The Arizona Cardinals need to own up to past blunders and part ways with those draft picks of their’s who have failed to produce
Being an Arizona Cardinals’ draft pick certainly has it’s perks. In quite a few cases, players that the club have selected have gotten a pass. Several have remained on the roster, despite the fact that they’ve failed to consistently produce on the football field.
D.J.Humphries, the Cards’ first-round selection in 2015, has failed to live up to his draft status. The squad’s starting left tackle sat out his entire rookie campaign, and has played in just 27 contests since. Humphries was placed on injured reserve this week with a knee injury, and it’s quite possible that Arizona could look to upgrade at his spot next offseason.
One blunder that the Cardinals should’ve owned up to by now is cornerback Brandon Williams. The 2016 third-round selection has been nothing short of a disaster, and will go down as one of the worst draft-day reaches in franchise history. Williams entered the league ill-prepared to be a quality cover guy, after having played the position for just one season at Texas A&M.
Another third-round pick, 2017’s Chad Williams, also appears to be a bust. The wide receiver has compiled a grand total of 14 receptions,144 receiving yards and one touchdown in 14 career games. Williams has been given opportunities to showcase his ability, but has failed to impress.
J.J. Nelson put up decent numbers during his sophomore season in ’16 (34 catches, 568 yards receiving, seven total touchdowns), but his career has taken a nosedive ever since. The Cards’ 2015 fifth-round selection has been hampered by his slight size (5’10, 160) and inconsistent hands. Nelson will be a free agent in 2019, so his time in the desert could very well be coming to an end.
Former first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche has had his moments this year, but there are still question marks. The defensive tackle’s unwillingness to play hurt has frustrated both management and the fans since he came to the NFL in 2016. Nkemdiche possesses an outstanding skill-set, but is about as undependable as they come.
The Cardinals organization has shown a propensity for whiffing on draft picks over the past few years. The front office has compounded the problem by holding onto those who’ve been a disappointment. Perhaps it’s time for Arizona to admit they’ve made mistakes, and cut some of the dead weight from their roster.