Arizona Cardinals defensive line could use some star power

University of Alabama prospect Quinnen Williams would provide a tremendous boost to the defensive line of the Arizona Cardinals

Being the owners of the first pick of the upcoming NFL Draft has done wonders for the Arizona Cardinals. Never before has the organization been in the news on such a regular basis. Rumors are circulating about who the selection will be, but only the Cards’ brass would be able to confirm or deny the scuttlebutt.

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray is currently the favorite to be the first name called by Commissioner Roger Goodell on April 25th. There are also quite a few pundits who believe that Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa could be the first one summoned to the draft stage. Could there be another name on the minds of the Cardinals’ front office who could steal the spotlight from both Murray and Bosa next month?

The answer to that question is a resounding yes. A fairly large group of experts are of the belief that Alabama’s Quinnen Williams will be the best player entering the NFL in 2019. If you take a closer look at the situation, they may have a point.

Though Bosa gets most of the publicity, Williams could very well be the best all-around defender in this year’s draft pool. The 2018 Outland Trophy winner tallied 45 tackles, eight sacks and a whopping 19.5 tackles for loss last season, numbers that earned him the honor. While Bosa would certainly look great in an Arizona uniform, the 21-year-old Williams may fill a greater need for the squad.

As it stands now, nose tackle Corey Peters is the most impressive member of the Cards’ defensive line. The 30-year-old has been a solid contributor for the franchise since he was signed as a free agent back in 2015. The former Atlanta Falcon turned in his finest performance as a Cardinal last year, tallying 50 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 15 starts.

Arizona signed former San Diego and Los Angeles Charger Darius Philon to a two-year deal this past Thursday. The 25-year old defensive tackle has already been penciled in as a starter on the Cards’ talent-starved line. Philon has totaled 80 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hits in four campaigns with the Chargers.

The bona fide enigma of the crew is 24-year old Robert Nkemdiche. The 29th-overall pick of the 2016 draft has shown signs of brilliance but has struggled to remain healthy. The 21 games that Nkemdiche has missed as a pro has frustrated both the Cardinals’ front office and it’s fans.

While Murray and Bosa are being constantly linked to Arizona, the former star of the Crimson Tide defense is quietly lurking behind door number three. Let all of the talk center around that highly-publicized pair, but don’t be surprised if Williams turns out to be the top choice of the Cards after all.