B+
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals worked the phones like thieves and earned a B+.
by Stan93 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 149 picks
· 40 steals
· 80 reaches
The Cardinals clearly saw something nobody else did in Brevyn Spann-Ford, taking him 132 picks ahead of his grade. The board is not convinced. No fireworks, but a solid B+.
The Shipley pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch. The phones were where this weekend was really won.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 1 they get a long-term starter on the line. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In the 2nd pick they get a mismatch in the passing game at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
In the 3rd overall pick they get a plug-and-play piece up front, reach and all. The biggest hole, addressed.
In pick 13 they get a disruptor off the edge. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In Round 1, Pick 14 they get a quarterback's worst nightmare at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In pick No. 15 they get protection for the quarterback. The biggest hole, addressed.
In pick 16 they get a load in the middle. A real need, handled.
In the 17th overall pick they get a run-stuffing presence up front at fair value. A real need, handled.
In the Round 1 slot they get the heartbeat of the defense, a steep price for the projection. A real need, handled.
In No. 20 they get a premier pass rusher, though the board says they badly overpaid. The biggest hole, addressed.
In Round 1, Pick 21 they get a pocket-collapsing interior rusher, even if it was a touch early.
In the 23rd pick they get a bendy edge with upside. The biggest hole, addressed.
In pick No. 24 they get a cornerstone up front. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In slot 25 they get a problem off the edge, a steep price for the projection. The biggest hole, addressed.
In No. 26 they get a green-dot type in the middle, though the board says they badly overpaid.
In slot 27 they get a sticky cover corner, a steep price for the projection. More want than need.
In the 28th overall pick they get a ballhawk on the back end, though the board says they badly overpaid. Need was not the driver here.
In pick No. 29 they get a security blanket over the middle, a steep price for the projection.
In the 31st pick they get an anchor for the offensive line, a steep price for the projection. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In Round 1, Pick 32 they get a weapon on the perimeter, outstanding value to boot. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
J.J. McCarthy at pick 33 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A reach for Ricky Pearsall in the Round 2 slot; a little patience would have been rewarded. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Keon Coleman at pick No. 35 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Xavier Worthy at pick 36 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A reach on Malachi Corley in Round 2, Pick 5; the board had better options right there. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They jumped the gun on Xavier Legette, taking him earlier than his grade liked. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Ja'Lynn Polk. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Value with a capital V on Amarius Mims in the 40th overall pick, a genuine coup. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A cornerback of that caliber at the 41st pick is the definition of value, full stop. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Cooper DeJean at slot 42 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
They reached a country mile for T'Vondre Sweat at slot 46, and the board is aghast. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
By-the-book stuff, Kris Jenkins at No. 47 squarely in line with his ranking. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
The board had cheaper options than Adisa Isaac at pick No. 48, and it noticed. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Austin Booker in the 49th overall pick is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Michael Hall Jr. at Round 2, Pick 18 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A big swing on Maason Smith at pick 51, well ahead of any board in the building. The roster fit checks out.
They reached into another round for Brandon Dorlus, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
DeWayne Carter in the 53rd pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A wild overpay on Mohamed Kamara in the 57th overall pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Steal is underselling it; Ennis Rakestraw Jr. at Round 2, Pick 27 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Kris Abrams-Draine at the 62nd pick is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
Nice patience on Christian Haynes, who had no business lasting to No. 63. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Cooper Beebe in pick 66 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Patrick Paul this early at pick No. 67. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They let Jaylen Wright come to them and pounced at slot 68. It fills a real need, too.
This one needs a full-page explanation: MarShawn Lloyd in the Round 3 slot, miles early. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Circle this one: Tyler Nubin at slot 70 is a fall that decides a draft. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
A real head-scratcher, Cole Bishop in No. 71 is miles ahead of his ranking. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Cam Hart at the 73rd overall pick is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
They talked themselves into AJ Barner at Round 3, Pick 10, and the board did not agree. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Brandon Coleman well ahead of where he belonged. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Value said wait; Decamerion Richardson in pick No. 76 says they were not listening. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Javon Bullard in pick 77 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in the Round 3 slot. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Bralen Trice at the Round 3 slot is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They took Jonah Elliss at par in the 80th pick, which is nothing to complain about. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Gabriel Murphy at pick 81 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A big swing on Javon Solomon at pick No. 82, well ahead of any board in the building. Not a spot anyone had flagged, which makes it a head-scratcher.
Taking Jaden Hicks in the 83rd overall pick is close to grand larceny; a safety that good had no business lasting this long. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
The board fumbled Kiran Amegadjie all the way to Round 3, Pick 22, and they scooped it up. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A quiet steal in No. 88: Javon Baker for less than the market said. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Value said wait; Braelon Allen in slot 89 says they were not listening. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Brennan Jackson this early at the 90th overall pick. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They reached into another round for Leonard Taylor III, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. A need, and now a little less of one.
