Arizona Cardinals 2019 NFL Draft: 10 small school heroes you need to know

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BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Andy Isabella #23 of the Massachusetts Minutemen catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Maine Black Bears at Fenway Park on November 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

The Arizona Cardinals are no stranger to drafting small-school products. They should continue that trend in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Since Steve Keim’s promotion to general manager in 2013, the Arizona Cardinals have selected 11 players from non-power conferences (including AAC). Those players include:

Earl Watford – OG, James Madison, 2013
John Brown – WR, Pittsburgh State, 2014
Walter Powell – WR, Murray State, 2014
David Johnson – RB, Northern Iowa, 2015
Rodney Gunter – DL, Delaware State, 2015
J.J. Nelson – WR, Alabama Birmingham, 2015
Marqui Christian – S, Midwestern State, 2016
Cole Turner – OG, Harvard, 2016
Harlan Miller – CB, South Eastern Louisiana, 2016
Chad Williams – WR, Grambling, 2017
Chase Edmonds – RB, Fordham, 2018

Some of those selections (David Johnson) have turned out better than others (Chad Williams), but Keim has shown a good track record of finding diamonds in the rough. This years class shouldn’t be different. Although he may look for different personalities with Kliff Kingsbury than Bruce Arians, Keim should find his small-school prospects with ease.

Currently, Keim will likely look to fill these team needs in the draft; wide receiver, offensive line, slot cornerback, edge rusher, tight end, defensive line, and linebacker. Although this article doesn’t answer the problem for all of those needs, these ten players could be impact players for the Cardinals and could be drafted in either early or late rounds.

Honorable mentions: WR Penny Hart, DL Khalen Saunders, B.J. Blunt, Mekahle Wharring, LB Khalil Hodge, WR Anthony Johnson, OL Oli Udoh.

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