The NFL announced the Players of the Week in both conferences for Week 9. New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese won NFC Defensive Player of the Week, making the Arizona Cardinals' decision to pass on the draft look even worse.
Here were the players recognized from each conference:
NFC:
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants
Jake Bates, K, Detroit Lions
AFC:
C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Cam Little, K, Jacksonville Jaguars
Giants rookie Arvell Reese named NFC Defensive Player of the Week
Arizona has been represented in past weeks. Week 1 was wide receiver Simi Fehoko, who made his impact on special teams with a key blocked punt in the fourth quarter to help the Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Chargers (a win that looks less impressive in retrospect, as the Chargers remain winless).
In Week 6, kicker Chad Ryland accounted for all 18 of the Cardinals' points in their upset over the Los Angeles Rams, including a game-winning 43-yard field goal.
Most recently for Arizona, running back Tyler Allgeier was recognized after rushing for 147 yards on just 11 carries in their Week 8 comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys.
But Arizona was hit with a reality check the following week in a lopsided 17-3 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. Injuries unfortunately continue to pile up, with Carson Beck now named the starter, who has to rely on fellow rookie Reggie Virgil as one of his top receivers.
The silver lining is it's a chance for the rookie class to gain momentum in this new Mike LaFleur era. However, they're still missing the most important piece to that formula: No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love.
Reese continues to show why Cardinals should've drafted him over Jeremiyah Love
The Cardinals are now seeing firsthand the risk associated with investing such a high pick at the running back position in general. Not only are these players more injury-prone because of the hits they take, but it's also not smart from a positional-value standpoint.
We're seeing the impact Reese is having in New York and can't help but feel like the Cardinals addressed the wrong side of the ball with their pick.
He's even currently favored to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, with the New York Jets' No. 2 overall pick, David Bailey, viewed as the other top contender. Bailey wasn't an option when GM Monti Ossenfort was on the clock. But why not Reese?
Arizona is surrendering an average of 28.3 points per game to opponents this season. That ranks 31st in the league, with only the Las Vegas Raiders giving up more (29.8). Reese wouldn't have solved all those problems, but he would be a massive step in the right direction, already making an immediate impact with the Giants.
Love still has plenty of time to change the trajectory of his career despite this underwhelming and injury-riddled rookie campaign. But given the positional value at running back, he needs to be top-tier at the position, which is asking a lot considering the situation the Cardinals have put him in.
Arizona struggled to run the ball last season and needed to address the running back position in general this offseason. However, they already found that answer in Allgeier. And with the committee approach LaFleur seems to prefer in the backfield, how is Love ever going to break out as that elite weapon?
There are just too many question marks that Arizona could've easily avoided had they taken Reese. He continues to prove that this season, and with this Week 9 honor, while Love remains sidelined, the gap in rookie trajectories is wider than ever.
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