How signing J.J. Watt affects Arizona Cardinals draft strategy

The addition of J.J. Watt to the Arizona Cardinals might have changed who the team will draft at the end of April.

With Chandler Jones returning from a bicep injury he suffered in week five against the New York Jets, and Haason Reddick flirting with free agency, the Arizona Cardinals were in need of an edge defender. Most mock drafts had the Cardinals selecting an edge rusher in the second or third rounds to complement Jones.

Watt’s addition to the team means the Cardinals will not have to worry about looking for a pass rusher, which might have been a blessing in disguise. In recent years, the Cardinals had not been successful at drafting defensive ends. One would have to go as far back as Calais Campbell, who was drafted in 2008 from the University of Miami.

Campbell’s nine seasons with the Cardinals saw him make two Pro Bowl appearances, and finish with 56.5 career sacks in the desert. However, playing the same position as Campbell, Watt finished with 92 sacks in eight seasons, including two seasons where he played a combined eight games.

Watt’s signing will not only help the Cardinals focus more on drafting offensive linemen, but will also help them add more wide receivers and defensive backs. In the 2020 season, the Cardinals receivers were graded as a C according to Cards Wire, and finished 18th in the league in receiving yards per game. Had it not been for the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, the team would have more than likely finished toward the bottom in that category.

While the Cardinals ranked 10th in pass defense in 2020, the team could still benefit from adding a few cornerbacks and safeties in the secondary. Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick are testing free agency this year, and Budda Baker could use a consistent partner at free safety.

Whoever Arizona adds with their later picks, fans know one position they will no longer need.