Arizona Cardinals' Top Needs, Fits for 2015 NFL Draft to Build for the Future
Arizona Cardinals fans, it's time to get focused. We're finally closing in on the greatest event of the year: the 2015 NFL draft.
Last season, the Cardinals took another step forward under the leadership of head coach Bruce Arians. The tactical savant and offensive specialist built a lineup that was able to win 11 games and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
But all that started well didn't end well. The Cardinals were ravaged by injuries and wound up being bounced from the playoffs by the Carolina Panthers behind the horrendous play of backup quarterback Ryan Lindley.
Recovering from that loss and turning our attention toward the future, there's no better time to analyze the Cardinals' top needs and fits in order to build for the future.
With the draft a mere weeks away, let's dive right into it and check out which positions this club has to fill and which prospects would look great sporting Cardinals uniforms.
Edge-Rusher
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The Cardinals defense has to be one of the focal points in 2015. With former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles now the New York Jets head coach, ex-linebackers coach James Bettcher has big shoes to fill.
Perhaps the biggest hole on that side of the ball is the lack of a true disruptive edge-rusher. In an NFL built around offensive advantages, the ability to create pressure and close pockets in a hurry separates good teams from great ones.
When you hone in on edge-rushers using the advanced metrics of Pro Football Focus, you can pick out a startling trend.
By PFF's count, the Cardinals finished with a negative-21.8 grade rushing the passer. To put that into perspective, that's the second-worst total of all 32 NFL teams.
The draft is always a great source of wealth when it comes to edge players, but picking out the right ones isn't easy.
Vic Beasley, Clemson
There seems to be a solid group of edge players in this year's draft. Vic Beasley from Clemson is one of those guys.
Beasley is a pure pass-rusher on tape. He's imaginative with his moves and athletic as can be, and the craziest part is he hasn't even tapped his potential.
Because of that staggering upside and the pure speed he comes at people with off the line of scrimmage, the Cardinals may not even get the chance to select Beasley. And that would be a shame when you realize he's the ultimate 3-4 edge player.
Nevertheless, he's a name worth mentioning.
Owa Odighizuwa, UCLA
If you can't pronounce Owa Odighizuwa's name, don't worry. You're going to hear that name called a lot in the NFL.
Pegged as a wild athlete—take a peak at the numbers he posted at the NFL combine, per NFL.com—it's simple to understand why teams would be drooling over him.
Odighizuwa is an edge player who rumbles through linemen. In the NFL, he will be best suited as a stand-up 3-4 linebacker. Getting him started early instead of forcing him to put his hand in the dirt will give Odighizuwa the best chance at having a long, productive career.
Due to the fact that he's still a project, reaching for Odighizuwa is the only thing the Cardinals' regime can't do. There's far too much talent around to risk a first-round pick on the young grinder from UCLA.
When we get into the second round, that's a spot where he could earn his keep and help the Cardinals generate a nice pass rush in 2015.
Hau'oli Kikaha, Washington
Attack the quarterback by any means necessary. That's it. When you're an edge player, your goal is to destroy any QB who stands in your way.
Going by that logic, Hau'oli Kikaha is king. Kikaha is a presence shooting off the edge. The dynamics of his skill set are so impactful when the film is rolling.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein did a great job of critiquing the Washington edge-rusher. His review was covered in streaks of gold:
"Kikaha is the most accomplished pure pass rusher in this draft class. Relies on a relentless motor off the edge more than athleticism. He has an elite determination to get to the quarterback. While he seems to specialize in just rushing the passer, Kikaha has the power, hands and frame to improve against the run. It might take some work to get fully comfortable as a stand-up 3-4 OLB, but Kikaha is a very safe draft prospect as long as his medicals check out.
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The medical issues he's referring to are the knee injuries Kikaha suffered when he was younger. Those injuries don't rattle NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock's cage.
On his predraft conference call, via Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, Mayock talked about his potential.
"Kikaha had a couple ACLs early in his career. He’s played healthy the last two years," Mayock said. "Great motor off the edge. Has some edge skills. Not as long as you would like. I’m anxious to see what he runs and how he looks. I think he could be a second- or third-round edge-rusher."
If the board falls in the Cardinals' favor, snagging Kikaha in Round 3 would make for one outstanding football transaction.
Inside Linebacker
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Everyone knows that in a 3-4 alignment, it's vital to have a dominant inside linebacker on the field at all times. That person's vision and ability to command the various layers of a defense are greatly important.
