Another draft has come and gone for the Arizona Cardinals
And while Steve Keim has struggled to put decent talent onto the field during his tenure as Arizona Cardinals general manager, he’s hit home on his previous two first-round picks in Isaiah Simmons and Kyler Murray.
In the 2021 NFL Draft, it was clear that Keim went for his best player available as opposed to need in Round 1 with Zaven Collins, a decorated outside linebacker who can kick inside with the Cardinals, despite marginal competition he faced at Tulsa.
Keim went the need route in Round 2 by snagging the productive Rondale Moore. Undersized and injury-prone, Moore’s production is off-the-charts when healthy. A bit of a risk, but one well worth taking considering his production.
The Cardinals had five picks on Day 3, many of which filled either a need or hold immense potential. So, did Keim draft future contributors for the Cardinals? Or, will the following class be playing somewhere else if anywhere five years from today. Keep reading to find out more.
Zaven Collins, LB/Tulsa
An unexpected selection, it appears Steve Keim is looking to build a dynamic duo of young linebackers between Collins and Isaiah Simmons. Like Simmons, Collins was a top-rated linebacker coming out of Tulsa and won a plethora of awards in 2020.
He definitely has the credentials of a first-round pick. Also, the Cardinals can ease him into the lineup in 2021 much like they did with Simmons in 2020 because of Jordan Hicks‘ presence. Or if they use him on the edge, he can rotate in with Chandler Jones, Dennis Gardeck, and Markus Golden.
But that’s the issue I have with this pick. Linebacker was one of the team’s strongest position groups. The Cardinals had more pressing needs plus the opportunity to trade down and collect more picks. Instead, Keim wasted the pick by trying to upgrade a strong position group.
The Cardinals could have and should have gone with either a wide receiver, running back, or cornerback, their most pressing needs. You can argue that they could do without running back given James Conner‘s and Chase Edmonds‘ presence, but they’re committee backs.
Overall, Collins was a top talent and had a decorated college career. But he played marginal competition at a small Division I FBS School. He can develop into a star player. But my immediate afterthought is that it’s a wasted draft pick.
Grade – D: Collins was a man among boys at Tulsa. His credentials give him credibility, but the Cardinals had far more pressing needs than to take an overachiever at a small school. If you had a headache watching the NFL Draft on Thursday, this selection probably perpetuated it.
Rondale Moore, WR/Purdue
Two words: Excellent pick. Sure, Moore has his flaws, such as being injury-prone. He’s only appeared in seven games over the past two seasons. However, his production has literally been off the charts.
How many receivers snag 35 receptions in just 3 games? Moore is a rare commodity that can produce like this. He’s short, but rather stocky for his stature. He runs crisp routes and obviously gets open often. Despite his collegiate YPC indicating he’s a possession receiver (7.7 YPC in 2020), don’t let it fool you. The guy can beat the fastest defensive backs in the NFL.
I honestly didn’t think Keim would have considered Moore because of his injury history and since he displays similar traits to second-round bust, Andy Isabella. In fact, I wrote about it in a previous post.
Overall, Moore is an excellent pickup. Yes, he will draw attention away from DeAndre Hopkins. Yes, he can step in and fill the WR2 role at least from the slot if free agent signee A.J. Green flops. And yes, his presence will even help out our splash receiver, Christian Kirk.
Grade – A: Moore may be small and injury-prone. But he plays much larger than his size. He produced since he arrived on campus in 2018 and even torched NFL-caliber defenses, such as against Ohio State, routinely. If Moore stays healthy, he can turn into a Steve Smith/Wes Welker type of receiver.
Marco Wilson, CB/Florida
A decent pickup for need, the Cardinals snagged Wilson with the 31st pick in the fourth round. However, with prospects Shaun Wade and Keith Taylor on the board, this was a reach. Wilson is also best suited for the slot, as opposed to lining up on the outside.
So this is one of those draft picks with a bit of upside in terms of need. But it has a lot of downside given Wilson’s spotty production and potential inability to become an outside corner. Of course, we said the same about Byron Murphy, and he has held up well when asked to play on the outside at times.
