Arizonal cardinals
LATEST UPDATE: 3 positions the Arizona Cardinals must watch during the NFL Combine
Which position groups this weekend should Cardinals fans pay attention to?
The Cardinals want to capitalize on their abundance of selections—six of which are among the top 100—as the NFL Scouting Combine gets underway this weekend. The Cardinals might bring in a substantial quantity of young talent to the desert with their 13th pick in this year’s draft.
Based on the total of their pick values, tankathon.com’s draft rankings show that the Cardinals are by far the best team. Chicago and Washington are the next closest teams, respectively.
The Cardinals’ social media teams have made it very evident that Kyler Murray will be the team’s starting quarterback going forward. With a big dose of draft capital and no need to search for a franchise quarterback, the Cardinals might find themselves in control of the selection process.
These are some spots to watch at the NFL Combine because of Arizona’s wide need in these areas.
1. Wide Receiver
Although Marvin Harrison Jr. has already declared his intention to skip this year’s combine, wide receivers are heavily represented in this year’s class.
Keep an eye out for Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. of LSU to demonstrate why they should be among the top five in this year’s class. Nabers is thought to be the second-best wide receiver available in this year’s draft class. Should Arizona choose to take him, he might end up becoming Kyler Murray’s go-to option.
Rome Odunze of Washington can immediately contribute to any team that chooses to select him, and the combine will just provide him with more opportunities to display his elite performance. According to the NFL’s NextGen Stats score breakdown, Odunze is ranked third in his class. Fans in the desert should be keeping an eye on this prospect given that he has been compared to legendary Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald in the NFL.
Adonai Mitchell of Texas would be a terrific choice with one of the Cardinals’ third-round picks, and if the team could work a little bit on his consistency, Mitchell would end up being a valuable member of the Arizona offense for many years to come.
2. Interior Defender
It would be wise for the Cardinals to aim to strengthen their run defense, which might use some assistance, with the 27th overall choice. Large interior defenders who are adept at moving laterally for front four stunts and can also eat up double teams may be crucial.
Texas’ Bryon Murphy II is the first player that springs to mind when searching for a reliable interior defender. He appears to be selected by the Cardinals with their 27th overall choice in most mock drafts.
Despite his small stature, he has excellent ball-handling skills and can demonstrate his athleticism, which makes him a valuable asset in both pass rush and run defense situations. Murphy II might be a crucial component in creating a strong defensive front.
Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois is an additional candidate that has garnered a lot of attention recently. Due to his strong motor and capacity to shed blocks in the trenches, Newton has demonstrated exceptional presence in the run game, even though he primarily excels in one-on-one situations against guards.
Braden Fiske of Florida State has a wonderful blend of size and strength at 6’5″ and 297 pounds. He may have a significant effect on a club that needs a run stopper. Fiske can play anywhere along the defensive line thanks to his athleticism. Come April, the Cardinals may choose to draft Fiske again in the third round.
3. Edge Rusher
The Cardinals will need to spend a draft pick on an explosive pass rusher in order to be competitive in a division that features pass rushers like Aaron Donald and Nick Bosa.
The first name that jumps out is Dallas Turner of Alabama. Turner, the class’ top-ranked edge rusher, has demonstrated the ability to pressure the passer as well as drop into pass coverage in the slot.
In the event that the Cardinals choose to exercise Zaven Collins’ fifth-year option, a flexible outside linebacker would be a fantastic complement. Turner might change the game if that’s not the case. Turner might be there to receive a trade down from the Cardinals.
Jared Verse of Florida State is a versatile player who attacks the quarterback with both strength and speed. Verse is effective laterally in opposition to opposing zone running schemes. He could rush the passer and defend the run, which would make him a great fit in Arizona’s 3-4 front.
Another edge rusher with tremendous athleticism who could make an impression at the combine is Laiatu Latu. He’s a terrific choice to attack an athletic quarterback because of his well-thought-out pass rush maneuvers and strong work ethic. Latu appears to be a legitimate third-down pass rusher who has to develop his run game support, even though he still has room to bulk up.
Monti Ossenfort, the general manager, has a lot of options to choose from given the number of picks the Cardinals own. It will be intriguing to watch how these athletes perform this weekend at the combine and how their performance may affect their selection position.
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