards’ six draft picks in ’18 are having an impact at the present time. And the future looks bright for each and every one of them.