B+
Arizona Cardinals
A passer of the future in McCarthy, and a B+, for the Cardinals.
by Stan93 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 99 picks
· 16 steals
· 49 reaches
The rest of the league had time to spare on Jordan Travis; the Cardinals did not wait, grabbing him 105 spots ahead at the 76th pick. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B+.
J.J. McCarthy is the bet, and the class will be judged on how it pays off. That Newton pick is the receipt they will wave around later.
The trade ledger is the best part of the whole weekend.
Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 1 they get a long-term starter on the line. The biggest hole, addressed.
In slot 2 they get a red-zone target to build around at fair value. A real need, handled.
In No. 8 they get an anchor for the offensive line. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In pick No. 9 they get a problem off the edge. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In Round 1, Pick 12 they get a cornerstone up front. Exactly the need they had to hit.
No edge and no loss on Jared Verse in the Round 1 slot; it is a wash and a sensible one. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
In the 14th overall pick they get an island corner at fair value. Need was not the driver here.
In pick No. 15 they get a passer to set the clock by, even if it was a touch early. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In the 16th pick they get protection for the quarterback at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In No. 18 they get a pocket-collapsing interior rusher. A clean fit for the roster.
In the Round 1 slot they get a building block for the line. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In pick 20 they get a ballhawk on the outside. More want than need.
In Round 1, Pick 26 they get a matchup problem out wide at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In slot 27 they get the heartbeat of the defense, though they paid up to get him. A real need, handled.
In Round 1, Pick 30 they get a security blanket over the middle, though the board says they badly overpaid. A real need, handled.
A conviction pick on Mike Sainristil at pick 34 that the board grades a round light. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Renardo Green at the 35th pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Malachi Corley in the Round 2 slot is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
By-the-book stuff, Ricky Pearsall at No. 37 squarely in line with his ranking. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
No drama and no debate, Keon Coleman went about where he belonged in pick No. 38. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They liked Xavier Legette enough to skip the value, taking him in the 40th overall pick. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Jaylen Wright at slot 46 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Value with a capital V on Braden Fiske in the Round 2 slot, a genuine coup. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Kris Jenkins in pick No. 49 is fair value, right on his grade. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A reach on Ruke Orhorhoro in No. 52; the board had better options right there. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
The board had cheaper options than T'Vondre Sweat at Round 2, Pick 23, and it noticed. The roster fit checks out.
Marshawn Kneeland in the 57th pick is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Mekhi Wingo at pick 62 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
They reached into another round for Maason Smith, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It fills a real need, too.
Ja'Lynn Polk at the 67th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They took Austin Booker at par in the Round 3 slot, which is nothing to complain about. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A market-rate interior defensive lineman, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Michael Hall Jr.. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
They jumped the gun on Brandon Dorlus, taking him earlier than his grade liked. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A tidy bit of business in pick No. 71, where Adisa Isaac graded well above the range. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Cooper Beebe at Round 3, Pick 10 is the proof. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A straight-up fair deal on Javon Baker at the 75th overall pick, value and slot in agreement. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Jordan Travis. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
MarShawn Lloyd at the 77th pick is a conviction pick that outran the value. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They paid sticker price for Malik Washington in No. 78, and that is fine. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Patrick Paul in pick No. 79 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They paid up for Roger Rosengarten at the 81st overall pick when waiting would have done the job. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Cade Stover at Round 3, Pick 18 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. A need, and now a little less of one.
Good price on Bralen Trice in the 90th pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Mohamed Kamara in slot 93, miles early. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Kris Abrams-Draine in the Round 3 slot is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Decamerion Richardson well ahead of where he belonged. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Cole Bishop slid further than he should have, and No. 103 is lovely value for the safety. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
They paid a round early for Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in the 104th overall pick, more than the board wanted. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
By-the-book stuff, DeWayne Carter at slot 105 squarely in line with his ranking. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A premium they did not need to pay, Cedric Gray a notch or two before his time. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
A real head-scratcher, Tommy Eichenberg in pick No. 107 is miles ahead of his ranking. It fills a real need, too.
A big swing on Justin Eboigbe at the 109th pick, well ahead of any board in the building. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A quiet steal in the Round 4 slot: DJ James for less than the market said. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
They read the board right and Zak Zinter was the payoff at pick 117. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Luke McCaffrey at the Round 4 slot is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Javon Foster in pick No. 119 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Brennan Jackson in Round 4, Pick 22 is fair value, right on his grade. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They reached a country mile for McKinnley Jackson at the 137th overall pick, and the board is aghast. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Value said wait; Jordan Jefferson in the 138th pick says they were not listening. A need, and now a little less of one.
A wild overpay on Delmar Glaze in No. 139, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Jacob Cowing in pick 140. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
No edge and no loss on Beaux Limmer in slot 143; it is a wash and a sensible one. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Jordan Magee at No. 146 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. in Round 5, Pick 12 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They let Isaac Guerendo come to them and pounced at the 150th overall pick. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Anthony Gould in slot 151 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A slide stopped in pick 152, with Jared Wiley worth more than the price. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Jamari Thrash at pick No. 158 is money in the bank, a wide receiver taken below his worth. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Trevor Keegan in the Round 5 slot lands just on the right side of the ledger. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Sione Vaki at the 165th pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
A straight-up fair deal on AJ Barner at the Round 5 slot, value and slot in agreement. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They talked themselves into Nathaniel Watson at pick No. 168, and the board did not agree. The roster fit checks out.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Edefuan Ulofoshio this early at the 170th overall pick. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Jaden Crumedy in pick 175 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A big swing on Zion Tupuola-Fetui at Round 6, Pick 3, well ahead of any board in the building. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
A cornerback of that caliber at slot 179 is the definition of value, full stop. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
A top-tier safety at a bargain, Beau Brade in the 180th pick, plain and simple. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Walter Rouse slipping to No. 181 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Nothing to complain about; Ty'Ron Hopper went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Chau Smith-Wade in the 183rd overall pick. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
They took Gabe Hall at par in pick 184, which is nothing to complain about. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
A clean, defensible pick in the Round 6 slot with a little surplus value in Tahj Washington. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint well ahead of where he belonged. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Nelson Ceaser is a better player than pick No. 190 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Tarheeb Still at the 191st pick is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Cody Schrader. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Keilan Robinson at slot 197 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Value said wait; Jawhar Jordan in the 199th pick says they were not listening. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They went early on Jaylen Harrell in the 207th overall pick, and the value did not follow. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A market-rate linebacker, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Tyrice Knight. A need, and now a little less of one.
They reached into another round for Brevyn Spann-Ford, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Trey Knox in pick No. 225, miles early. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A reach for Jacob Monk in pick 226; a little patience would have been rewarded. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A wild overpay on Andrew Raym in Round 7, Pick 11, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They reached a country mile for Drake Nugent at Round 7, Pick 14, and the board is aghast. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Andrew Coker this early at slot 242. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Jarrett Kingston in pick No. 250 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A real head-scratcher, X'Zauvea Gadlin in No. 252 is miles ahead of his ranking. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Jowon Briggs at pick 253 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.