B-
Arizona Cardinals
A solid, sensible weekend for the Cardinals: B-.
by ârones ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 1 steals
· 2 reaches
The Cardinals put a flag in the ground for Joshua Gray, 77 picks before anyone else would have, and the value took the hit. The bottom line is a respectable B-.
The DeJean pick reads as want over need, and the roster will feel it at quarterback, running back and other spots. They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it.
A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 4th overall pick they get a go-to option on the outside. The biggest hole, addressed.
In slot 17 they get a double-digit-sack hope at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
By-the-book stuff, Nate Wiggins at the 36th pick squarely in line with his ranking. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
They bypassed pressing needs at quarterback, running back and other spots to take Cooper DeJean, a cornerback that was not the priority.
A clean, defensible pick in pick 71 with a little surplus value in Tyler Guyton. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A curious use of the Round 3 slot. Quarterback, running back and other spots needed the pick; a DT-EDGE in Maason Smith did not.
Howard Cross III in the 104th pick is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
They paid sticker price for Beaux Limmer in slot 133, and that is fine. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A market-rate linebacker, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Payton Wilson. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Joshua Gray at the 163rd overall pick is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.