Dexter Lawrence, IDL, Clemson
Like a lot of the defensive line talent in the 2019 draft, Lawrence is a first-round talent in earlier years that might fall out of first-round pick in 2019. But don’t take it as a knock on the talented defensive lineman. The 2019 defensive class as a whole is just that deep.
Lawrence projects as a day one starter in the NFL at nose tackle. He has a sturdy 6-4, 342 lb frame, and performed well during his few combine drills (36 reps on bench press, 5.05 40-yard-dash). Due to his position, he isn’t the flashy pick fans covet. But, he could be an impactful player in the NFL primarily as a run stopper, as he does need to improve in his pass-rushing counters and moves.
While Lawrence might not be a three-down player off the bat, the Cardinals could use a true nose tackle to anchor their new 3-4 front. As a run stopping unit in 2018, the Cardinals allowed a league-high 154.9 rushing yards per game.
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If Lawrence is still on the board by the time Steve Keim picks again, he would be wise to take a player to help a run defense that desperately needs it.