B+
Arizona Cardinals
Nobody dealt better than the Cardinals this weekend: B+.
by Stan93 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 142 picks
· 39 steals
· 78 reaches
There is reaching, and then there is Jordan Travis at Round 3, Pick 19. The Cardinals jumped the board by 98 and dared it to prove them wrong. No fireworks, but a solid B+.
The Laumea value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They robbed the room blind at the table, and it lifts the grade on its own. The Cardinals paired the rookies with proven help, Justin Herbert leading the way.
Add it up and it is a good, unfussy class.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 1 they get a No. 1 receiver. The biggest hole, addressed.
In the Round 1 slot they get a matchup problem out wide at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In slot 3 they get a cornerstone up front. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In pick 8 they get protection for the quarterback at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In pick No. 9 they get a disruptor off the edge. The biggest hole, addressed.
In the 10th overall pick they get a green-dot type in the middle, a steep price for the projection. A real need, handled.
In pick No. 12 they get an anchor for the defensive front, though the board says they badly overpaid. A clean fit for the roster.
Quinyon Mitchell at the 13th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A minor need, but a need all the same.
In the Round 1 slot they get a bendy edge with upside. The biggest hole, addressed.
In slot 15 they get a coverage-and-run second-level piece, a steep price for the projection. A real need, handled.
In the 16th pick they get a mismatch in the passing game, a steep price for the projection. A clean fit for the roster.
In Round 1, Pick 17 they get a building block for the line. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Olumuyiwa Fashanu at No. 18 is the proof. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
In pick 19 they get a weapon on the perimeter, outstanding value to boot. The biggest hole, addressed.
In pick No. 20 they get a wrecking ball inside. A clean fit for the roster.
In the Round 1 slot they get a true top target. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In slot 26 they get a difference-maker at receiver, even if it was a touch early. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In pick 27 they get a go-to option on the outside, reach and all. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In the 28th overall pick they get a home-run threat at receiver, though the board says they badly overpaid. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In the 29th pick they get an island corner, and a steal at that. Need was not the driver here.
In Round 1, Pick 30 they get a featured back, a steep price for the projection. A clean fit for the roster.
In No. 31 they get a pocket-collapsing interior rusher, though the board says they badly overpaid. A real need, handled.
They read the board right and Byron Murphy II was the payoff at Round 2, Pick 2. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
They talked themselves into Marshawn Kneeland at the Round 2 slot, and the board did not agree. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A reach for Xavier Legette in pick 36; a little patience would have been rewarded. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Value said wait; T'Vondre Sweat in the 37th pick says they were not listening. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Austin Booker at the 38th overall pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A wild overpay on Michael Hall Jr. in slot 39, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It fills a real need, too.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Mekhi Wingo in No. 40, miles early. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Maason Smith at pick No. 43 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
J.J. McCarthy at the Round 2 slot is money in the bank, a quarterback taken below his worth. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Mohamed Kamara at the 47th overall pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
DeWayne Carter at Round 2, Pick 16 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They liked Ja'Lynn Polk enough to skip the value, taking him in pick No. 49. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in pick 50 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Somehow Jordan Morgan was still sitting there in slot 52, and they pounced on premier offensive lineman value. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Kool-Aid McKinstry at No. 53 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
They let Tyler Nubin come to them and pounced at the 55th pick. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Renardo Green in the 64th overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Chris Braswell in Round 3, Pick 1. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
The board had Christian Haynes higher than pick 66, and the offensive lineman fell to them anyway. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Value with a capital V on Adisa Isaac in pick No. 67, a genuine coup. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Junior Colson in the Round 3 slot is a gift, value that borders on unfair. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A market-rate linebacker, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Jeremiah Trotter Jr.. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Javon Solomon well ahead of where he belonged. A fine player at a spot low on the priority list.
A real head-scratcher, Cole Bishop in No. 71 is miles ahead of his ranking. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Jarvis Brownlee Jr. this early at pick 74. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
A reach on Kris Abrams-Draine in Round 3, Pick 11; the board had better options right there. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
They reached into another round for Cedric Gray, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A big swing on Tommy Eichenberg at the 77th overall pick, well ahead of any board in the building. A need, and now a little less of one.
No drama and no debate, Bralen Trice went about where he belonged in the Round 3 slot. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A straight-up fair deal on Brandon Dorlus at pick No. 79, value and slot in agreement. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
They paid sticker price for Jonah Elliss in slot 80, and that is fine. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
MarShawn Lloyd in No. 81 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. The roster fit checks out.
