B+
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals let Muhammad III fall into their laps, and walked away with a B+.
by Cards37 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 17 picks
· 8 steals
· 1 reaches
The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Cardinals watched Moose Muhammad III slide 39 picks past his grade and did not hesitate. Call it a sensible B+, earned the boring way.
They won the margins on every swap, and it adds up fast. They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it.
They will answer for taking cornerback early while quarterback went begging. The Castles reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the quarterback spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 7 they get a go-to option on the outside. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In pick No. 17 they get a disruptive interior force at fair value. A real need, handled.
They barely believed it either: JC Latham still on the board at the Round 2 slot. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They let Graham Barton come to them and pounced at No. 39. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Cooper DeJean at the 68th pick is money in the bank, a cornerback taken below his worth. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Kris Jenkins slid further than he should have, and the 71st overall pick is lovely value for the edge rusher. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Marist Liufau in pick 85 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
The needs board was loud and they turned it down, spending slot 104 on Cam Hart with quarterback unsolved.
They took Jaden Hicks at par in pick 121, which is nothing to complain about. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Devontez Walker in slot 133 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A big swing on McCallan Castles at pick No. 141, well ahead of any board in the building. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Nice patience on Khyree Jackson, who had no business lasting to the 144th pick. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Fair-plus on Connor Colby, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Dallin Holker at the Round 6 slot is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They paid sticker price for Jase McClellan in the 213th overall pick, and that is fine. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
You do not let a wide receiver like Moose Muhammad III reach Round 7, Pick 5 and blink. They did not. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Nelson Ceaser in Round 7, Pick 6 lands just on the right side of the ledger. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.