The Cardinals best bet is to keep Robert Alford, and let Wilson sit behind him for at least a season. Sure, a fourth-round pick is often a gamble regardless, so perhaps Wilson can evolve into a solid contributor a year or two from today.
Grade – C: Wilson made sense position-wise. Unfortunately, there were better corners on the board and Wilson’s biggest strength is in the slot. Something the Cardinals have with Murphy.
Victor Dimukeje, Edge/Duke
The ACC product boasted solid production in college and has a motor that never stops. Picked 210th overall, Dimukeje can be a possible steal for the Cardinals. We shouldn’t so ambitious and say we replaced Haason Reddick, but Dimukeje definitely has potential.
He comes in with 49 games under his belt, with 23 over the past two seasons. During that time span, he has recorded 21 tackles of loss, and 16 sacks. Despite playing for a mid-major school, Dimukeje has had plenty of experience playing against major college football programs because of the school’s presence in the ACC.
Some may criticize this pick, stating that Steve Keim (again) upgraded a strength. But at this point in the draft, Dimukeje was too good of a talent to pass up. If the Cardinals drafted a steal, it’s Dimukeje.
Grade – A: Dimukeje won’t immediately contribute to the Cardinals defense. But if they give him time, he will develop into an outstanding pass rusher. Perhaps sooner than later.
Tay Gowan, CB/UCF
Gowan sat at the 2020 season, but he has the size and athleticism NFL teams look for. At 6’1 and 185lb, he also has the size to become a tweener and convert to safety if needed. This is especially true because many reports state that Gowan lacks speed.
An instinctive corner, Gowan has enough length to recover when beat deep, and he has the strength to shed receivers’ blocks when defending the run. There’s a lot of potential with Gowan, and at 223rd overall, he’s a likely special-teamer during his formative seasons.
He has a lot to prove, however, with his best production coming during his junior college days. Gowan also has just one year of starting experience at the FBS level, and he must improve his mechanics. But with no real depth at corner, the Cardinals may have to thrust him into the starting lineup sooner than later.
Grade – B: Gowan is another candidate to fill a need at corner and he has the size to stick around. However, he lacks experience and speed. He may, in the long run, project better as a safety than a corner.
James Wiggins, S/Cincinnati
Perhaps another steal for the Cardinals. Wiggins stole the show back in 2018 before an ACL tear sidelined him for 2019. He returned in 2020 and recorded 9 starts, but his production didn’t match his 2018 campaign, freefalling him to the 7th round.
A versatile player, Wiggins can play any assignment given to him and many labeled him as a jack-of-all-trades at the position. He flies all over the field, and has gained a reputation for playing the ball as opposed to the man in coverage.
If Wiggins returns to his 2018 form, he gives the Cardinals yet another young safety in the rotation, along with Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson. Given the injuries to both, Wiggins hitting the ground running at the NFL level will will provide a huge boost to the Cardinals.
Grade – A: Wiggins only has 9 starts over the past 2 seasons. His production waned in 2020 but he showed that he can be a marquee safety during his 2018 season. He was a solid selection at 243, given his immense potential.
Michael Menet, C/Penn State
Playing in the Big Ten, Menet has plenty of experience playing against NFL-caliber defenses. Drafted toward the end of the 7th round, Menet’s experience in Happy Valley as a three-year starter will go the distance in the NFL.
Best yet, he can come in and back up Rodney Hudson for as long as he needs to. And he’s learning from one of the NFL’s best technicians in the game. Athlon Sports had him rated as an eventual low-end starter, given his limited physical and athletic skills.
However, he has a high football IQ, does well setting his protections, and is exceptional on combo blocks. Defensive tackles, especially larger ones, will overpower him, but when paired with a guard he was one of the most efficient run blockers in college football.
Grade – A: Hudson isn’t getting any younger, but he can remain a Cardinal for the next 5 seasons. During this time, Menet is the perfect prospect to groom into a full-time starter when Hudson eventually walks.
Overall Grade: B+: Drafting Collins was questionable. However, Keim hit a homerun with Moore in Round 2. He also filled several needs and drafted high-potential players in the later rounds.