B+
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals turned the phones into found money: B+.
by Stan93 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 155 picks
· 43 steals
· 76 reaches
The Cardinals spent real capital to be 116 picks early on Cody Schrader, and the board is going to hold them to it. It does the job without flash, and the B+ reflects it.
The McMillan pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged. They won the margins on every swap, and it adds up fast.
The veteran additions, Brock Purdy chief among them, give the class a floor the rookies alone would not.
A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 1 they get a plug-and-play piece up front. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In the 2nd overall pick they get a seam-stretching tight end at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
In No. 4 they get a double-digit-sack hope, reach and all. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In the Round 1 slot they get a disruptive interior force, a steep price for the projection. A real need, handled.
In Round 1, Pick 16 they get an anchor for the defensive front.
In the 19th pick they get a sticky cover corner. Need was not the driver here.
By-the-book stuff, Graham Barton at No. 20 squarely in line with his ranking. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
In slot 21 they get a building block for the line, though the board says they badly overpaid. The biggest hole, addressed.
In pick No. 22 they get a home-run threat at receiver at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In the 23rd pick they get a three-down second-level presence, even if it was a touch early. A clean fit for the roster.
In the 26th overall pick they get a disruptor off the edge, outstanding value to boot. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In pick 27 they get a problem off the edge, though the board says they badly overpaid. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In the Round 1 slot they get a mismatch in the passing game, a steep price for the projection. A clean fit for the roster.
The board had Cooper DeJean higher than Round 1, Pick 30, and the cornerback fell to them anyway. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
In slot 31 they get a go-to option on the outside at a price that makes it sweeter. The biggest hole, addressed.
In pick 32 they get a bendy edge with upside, and a steal at that. The biggest hole, addressed.
J.J. McCarthy at the 33rd overall pick is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the quarterback. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Ennis Rakestraw Jr.. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
Roman Wilson at the 36th pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
No edge and no loss on Ricky Pearsall in the Round 2 slot; it is a wash and a sensible one. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They paid sticker price for Keon Coleman in pick No. 38, and that is fine. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
They liked Malachi Corley enough to skip the value, taking him in No. 39. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Xavier Legette in the Round 2 slot is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A conviction pick on Jaylen Wright at the 42nd overall pick that the board grades a round light. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
No drama and no debate, Kris Jenkins went about where he belonged in Round 2, Pick 11. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A premium they did not need to pay, Ruke Orhorhoro a notch or two before his time. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Jordan Morgan in pick No. 48 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They barely believed it either: Kool-Aid McKinstry still on the board at the 49th pick. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Mike Sainristil in slot 51 is fair value, right on his grade. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Renardo Green this early at No. 52. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Christian Haynes in the 53rd overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
They went early on Cooper Beebe in Round 2, Pick 22, and the value did not follow. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A quiet steal in the Round 2 slot: Junior Colson for less than the market said. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Edgerrin Cooper slipping to the 56th pick is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
A reach on Ja'Lynn Polk in slot 57; the board had better options right there. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Jonathon Brooks slid further than he should have, and No. 58 is lovely value for the running back. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Adisa Isaac at pick No. 59 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They took T'Vondre Sweat at par in pick 61, which is nothing to complain about. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
They paid up for Marshawn Kneeland at pick No. 62 when waiting would have done the job. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Austin Booker at the 63rd overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Maason Smith in slot 65 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A wild overpay on DeWayne Carter in pick 66, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Value said wait; Mohamed Kamara in No. 67 says they were not listening. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
The board had cheaper options than Brandon Dorlus at the Round 3 slot, and it noticed. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A straight-up fair deal on Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at Round 3, Pick 5, value and slot in agreement. A need, and now a little less of one.
They reached into another round for Kris Abrams-Draine, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
A straight-up fair deal on Javon Baker at Round 3, Pick 7, value and slot in agreement. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They paid a round early for Bralen Trice in the Round 3 slot, more than the board wanted. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Jordan Travis at pick 75 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Javon Bullard in No. 78 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
Malik Washington in the 79th pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
By-the-book stuff, Patrick Paul at pick No. 80 squarely in line with his ranking. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They read the board right and Blake Fisher was the payoff at the 81st overall pick. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Circle this one: Kiran Amegadjie at slot 82 is a fall that decides a draft. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
You do not let a cornerback like Kamari Lassiter reach the 83rd overall pick and blink. They did not. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
A real head-scratcher, Zak Zinter in Round 3, Pick 22 is miles ahead of his ranking. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
No drama and no debate, Sedrick Van Pran went about where he belonged in pick No. 86. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
AJ Barner at pick 88 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It fills a real need, too.
A big swing on Cedric Gray at No. 89, well ahead of any board in the building. The roster fit checks out.
Brandon Coleman at the Round 3 slot is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They talked themselves into Decamerion Richardson at slot 93, and the board did not agree. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Tommy Eichenberg at the 94th pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They reached a country mile for Isaac Guerendo at pick 96, and the board is aghast. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Cody Schrader in Round 3, Pick 34 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. The roster fit checks out.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Jonah Elliss at No. 100 is the proof. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They took Gabriel Murphy at par in slot 101, which is nothing to complain about. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Javon Solomon at pick No. 102 is a conviction pick that outran the value. Hard to map this one onto the depth chart at all.
