Raising Zona
FanSided

Arizona Cardinals may address defensive line in first round

By Jim Koch

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 29: Defensive lineman Derrick Brown of Auburn runs a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 29: Defensive lineman Derrick Brown of Auburn runs a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Arizona Cardinals could elect to use the eighth-overall selection of the NFL Draft on a blue-chip defensive line prospect

For the third year in a row, the Arizona Cardinals front office is in possession of a top-ten NFL draft selection. General manager Steve Keim has several roster holes to fill, so there are varying opinions on what should be done with the pick. Arizona holds the eight-overall choice at the present time, so whoever they take should be able to make an impact on the playing field this coming fall.

One area of the club that is in need of some assistance is the Cards defensive line. Defenders like Corey Peters and Miles Brown are solid but unspectacular, and youngster Zach Allen has more to prove after an injury-riddled rookie campaign. Others such as Rodney Gunter, Clinton McDonald, Zach Kerr and Jonathan Bullard will be testing the free agent waters, and may not find their way back to the Cardinals.

One college prospect who would provide an instant upgrade for the front wall of the Arizona defense is Auburn University’s Derrick Brown. The 6’5, 318 pounder racked up 54 tackles and four sacks in 12 games for the Tigers last season. Brown’s four years at the school include 170 tackles, 12.5 sacks, eight passes defensed and five forced fumbles in 46 collegiate appearances.

Javon Kinlaw, a standout defensive tackle out of the University of South Carolina, would also be an outstanding option for Keim and the Cards. The 6’6, 310 pounder registered 35 tackles and six sacks as a senior in 2019. Kinlaw has recorded 82 tackles, 10 sacks and eight pass breakups in 29 career contests for the Gamecocks.

5 Cardinals who might be done in Arizona. dark. Next

Either of the two defensive linemen mentioned in this article would be welcomed with open arms to the desert. Coordinator Vance Joseph‘s group is coming off of an awful performance in ’19, and can use all of the help they can get. Adding a player as talented as Brown or Kinlaw would go a long way in getting Arizona’s beleaguered unit back on the right track in 2020.

Home/Cardinals Draft