Tyler Davis at pick No. 93 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Malik Mustapha in No. 94 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in Round 3, Pick 34 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
DJ James in pick 100 lands just on the right side of the ledger. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
They will replay Andru Phillips at the Round 4 slot for years; that is how good the value is. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Dominick Puni slipping to the 102nd pick is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They reached a country mile for Jordan Travis at pick No. 103, and the board is aghast. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A real head-scratcher, Jalyx Hunt in the Round 4 slot is miles ahead of his ranking. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A wild overpay on Cody Schrader in the 105th pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
McKinnley Jackson at slot 106 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Jordan Jefferson well ahead of where he belonged. The roster fit checks out.
Braiden McGregor at No. 108 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Gabe Hall in pick 109, miles early. A need, and now a little less of one.
Cedric Gray at Round 4, Pick 10 is a conviction pick that outran the value. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They paid up for Javon Foster at Round 4, Pick 15 when waiting would have done the job. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They talked themselves into Tanor Bortolini at slot 117, and the board did not agree. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Walter Rouse. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Nathaniel Watson at the Round 4 slot is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Jaden Crumedy at the 124th pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Edefuan Ulofoshio well ahead of where he belonged. It fills a real need, too.
A clean, defensible pick in pick 126 with a little surplus value in Jarrian Jones. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
They paid sticker price for Nehemiah Pritchett in No. 130, and that is fine. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Dallin Holker in pick No. 131, miles early. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Brevyn Spann-Ford. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Jalen McMillan at pick 135 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Johnny Wilson at slot 137. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Myles Cole in the 138th pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A big swing on Nelson Ceaser at the 139th overall pick, well ahead of any board in the building. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They barely believed it either: Ray Davis still on the board at the Round 5 slot. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
You do not let an offensive lineman like Kingsley Suamataia reach No. 143 and blink. They did not. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A top-tier cornerback at a bargain, Caelen Carson in pick 145, plain and simple. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
They robbed the room for Kamren Kinchens here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
Matt Goncalves in the 147th overall pick is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Somehow Jacob Cowing was still sitting there in the 148th pick, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Tahj Washington at Round 5, Pick 13 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A straight-up fair deal on Anthony Gould at slot 150, value and slot in agreement. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Jamari Thrash at the Round 5 slot is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the wide receiver. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint this early at pick No. 152. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Value said wait; Khristian Boyd in the 156th pick says they were not listening. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Cedric Johnson at the 159th overall pick is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Justin Eboigbe in the Round 5 slot is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They talked themselves into Grayson Murphy at pick 164, and the board did not agree. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Tommy Eichenberg at pick No. 166 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Jordan Magee at slot 168 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
They did well to land Marist Liufau in Round 5, Pick 33, just ahead of his grade. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
No drama and no debate, James Williams went about where he belonged in No. 170. The roster fit checks out.
Ty'Ron Hopper in slot 171 is fair value, right on his grade. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Tykee Smith in the 172nd pick is a gift, value that borders on unfair. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
They reached a country mile for Trey Knox at Round 5, Pick 39, and the board is aghast. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Steal is underselling it; Jared Wiley at pick 176 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They reached into another round for Layden Robinson, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A real head-scratcher, Javontae Jean-Baptiste in the 180th overall pick is miles ahead of his ranking. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
No edge and no loss on Fabien Lovett in No. 181; it is a wash and a sensible one. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Zion Tupuola-Fetui at pick No. 182 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A wild overpay on Jaylen Harrell in Round 6, Pick 8, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Eric Watts in pick 186, miles early. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
A big swing on Logan Lee at the 187th overall pick, well ahead of any board in the building. It fills a real need, too.
Myles Murphy in pick No. 190 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A need, and now a little less of one.
Will Shipley at the Round 6 slot is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Taking Beau Brade in the 193rd pick is close to grand larceny; a safety that good had no business lasting this long. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
They read the board right and Kamal Hadden was the payoff at No. 194. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Devin Culp at slot 197 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Mason McCormick in Round 6, Pick 24 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Nothing to complain about; Ryan Flournoy went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Keilan Robinson well ahead of where he belonged. A need, and now a little less of one.
A market-rate running back, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Kimani Vidal. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They reached into another round for Frank Gore Jr., and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They reached a country mile for Jawhar Jordan at the Round 6 slot, and the board is aghast. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A premium they did not need to pay, Justin Rogers a notch or two before his time. It fills a real need, too.
They barely believed it either: Curtis Jacobs still on the board at the 215th pick. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
The board fumbled Jaylin Simpson all the way to the Round 6 slot, and they scooped it up. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
A top-tier cornerback at a bargain, Kalen King in slot 218, plain and simple. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Jowon Briggs at No. 219 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They robbed the room for Rasheen Ali here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Darius Muasau at the 222nd overall pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A straight-up fair deal on JD Bertrand at Round 7, Pick 5, value and slot in agreement. The roster fit checks out.
They will replay Josh Proctor at pick 226 for years; that is how good the value is. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
They took Tarheeb Still at par in the 231st pick, which is nothing to complain about. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
A running back of that caliber at the 239th pick is the definition of value, full stop. A need, and now a little less of one.
KT Leveston in Round 7, Pick 22 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Garret Greenfield at pick 246 is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A slide stopped in the 249th overall pick, with Emani Bailey worth more than the price. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Andrew Coker at the Round 7 slot is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Ryan Watts at pick No. 252 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Drake Nugent at slot 253 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.