Mekhi Wingo at the Round 4 slot is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Tyler Davis at the 105th pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Jalyx Hunt in the 106th overall pick, miles early. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
They jumped the gun on Brennan Jackson, taking him earlier than his grade liked. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, McKinnley Jackson well ahead of where he belonged. A need, and now a little less of one.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Jordan Jefferson. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Braiden McGregor at pick No. 110 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Gabe Hall at No. 111 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It fills a real need, too.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Matt Goncalves in slot 112. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Brenden Rice at the 113th overall pick jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Luke McCaffrey in the Round 4 slot is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A reach for Jacob Cowing in the 118th pick; a little patience would have been rewarded. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They reached a country mile for Ainias Smith at the 119th overall pick, and the board is aghast. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Anthony Gould in pick 121, miles early. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Cedric Johnson this early at the Round 4 slot. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Myles Cole at Round 4, Pick 23 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A real head-scratcher, Trevin Wallace in slot 124 is miles ahead of his ranking. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
T.J. Tampa at No. 125 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
Marist Liufau at pick No. 130 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They reached into another round for Jordan Magee, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
James Williams in Round 4, Pick 32 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They talked themselves into Nathaniel Watson at pick No. 133, and the board did not agree. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Jaden Crumedy. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A big swing on Zion Tupuola-Fetui at the Round 5 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Value said wait; Eric Watts in slot 138 says they were not listening. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Edefuan Ulofoshio well ahead of where he belonged. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
A wild overpay on Ty'Ron Hopper in the 140th overall pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Javon Foster at Round 5, Pick 5. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Sione Vaki at pick No. 142 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Calen Bullock at pick 143 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
They will replay Blake Corum at No. 144 for years; that is how good the value is. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Beaux Limmer at the 146th pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They paid sticker price for Trevor Keegan in the 149th overall pick, and that is fine. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
DJ James at slot 150 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
A running back of that caliber at the Round 5 slot is the definition of value, full stop. A need, and now a little less of one.
Kamren Kinchens in the Round 5 slot is a gift, value that borders on unfair. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Steal is underselling it; Cam Hart at the 153rd pick is a heist with the alarm still ringing. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
A real head-scratcher, Fabien Lovett in pick No. 156 is miles ahead of his ranking. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A big swing on Khristian Boyd at slot 158, well ahead of any board in the building. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They reached into another round for JD Bertrand, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It fills a real need, too.
The board fumbled Jarrian Jones all the way to the 161st overall pick, and they scooped it up. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
A slide stopped in pick 162, with Tykee Smith worth more than the price. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
A top-tier wide receiver at a bargain, Tyrone Tracy Jr. in No. 163, plain and simple. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Keilan Robinson well ahead of where he belonged. The roster fit checks out.
Taking Jamari Thrash in pick 165 is close to grand larceny; a wide receiver that good had no business lasting this long. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Malik Mustapha in Round 5, Pick 30 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Michael Barrett in the Round 5 slot, miles early. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Justin Eboigbe at pick No. 176 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Grayson Murphy at the 178th overall pick is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Value said wait; Logan Lee in the 179th pick says they were not listening. A need, and now a little less of one.
Somehow Jalen McMillan was still sitting there in No. 180, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They robbed the room for Josh Newton here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Walter Rouse at pick No. 182 is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Beau Brade in pick 183 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Good price on Tahj Washington in the Round 6 slot, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They reached a country mile for Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint at No. 185, and the board is aghast. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Jawhar Jordan in the 186th overall pick is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A top-tier cornerback at a bargain, Nehemiah Pritchett in Round 6, Pick 12, plain and simple. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Brevyn Spann-Ford in the 190th pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It fills a real need, too.
Trey Knox at No. 191 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
A market-rate offensive lineman, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Delmar Glaze. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Jha'Quan Jackson in pick 193 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
They robbed the room for Isaiah Davis here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Somehow Dylan Laube was still sitting there in the 195th pick, and they pounced on premier running back value. The roster fit checks out.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste in the Round 6 slot is fair value, right on his grade. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They talked themselves into Myles Murphy at slot 198, and the board did not agree. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Justin Rogers. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A wild overpay on Jowon Briggs in Round 6, Pick 26, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Jaylon Carlies this early at pick 205. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Jaylin Simpson at the 208th overall pick is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
No edge and no loss on Layden Robinson in the Round 6 slot; it is a wash and a sensible one. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Nathan Thomas at the 211th pick is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
By-the-book stuff, Tyrice Knight at No. 212 squarely in line with his ranking. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Darius Muasau in slot 213 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Jaylen Harrell at pick No. 214 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Josh Proctor is a better player than No. 215 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
A tidy bit of business in the 218th pick, where Kimani Vidal graded well above the range. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Evan Anderson. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Fair-plus on Jaylan Ford, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. The roster fit checks out.
They barely believed it either: Jaheim Bell still on the board at pick No. 225. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Jacob Monk at the 226th overall pick is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Dwight McGlothern at Round 7, Pick 11 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
They will replay Johnny Dixon at pick 235 for years; that is how good the value is. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Tanner McLachlan at the Round 7 slot is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
The board fumbled Jase McClellan all the way to No. 246, and they scooped it up. A need, and now a little less of one.
A clean, defensible pick in the 251st pick with a little surplus value in Tyler Owens. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
They reached a country mile for Andrew Coker at pick 252, and the board is aghast. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
X'Zauvea Gadlin at pick No. 253 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.