The Arizona Cardinals had a very good draft. Bringing in top ten talent Robert Nkemdiche was for sure the highlight. But they also drafted players who will fill major positions of need. With those selections, it will help the Cardinals take that next step to getting to the Super Bowl after coming so close last year. Here’s who they selected:
1st Round, 29th overall: defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss)
2nd Round pick traded along with Jonathan Cooper for Chandler Jones
3rd Round, 92nd overall: cornerback Brandon Williams (Texas A&M)
4th Round, 128th overall: center Evan Boehm (Missouri)
5th Round, 167th overall: safety Marqui Christian (Midwestern St.)
5th Round, 170th overall: offensive tackle Cole Toner (Harvard)
6th Round, 205th overall: cornerback Harlan Miller (Southeastern Louisiana)
7th Round pick traded for Matt Barkley
Cardinals 2016 Draft Grade: 8/10
Arizona Cardinals 2016 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Robert Nkemdiche and Evan Boehm will be immediate impact players for the Cardinals. Boehm will probably have the more competitive path to get the starting role but I’m certain he will win the job before the first half of the season. Boehm is a hard worker who was the captain for the Missouri Tigers. He also started at center all four years. He should fill the need for a solid center the Cardinals desperately need.
Robert Nkemdiche was the number one recruit coming out of high school. He has been a terror for opposing offenses while at Ole Miss. Nkemdiche is 6’ 5” 300 pounds who is very fast for his position. He was projected to go in the first ten picks in the draft but fell to the Cardinals because of off field issues. Nkemdiche will add to the acquisition of Chandler Jones to help the pass rush.
Head-Scratcher: Evan Turner was the surprise pick for the Cardinals. Yes, they added depth for the offensive line but there is really no place for him to play for a while. A reason Bruce Arians and Steve Kiem might have got him is that he can play multiple positions on the on the offensive front. But DJ Humphries will probably be the team’s next franchise tackles. So Turner will be a development project to fill an unexpected void at the position in the future.
The Surprise: Harlan Miller surprised me because the Cardinals had already drafted Brandon Williams and Marqui Christian. They also brought in Tyvon Branch. So Miller will really have to complete for time. He will most likely do that by being on special teams. But with all of the competition he will really have to impress in order to get playing time.
The Steal: Brandon Williams started as a running back at Texas A&M but with so much competition at the position he was urged to change positions. He has been playing cornerback for only one season and has performed well. He had a blistering 4.37 40-yard dash and is 5’11” which is a good size for cornerbacks. He is very raw which will probably lead to Bruce Arians seeing witch defensive back position fits him the best. He should be a big time playmaker for the Cardinals.
Most Likely to turn heads in training camp: Again ,Robert Nkemdiche will be an immediate impact starter for the Cardinals. It was hard not to name him the steal for the Cardinals draft. So I’m expecting big things from him. He will surely cause the most buzz out of all the Cardinal draftees. Chandler Jones, whom the Cardinals traded with the Patriots, to acquire, should turn heads as well. They are just that talented, and the addition of those two will be a nightmare for offenses all-over the league.
The Rest: Marquie Christian is the player I have yet to talk about. He is a very talented defensive back who can compete for time in the Cardinals secondary. Christian will probably start off as being in special teams packages to sub in for a few plays. But in a few years he may be a big force for this Cardinals defense and earn a bigger role.
Bottom Line: The Arizona Cardinals had a solid draft. They addressed all there needs which were center (Evan Boehm), defensive Backs (Brandon Williams, Marqui Christian, and Harlan Miller), and pass rusher (Robert Nkemdiche). Addressing those needs with these players who have so much potential will be great for the Cardinals. Robert Nkemdiche will be an immediate starter and Evan Boehm will probably win the starting job at some point in the season. The rest of those guys have raw talent and will have to be further developed but will surely be fighting for playing time. But when all is said and done this class can be great for years to come. Bruce Arians and Steve Kiem are phenomenal at finding talents anywhere in the country. So based off their past drafts, Arizona Cardinals fans should be behind every player those two pick.