Jordan Travis in slot 83 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Taking Tyler Guyton in Round 3, Pick 27 is close to grand larceny; an offensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Malik Washington slipping to pick No. 96 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A tidy bit of business in the Round 3 slot, where Dominick Puni graded well above the range. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Andru Phillips at No. 99 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
A reasonable price with a little left over, DJ James in pick 100. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Roger Rosengarten in the 101st pick lands just on the right side of the ledger. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They reached a country mile for Decamerion Richardson at the 102nd overall pick, and the board is aghast. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
Jarrian Jones in the 103rd pick is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Sione Vaki. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
They talked themselves into Isaac Guerendo at No. 105, and the board did not agree. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They reached a country mile for Luke McCaffrey at pick 106, and the board is aghast. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Jacob Cowing at the 107th overall pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. in slot 108 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They took Gabriel Murphy at par in Round 4, Pick 9, which is nothing to complain about. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Brennan Jackson at pick No. 110 is a conviction pick that outran the value. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They went early on Jalyx Hunt in Round 4, Pick 12, and the value did not follow. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A quiet steal in slot 115: Brandon Coleman for less than the market said. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Nice patience on Zak Zinter, who had no business lasting to the 117th overall pick. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Tyler Davis at pick 120 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
They jumped the gun on Leonard Taylor III, taking him earlier than his grade liked. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They left a pile of value on the table to take James Williams this early at the 124th pick. The roster fit checks out.
Tykee Smith at the Round 4 slot is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
A wild overpay on Anthony Gould in No. 130, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Value said wait; Nathaniel Watson in the 131st pick says they were not listening. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
A big swing on Jordan Jefferson at pick 136, well ahead of any board in the building. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A real head-scratcher, McKinnley Jackson in pick No. 137 is miles ahead of his ranking. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Edefuan Ulofoshio well ahead of where he belonged. It fills a real need, too.
AJ Barner at the 139th overall pick is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. A need, and now a little less of one.
Ainias Smith at the Round 5 slot is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Tahj Washington in No. 141 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Marist Liufau in Round 5, Pick 6, miles early. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
They reached into another round for Ty'Ron Hopper, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Braiden McGregor at the 146th overall pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. 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 Jaden Crumedy. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
They reached a country mile for Justin Eboigbe at Round 5, Pick 13, and the board is aghast. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Zion Tupuola-Fetui at slot 150 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Value said wait; Gabe Hall in the 151st pick says they were not listening. A need, and now a little less of one.
A wide receiver of that caliber at the Round 5 slot is the definition of value, full stop. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in pick No. 154, miles early. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
No edge and no loss on Josh Newton in slot 155; it is a wash and a sensible one. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Beau Brade in the Round 5 slot is fair value, right on his grade. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Josh Proctor in the 159th overall pick is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Beaux Limmer at pick No. 161. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Cedric Johnson at pick 162 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Trevor Keegan slid further than he should have, and the 166th pick is lovely value for the offensive lineman. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Will Shipley at Round 5, Pick 32 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Myles Cole is a better player than No. 170 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A conviction pick on Nelson Ceaser at Round 5, Pick 35 that the board grades a round light. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Malik Mustapha in pick 172 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
They robbed the room for Javon Foster here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
JD Bertrand in slot 175 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. The roster fit checks out.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Jaylon Carlies. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
The board fumbled Trevin Wallace all the way to the 180th overall pick, and they scooped it up. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
By-the-book stuff, Fabien Lovett at No. 181 squarely in line with his ranking. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They took Khristian Boyd at par in pick No. 182, which is nothing to complain about. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They paid up for Delmar Glaze at pick 183 when waiting would have done the job. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Jacob Monk well ahead of where he belonged. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Grayson Murphy in the Round 6 slot is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They paid a round early for Javontae Jean-Baptiste in the 187th pick, more than the board wanted. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Bucky Irving in Round 6, Pick 15 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It fills a real need, too.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Jaylen Harrell this early at No. 191. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Eric Watts at pick No. 193 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They talked themselves into Logan Lee at slot 194, and the board did not agree. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They barely believed it either: Jordan Magee still on the board at the 196th overall pick. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
A big swing on Myles Murphy at No. 197, well ahead of any board in the building. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Jowon Briggs at pick No. 198 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Steal is underselling it; Chau Smith-Wade at Round 6, Pick 24 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
A slide stopped in the 200th pick, with Jha'Quan Jackson worth more than the price. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Nathan Thomas at slot 208 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
No drama and no debate, Cody Schrader went about where he belonged in pick 210. A need, and now a little less of one.
A wild overpay on Michael Barrett in the Round 6 slot, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
The board had cheaper options than Darius Muasau at No. 213, and it noticed. 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. The roster fit checks out.
A real head-scratcher, Brevyn Spann-Ford in Round 6, Pick 42 is miles ahead of his ranking. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Circle this one: Jaheim Bell at the 220th pick is a fall that decides a draft. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
A top-tier running back at a bargain, Dylan Laube in pick No. 222, plain and simple. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
You do not let an offensive lineman like Sataoa Laumea reach the 223rd overall pick and blink. They did not. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
They will replay Dominique Hampton at the Round 7 slot for years; that is how good the value is. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Circle this one: Curtis Jacobs at slot 225 is a fall that decides a draft. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They barely believed it either: Layden Robinson still on the board at the 226th pick. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They reached into another round for Andrew Coker, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Garret Greenfield in Round 7, Pick 11 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Jackson Sirmon at No. 237 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Matthew Jones in slot 242 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Dylan McMahon at the 251st overall pick is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Andrew Raym at pick 252 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
X'Zauvea Gadlin at pick No. 253 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.