3 losers from the 2023 NFL Combine the Arizona Cardinals should avoid - Defense
By Sion Fawkes
The Arizona Cardinals finished 4-13 last season, and they have got to get it right on the defensive side of the ball if they plan on turning things around.
The 2023 NFL Combine on-field workouts came to a close over the weekend for our defensive prospects. And while there are plenty of players out there who shined throughout the weekend, just as many of them waved red flags.
So whose performance looked so bad at the NFL Combine that the Arizona Cardinals should contemplate staying away from them come Draft Day? Or at least stay away if the following prospects don’t redeem themselves with a decent Pro Day? Here are three names to lookout for.
Oh, and just for context, we are not including Jalen Carter in any of these rankings until more details emerge regarding his status. So at this point, consider Carter to be idle.
2023 draft prospects the Arizona Cardinals should avoid - Defense
1 - Byron Young, DT
At 6’3, 294lb, players like the University of Alabama’s Byron Young need to be fluid in their movements. Unfortunately, Young didn’t show us this at the NFL Combine. This is a stark contrast from the undersized yet mobile Calijah Kancey, who likely saw his stock rise thanks to his respective performance.
You can also call it a huge letdown for Young, who produced rather well throughout his four-year career with the Crimson Tide. Last season, he posted remarkable production with 48 tackles, 5.5 behind the line, and 4.0 sacks. If he can redeem himself at his Pro Day, Young could climb back up the boards.
But at this point, he’s not worth the Arizona Cardinals time. The Cards have some dire needs at defensive tackle, thanks to the way opponents gashed them in recent seasons. That alone should be enough for general manager Monti Ossenfort to take Young off his draft board and simply opt for someone else.