Arizona
Arizona Cardinals’ 2022 NFL Draft priorities: Pass rusher
On the subject of the Arizona Cardinals’ wants this NFL Draft season, cornerback, cross rusher and huge receiver reign supreme.
However which of the trio is an important to the staff’s success in 2022?
Earlier than Thursday’s festivities get underway, right here’s a deeper have a look at every of the three positions basic supervisor Steve Keim pinpointed throughout his pre-draft media availability final week.
Subsequent up within the three-part sequence is cross rusher:
Returning gamers:
– Markus Golden
– Dennis Gardeck
– Devon Kennard
– Victor Dimukeje
Departures/Free brokers:
– Chandler Jones
– Kylie Fitts (retired)
There’s no denying the Cardinals’ want for an additional succesful pass-rushing choice reverse Golden after watching the franchise’s all-time sacks chief in Jones head to Las Vegas in free company this offseason.
Now, it’s on Arizona to seek out Golden’s new operating mate for the upcoming season after the linebacker led the staff with 11 sacks in 2021.
Gardeck is again within the combine after agreeing to a three-year deal price a reported $12 million. Whereas he’s been principally used as a particular groups piece, Gardeck had a powerful stretch filling in for Jones on the surface in 2020. With Jones sidelined by a season-ending biceps damage, Gardeck rattled off seven sacks and 10 QB hits over a 10-game span. These numbers may have been extra, too, if not for a torn ACL suffered in Week 15.
The most important concern for Gardeck is can he have that very same success over a full season? Over the 10-game pattern measurement in 2020, he noticed not more than 30% of the out there defensive snaps in a recreation.
As for Kennard, Arizona views the linebacker as a trusted depth piece and veteran voice within the locker room versus a beginning choice.
And whereas Dimukeje has been in comparison with a younger Golden, the second-year professional was used primarily on particular groups, seeing simply 5% of obtainable defensive snaps final season (45).
Prospects to regulate:
– Jermaine Johnson (FSU)
– George Karlaftis (Purdue)
– Arnold Ebiketie (Penn State)
Of the three listed, Johnson figures to be off the board first come Thursday night time.
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has Johnson going 14th to the Baltimore Ravens in his most up-to-date mock draft.
Johnson had 12 sacks and 46 pressures at FSU in 2021, incessantly utilizing his fast ft, highly effective arms and arsenal of pass-rush strikes to overwhelm blockers.
Karlaftis, nevertheless, has been a reputation incessantly mocked to the Cardinals since their season got here to finish. Of the 417 mock drafts gathered by ArizonaSports.com this offseason, Karlaftis has been linked to the Cardinals 42 occasions, greater than another prospect.
The Boilermaker posted his finest Professional Soccer Focus grade with an 87.2 grade final season. Over 12 video games final season as a junior, Karlaftis recorded 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks to go together with 4 passes defensed and two compelled fumbles.
Ebiketie is one other title the Cardinals may contemplate and will even be a second-round choice relying on how the draft shakes out.
McShay has Ebiketie going thirty fifth total to the New York Jets in his newest mock after he recorded 9.5 sacks and 46 pressures in 2021.
Ebiketie at all times has a pass-rush plan and is without doubt one of the extra technical edge rushers within the class. He had 9.5 sacks and 46 pressures final season.