B+
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals turned the phones into found money: B+.
by Stan93 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 98 picks
· 28 steals
· 50 reaches
The Cardinals treated their own grade as gospel and everyone else's as noise, spending the 143rd overall pick on Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint a full 88 spots early.
Getting Goncalves where they did is the sort of value that quietly makes a class. The trade ledger is the best part of the whole weekend.
All told, a draft that does its job without fuss, and there is real value in that.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 6th pick they get a seam-stretching tight end. A real need, handled.
In the Round 1 slot they get a cornerstone up front at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In pick 9 they get a ballhawk on the outside at fair value. More want than need.
In pick No. 13 they get a disruptor off the edge. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In Round 1, Pick 14 they get a wrecking ball inside, though the board says they badly overpaid. A clean fit for the roster.
They took Jer'Zhan Newton at par in slot 15, which is nothing to complain about. The roster fit checks out.
In pick No. 18 they get a green-dot type in the middle, a steep price for the projection. A real need, handled.
In the Round 1 slot they get a potential shutdown corner, though the board says they badly overpaid. Need was not the driver here.
In the 21st overall pick they get a home-run threat at receiver, though they paid up to get him. The biggest hole, addressed.
They talked themselves into Keon Coleman at Round 1, Pick 22, and the board did not agree. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
In No. 23 they get a weapon on the perimeter, a steep price for the projection. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In the 24th pick they get a go-to option on the outside, a steep price for the projection. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In slot 27 they get a three-down runner, though the board says they badly overpaid.
A tidy bit of business in pick 34, where Taliese Fuaga graded well above the range. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They read the board right and Cooper DeJean was the payoff at Round 2, Pick 3. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing J.J. McCarthy in the 36th pick. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Roman Wilson at pick 37 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A real head-scratcher, Marshawn Kneeland in the Round 2 slot is miles ahead of his ranking. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A wild overpay on Cade Stover in pick No. 42, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A big swing on Renardo Green at slot 43, well ahead of any board in the building. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
They jumped the gun on Chris Braswell, taking him earlier than his grade liked. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Mohamed Kamara in the 47th overall pick, miles early. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Ruke Orhorhoro at slot 49 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They went early on T'Vondre Sweat in the 50th pick, and the value did not follow. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They reached into another round for Michael Hall Jr., and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Mekhi Wingo this early at pick No. 52. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Maason Smith well ahead of where he belonged. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A tidy little value on Xavier Worthy in the 54th overall pick, a step better than break-even. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Kool-Aid McKinstry at pick 56 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Junior Colson at Round 2, Pick 27 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. A need, and now a little less of one.
You do not let an offensive lineman like Jordan Morgan reach the 66th overall pick and blink. They did not. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Tyler Nubin in No. 67 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
They will replay Edgerrin Cooper at slot 68 for years; that is how good the value is. It fills a real need, too.
Somehow Kris Jenkins was still sitting there in pick 70, and they pounced on premier edge rusher value. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
The board had cheaper options than Brandon Dorlus at the Round 3 slot, and it noticed. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
DeWayne Carter in pick No. 74 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Roger Rosengarten in the 75th pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A top-tier cornerback at a bargain, T.J. Tampa in Round 3, Pick 12, plain and simple. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Malik Washington in the 78th overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A conviction pick on MarShawn Lloyd at slot 79 that the board grades a round light. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
No drama and no debate, Bralen Trice went about where he belonged in No. 80. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A reach on Kris Abrams-Draine in the 82nd pick; the board had better options right there. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
They robbed the room for Zach Frazier here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They reached a country mile for Zak Zinter at pick No. 87, and the board is aghast. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A quiet steal in the Round 3 slot: Cole Bishop for less than the market said. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Jonah Elliss slid further than he should have, and Round 4, Pick 3 is lovely value for the edge rusher. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
No edge and no loss on Gabriel Murphy in the 104th overall pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Brennan Jackson at pick No. 105 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Javon Solomon in pick 106 is fair value, right on his grade. It does not line up with the team's obvious holes.
Jalyx Hunt at No. 107 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A clean, defensible pick in the 108th pick with a little surplus value in Brandon Coleman. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Luke McCaffrey at slot 109 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A reach for Johnny Wilson in the Round 4 slot; a little patience would have been rewarded. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Jordan Travis. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Jarvis Brownlee Jr.. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Jacob Cowing at No. 122 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Value said wait; Jordan Jefferson in pick No. 129 says they were not listening. It fills a real need, too.
They let Brenden Rice come to them and pounced at slot 134. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Nice patience on Tyrone Tracy Jr., who had no business lasting to Round 5, Pick 1. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They paid sticker price for Ainias Smith in pick 138, and that is fine. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A straight-up fair deal on Jamari Thrash at the 139th pick, value and slot in agreement. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Tahj Washington at the 140th overall pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint at pick 143 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for McKinnley Jackson. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Nathaniel Watson at the 148th pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A need, and now a little less of one.
They reached into another round for Jaden Crumedy, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They talked themselves into Edefuan Ulofoshio at slot 151, and the board did not agree. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Isaac Guerendo in Round 5, Pick 16 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Cody Schrader in No. 156 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Circle this one: Javon Foster at pick No. 157 is a fall that decides a draft. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A real head-scratcher, JD Bertrand in pick No. 162 is miles ahead of his ranking. The roster fit checks out.
Decamerion Richardson in the 166th overall pick is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
By-the-book stuff, Braiden McGregor at No. 167 squarely in line with his ranking. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Matt Goncalves at slot 168 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
The board had Trevor Keegan higher than the Round 5 slot, and the offensive lineman fell to them anyway. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A premium they did not need to pay, Nelson Ceaser a notch or two before his time. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Khristian Boyd at Round 5, Pick 39 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They paid a round early for Gabe Hall in the 177th pick, more than the board wanted. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Delmar Glaze in the 180th pick is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They paid up for Cedric Johnson at the 181st overall pick when waiting would have done the job. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, AJ Barner at pick No. 182. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Beau Brade in Round 6, Pick 8 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Tykee Smith in slot 185 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Dylan Laube slipping to pick 186 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Justin Eboigbe in No. 190 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Value said wait; Zion Tupuola-Fetui in the Round 6 slot says they were not listening. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Grayson Murphy at slot 193 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Jha'Quan Jackson at pick No. 194 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the wide receiver. 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.
Jawhar Jordan at the 206th overall pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Andrew Coker in Round 6, Pick 41 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Brevyn Spann-Ford at No. 217 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. The roster fit checks out.
Kamal Hadden at the 222nd pick is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
The board fumbled Jaheim Bell all the way to the Round 7 slot, and they scooped it up. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They barely believed it either: Josh Proctor still on the board at pick No. 226. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
A wild overpay on Trey Knox in pick 231, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A offensive lineman of that caliber at No. 242 is the definition of value, full stop. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Logan Lee at the 253rd overall pick is money in the bank, a interior defensive lineman taken below his worth. It fills a real need, too.