Steve Keim begins his ninth season as the Arizona Cardinals general manager
And now that it’s officially April, we’re on the road to the 2021 NFL Draft. Today, we’ll look at how well Keim has performed over the previous eight seasons, discussing his former top draft picks for the Arizona Cardinals.
Throughout his tenure with the team, it’s safe to say Keim’s performance has remained up and down. While he won a few career accolades during his early days, the Cardinals’ success has been murky at best during Keim’s leadership. Especially since their 2015 run to the NFC Championship Game. We can attribute some of this to his varying track record during the early rounds of the NFL Draft, which can make or break a franchise.
The names you’re about to see are probably familiar. Some having evolved into household names. Others having seen their careers fade to the wayside. So let’s reflect on Keim’s performance regarding top draft picks over the last 8 seasons. Beginning with 2013 first-round pick, Jonathan Cooper.
Jonathan Cooper
We often think of the 2013 Draft Class as one of the weakest in recent memory. Especially since it lacked marquee quarterbacks. However, some of us will remember 2013 as the Year of the Offensive Lineman, especially since the Cardinals drafted one.
The Cardinals drafted Cooper at 7th overall in 2013, following names like Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel, and Lane Johnson. While Fisher was so-so during his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs and Johnson played well for the Eagles, Cooper and Joeckel were busts.
After just three seasons with the Cardinals, Cooper bounced around the league to six other teams (one practice squad) to close out his career. He played in just 46 career games, starting 31 of them.
To Cooper’s defense, however, he sustained a broken fibula during the 2013 preseason. Whether the injury hampered his career to such an extent remains a mystery. However, it stunted his development as an NFL guard.
Deone Bucannon
Bucannon, the 27th overall pick shined as a rookie, having recorded 83 total tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble en route to earning a spot on the PWFA All-Rookie Team.
Bucannon posted an encore presentation in 2014, with 112 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and a pick-six. He held steady in 2016 and 2017, even if injuries crept up which forced him to miss a few games.
Things came to a head in 2018, and the Cardinals opted not to re-sign him. He later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 before a release in October of that year. After stints with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants, Bucannon won a Super Bowl ring during his second stint with the Bucs.
While Bucannon tailed off during the latter portion of his time in the desert, he spent the first three seasons of his career as a viable asset to the Cardinals’ defense. Especially in 2015, when he posted borderline Pro Bowl numbers.
D.J. Humphries
Humphries has developed into one of the NFL’s premier offensive tackles. However, for a while, he looked like yet another miss on the offensive line front (see Jonathan Cooper). Humphries was inactive for all of 2015 and started 13 games in 2016.
The bust potential returned in 2017 and 2018 when he started just 14 games during both seasons combined. However, Humphries showed signs of a breakout starting in 2019 when he logged 16 starts. Finally, in 2020, he played like a borderline Pro Bowler and has since anchored the left tackle spot on the offensive line.
In fact, Pro Football Focus rated Humphries as the fourth-best left tackle in football with a grade of 88.3. Humphries has more than proven his value and has since become a fan favorite for the Red Birds.
While things have remained murky along the Cardinals’ offensive line, Humphries has become a constant fixture at one of the game’s most important positions. He should remain in Glendale for years to come.
Robert Nkemdiche
Every other draft magazine warned fans about Nkemdiche. While the 296-lb defensive end impressed during his college career at Ole Miss and his numbers jumped out at the NFL Combine, character issues surrounded him.
Nonetheless, Keim bit and drafted Nkemdiche anyway late in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He went on to play in just 5 games during his rookie season and barely contributed to the stat sheet.
He played in 12 games in 2017 but recorded just 11 tackles and a forced fumble. Nkemdiche finally showed flashes in 2018 after he recorded 4.5 sacks and 32 tackles, but it wasn’t enough to convince the Cardinals to pick up on his fifth-year option.
A failed physical designation prompted his release in July 2019 and he later signed with the Miami Dolphins. After spending time and a brief activation form the PUP list, the Dolphins released him in November of that year and he never played another NFL down.
Haason Reddick
The Cardinals took the small-school stud with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft with the team intent on moving him from his natural position at outside linebacker to inside linebacker. Here, Reddick struggled to make a place for himself in the NFL and he appeared destined for the bust list.
However, in 2020, the Cardinals reversed course after declining his fifth-year option and placed him at outside linebacker. After a season-ending biceps injury to Chandler Jones, Reddick took charge and led the team in sacks with 12.5, posting the finest numbers of his career.
His best game came in Week 14 against the New York Giants when he sacked quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Colt McCoy 5 times and recorded 3 fumbles. In 2021, Reddick moved on from the Cardinals and signed with the Carolina Panthers.
Reddick, much like Humphries, was practically written off. However, with his career revived albeit in a different city, it’s highly likely that he can make The Leap. Overall, a good pick for Keim, even if you can slap on the late-bloomer label.
Josh Rosen
When quarterback Carson Palmer called it quits, the Cardinals needed a franchise quarterback. They took a chance with Rosen, who sustained concussion problems and a mediocre win-loss record at UCLA. Despite his low 60.1 completion percentage and having never thrown over 26 touchdown passes during his time with the Bruins, the Cardinals jumped.
Unfortunately, the elated Rosen, who drew criticism for comments made after the Cardinals drafted him, has become arguably the worst first-round draft pick at the position in the previous decade. Over 2018 and 2019, Rosen started 16 games and has posted a 3-13 record.
He currently holds a career completion percentage of 54.8, with 12 touchdowns compared to 19 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 63.5. Rosen has since bounced around to three other teams and even a couple of practice squads, having never come close to being the quarterback the Cardinals thought they were getting.
Despite Rosen’s failure, it may have been a blessing in disguise. The Cardinals held the first pick in 2019 and wisely, used it on a quarterback.
Kyler Murray
Arguably the best draft pick of the Keim Era. And while Murray hasn’t led the Cardinals to the playoffs, he does have 2020 Rookie of the Year Honors and a Pro Bowl appearance (albeit a virtual one) to show for his accomplishments over his first 2 seasons.
During his rookie season, Murray combined for 4,266 all-purpose yards while throwing for 20 touchdowns and rushing for 5 more. He also posted a 64.4 percent completion percentage and a decent 87.4 quarterback rating.
Murray did everything in 2020 other than make the playoffs. He started all 16 games and came within 29 yards of 4,000 passing yards. He also had 819 rushing yards and 4,790 all-purpose yards along with 26 touchdown passes and 11 rushing touchdowns.
It’s also worth noting that his Hail Murray in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills will remain remembered throughout the NFL Universe for decades to come. If Murray leads the Cardinals to the playoffs in Year 3, he’s the bona fide franchise quarterback for the next decade.
Isaiah Simmons
After a stellar career at Clemson, the versatile Simmons graced the tops of just about every draft board. Unfortunately, his career got off to a rocky start and his playing time disintegrated throughout the first 7 weeks of the season.
However, Simmons became an overnight sensation when during his fifth snap of the game picked off Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson in overtime, which set up a shocking Cardinals win over the then-undefeated Seahawks.
Simmons’ playing time grew since his game-saving interception and ended the season with 54 combined tackles, 2 sacks, an interception, forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. While his NFL career got off to a slow start, his play over the final 9 weeks of the season earned him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Now, Simmons must make The Leap as his role with the team will undoubtedly increase in 2021. He may wind up as Steve Keim’s best defensive draft pick as far as first-round picks go.