Considering that we have three teams that won’t be picking in the first round at all, the Arizona Cardinals can officially become our complete draft halfway point. This will be an entirely new Cardinals crew this season, beginning with a fresh head coach in Steve Wilks.
Carson Palmer retired, along with head coach Bruce Arians, and the team cut Tyrann Mathieu this offseason. The only constant left is wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, but this will likely be the last year we can say that.
Here’s what I think Wilks and general manager Steve Keim should do with their rebuild.
Round 1, Pick 15: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
2017: 56.3 completion percentage, 1,812 yards, 16 touchdowns, six interceptions (6-5, 233 pounds)
Allen didn’t put up big numbers and wasn’t healthy, only playing in 11 games. He didn’t complete even 60 percent of his passes and yet, for some reason, he’s the top quarterback on plenty of boards. Not mine. Still, he’s going in the first round and I have him sliding in with the Cardinals here. They signed Sam Bradford to a one-year deal this offseason, so conceivably Allen can sit and learn. But that all gets thrown out the door the minute Bradford’s knee starts acting up, as it usually does.
Round 2, Pick 47: Billy Price, Center, Ohio State
6-4, 305 pounds
Arizona has spent money on its offensive line and fields a decent enough unit. That doesn’t mean they can’t look for upgrades, especially in the middle when they must face Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh twice a season.
Round 3, Pick 79: Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa State
2017: 71 catches, 941 yards, 10 touchdowns (6-5, 222 pounds)
The Cardinals have brought in a lot of bodies at wide receiver via free agency, but they haven’t exactly opened up the checkbook. Lazard would arguably be better than any of their current starters other than Fitzgerald.
Round 3, Pick 97: DeShon Elliott, Safety, Texas
2017: 63 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, nine passes defended, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery (6-2, 210 pounds)
The Cards created their own hole at this roster spot by cutting Mathieu. Elliott is an underrated safety and a more physical presence in the outfield than the Honey Badger.
Round 4, Pick 134: Geron Christian, OT, Louisville
6-5, 298 pounds
The biggest problem with Palmer and the Cardinals was keeping the dude upright. By signing Bradford, they’ve not improved their chances. Arizona must invest heavily in its offensive line, not only for this season, but for the future.
Round 5, Pick 152: Parry Nickerson, CB, Tulane
2017: 55 tackles, two for a loss, six interceptions, eight passes defended (6-0, 180 pounds)
Patrick Peterson is one of the best corners in the league, but there’s a chasm between him and his proposed backfield mate Brandon Williams. Nickerson won’t fix that, but he’ll give Arizona depth and some options.
Round 6, Pick 182: Da’Shawn Hand, DE, Alabama
2017: 27 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, three sacks, one pass defended (6-4, 288 pounds)
Arizona let Calais Campbell walk last season and made no effort to replace his production. Hand was the top recruit in the country when the Crimson Tide signed him out of high school. Injuries kept him from maximizing his potential in 2017, but that won’t stop him from reaching it as a pro.
Round 7, Pick 254: Archie Lewis, OT, Boise State
6-3, 300 pounds
Bradford, and eventually Allen, needs all the help up front they can get. Lewis projects more as a guard in the NFL.
