The Arizona Cardinals defense stopped nobody in 2021 and it resulted in them having one of the league’s worst run defenses.
When you look at the Arizona Cardinals draft needs, there are plenty of potential holes to fill all over the board. The skill-position units may need upgrades. Ditto for the offensive line, corner, edge rusher, etc. But, they also need a defensive tackle capable of filling gaps.
Defensive tackles aren’t your sexy pick. Unless their names are Warren Sapp or Aaron Donald, among others, they rarely see the limelight. But they help you win games. They help your defense force offenses to abandon the run and become one-dimensional. And that’s exactly what Jordan Davis can do for the Cardinals.
Davis’ college numbers weren’t anything spectacular. He recorded just 91 total tackles, over half of which were assists. He had just seven career sacks. But, he was among college football’s most disruptive defensive standouts. And unfortunately, disrupting plays, forcing backs to change direction, and filling up running lanes don’t fill the stat sheets.
But that’s Davis’ specialty. You didn’t see him light up the stat sheet in college. You won’t see it in the NFL. But if the Cardinals draft Davis, you will see guys like Isaiah Simmons and Jordan Hicks enjoy career seasons. You will see linebackers and safeties like Budda Baker swarm to the ball carrier who was forced to bounce his carry outside because of Davis’ presence.
Jordan Davis could develop into an all-time great for the Arizona Cardinals
At 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, Davis reminds you of former NFL All-Pro Ted Washington. Like Washington, Davis can use his superhuman size to take on double or even triple-teams. And with a 40-yard-dash time of just 4.78 seconds, he’s also capable of chasing down ball carriers taking their run to the outside. Just for the record, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ran the forty in 4.80 seconds.
So yeah, it’d be nice to have an edge rusher, especially if the Cardinals don’t keep Chandler Jones. It’ll be even greater to get a receiver or tight end if they can’t keep anyone. But I can pass on them all.
The Cardinals had major issues stopping the run. So it makes sense to at least consider taking a defensive tackle who you know will evolve into one of the NFL’s most disruptive players.