Arizona Cardinals should grab edge rusher early

The Arizona Cardinals will be in need of an edge rusher this offseason

I think right now many can agree Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones needs some help on the pass rush.  The Cardinals may look to the offensive line or receiver in the first round, though offensive line would be the better route.

However, the Cardinals could find themselves in a good position to get an edge rusher in the second or third rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.  They won’t have a shot at the top edge rusher in Ohio State’s Chase Young.

Young will likely go number 2 or 3 in the draft.  The Cardinals pick at number 8.  Unless they were to move up, which seems unlikely, then they may have to wait to those day 2 picks for their edge rusher.

There will be Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa but word is he will be a better fit for a 4-3 defense.  The Cardinals moved back to a 3-4 defense when Vance Joseph took over as defensive coordinator in 2019.

Look no further than participants in the just wrapped up Senior Bowl Week on Saturday.  There were a couple of edge rushers who made noise.  Utah edge rusher Bradlee Anae.  He could be someone available in round 3.

The problem again will be the 4-3.  After his efforts this past week, cbssports.com sees him as a strong 4-3 possibility unless things change quickly.

Michigan’s Josh Uche also had a good Senior Bowl Week.  According to cbssports.com he could possibly sneak into the first round. The folks at thedraftnetwork.com have him ranked at 63 overall, which would stick him as a late second rounder.

Of course what we see doesn’t necessarily mean this is the direction the Cardinals want to go in.  However if they want to get a more consistent pass rush in 2020, the need to seriously consider grabbing one of these top edge rushers.