The Arizona Cardinals finally showed some life last year after two straight miserable seasons finishing with an 8-9 record, two games behind the NFC West-champion Los Angeles Rams.Â
Entering Jonathan Gannon’s third year as head coach, Arizona has a clear path forward to playoff contention. So what is its best move in the draft?
The defensive line was where the bulk of the issues reared their head last season. The Cardinals allowed 126.4 rushing yards per game, No. 20 in the NFL, and their sack leader was Zaven Collins with only five.Â
It only got worse as the season progressed, with edge-rusher Dennis Gardeck tearing his ACL seven games into the season. However, thanks to general manager Monti Ossenfort’s efforts this offseason, that issue has been mostly taken care of, signing edge-rusher Josh Sweat and veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell.
With that issue addressed, the potential of Arizona’s No. 16 overall pick has expanded greatly. There projects to be impact players at a multitude of positions that the Cardinals could use, however, an outside-the-box option could be to select a wide receiver with their first pick for the second year in a row.
Trey McBride emerged as one of the best tight ends in the league, turning 111 receptions into 1,146 yards and two touchdowns. That made up for a slightly disappointing rookie season by wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. who struggled to gain chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray on his way to 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns.Â
Outside of those two, Murray has very limited options in the passing game.
A look at potential options shows a lot of talent could still be available. At least one of Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, Texas’ Matthew Golden. Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka and Missouri’s Luther Burden III will likely be available at No. 16. Imagining one of them in addition to the other options on the Cardinals’ offense is tantalizing.Â
McMillan and Burden’s verticality would dramatically open up McBride’s space to operate in the middle of the field, while also giving Murray better options to get to with his rocket arm.Â
Golden’s knack for big plays would take the burden away from Harrison Jr. and allow him to glide across the field to find his spots instead of being the only threat outside the numbers.Â
Egbuka’s slot expertise would give Murray two YAC monsters along with McBride, forcing more man coverages that Harrison Jr. can feast on.
Adding another threat in the passing game could be a game-breaker for the Cardinals offense. With their defensive line addressed in free agency, that potential has become a possibility in the draft.