For the Cardinals, using the draft to try to find a player who can step in and fill that role is crucial. Daryl Washington's suspension, which cost him the entire 2014 season, was a blow to the Red Birds.
Although he can apply to be reinstated for the 2015 campaign, Darren Urban of ArizonaCardinals.com reported that the team is "going to go through the offseason ready to not have Washington available."
Trying to solve the problem through free agency, the front office did reach a one-year deal with former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon back in March, per Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports.
It should be noted that Weatherspoon's NFL career has been laced with injuries. So he's the furthest thing from a home run.
Denzel Perryman, Miami
Hailing from the University of Miami, Denzel Perryman is the type of player who can come in right away and turn some heads. At 5'11", 236 pounds, Perryman has a stout frame that gives him the strength to frequently bring down opposing players.
Ranked as Walter Football's third-best inside linebacker of the 2015 draft class, Perryman was described as "an instinctive, quick and physical linebacker"—two traits this defense needs in any player the team selects.
Paul Dawson, TCU
If the name of the game is productivity, TCU linebacker Paul Dawson is your man. An absolute force to be reckoned with, Dawson churned out numbers down in the Lone Star State.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein pieced together an extensive profile on Dawson. In it, he sums up the linebacker's production by saying:
"Outrageously productive linebacker with a nose for the ball. Dawson averages a tackle every 5.3 snaps and either caused or recovered a total of 8 turnovers during the 2014 season. Evaluators understand that Dawson has been a handful while at TCU and that will turn some teams off to him completely.
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Assuming the Cardinals are happy with him after the whole evaluation process finishes up, Dawson could be a stellar mid-round pick with the chance of budding into a total superstar.
Eric Kendricks, UCLA
Of all the prospects listed, Eric Kendricks out of UCLA might be the best fit for the Cardinals' interior linebacking spot.
Kendricks is a three-down presence on the field. He's a prospect structured around instincts. Chase Goodbread of NFL.com is one of many who have praised the young linebacker. Goodbread also thinks Kendricks and the Cardinals would be a great match.
"Few NFL teams need more help at the linebacker position, both inside and outside, than does Arizona. Kendricks has the ability to play at multiple spots and would be a can't-go-wrong choice for Steve Keim," he wrote.
Projected as a first-round pick by the folks over at Walter Football, the Cardinals could have a shot at filling a large hole early in the draft.
Running Back
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The devaluation process the running back position has seen over the years has created this fascinating narrative when it comes to teams and the NFL draft.
Once a place where tailbacks were frequently scooped up, the draft hasn't seen a halfback go in the first round in two years. Talent aside, it's been a crazy dynamic seeing that trend versus a draft such as the 2008 one, which saw five halfbacks go in Round 1 alone.
The Cardinals have Andre Ellington slotted in as their "go-to" guy. A nifty runner with great speed and hands, Ellington has enough talent to be a nice weapon. But he's not a bell-cow runner. He doesn't have that going for him.
Arians and Keim know this. In Darren Urban's report on ArizonaCardinals.com, he talked about the front office adding more depth to the backfield. Or in Urban's words, they want to "shore up" the position.
Honorable Mention: Todd Gurley, Georgia
Georgia's Todd Gurley is a beast. Wait, let me fix that: Todd Gurley is a savage beast.
On tape, Gurley looks like he's the top back in this class. We don't know what's going to happen to his draft stock coming off a knee injury, but for the sake of this piece, we're hedging our bets and going with the theory that he will be taken at some point during the first round.
T.J. Yeldon, Alabama
We're skipping the idea that the Cardinals are going to use their first-round pick on a halfback. Based on the previous trend and the needs at other positions, it's more logical right now to think a mid-round pick will be when they make their move.
Yeldon is the opposite of Ellington. He's a bully on the field and a guy who can grind you out with the ball in his hands. Watching him over the years at Alabama, Yeldon looks like a runner who can take the ball and punch it in the end zone with confidence.
NFL Films' Greg Cosell loves Yeldon's game. He even went as far as to call him a "true foundation back" while talking on Nashville 104.5 The Zone's program The Midday 180 (h/t Rotoworld.com).
The best part is, Yeldon is projected by CBSSports.com to go in the third round. That gives the Cardinals a chance to land a talented player without wasting an early pick.
Jeremy Langford, Michigan State
Adding depth could result in Keim taking a chance on a back such as Jeremy Langford from Michigan State.
When you hear him being compared to Donald Brown by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, alarms start to go off. But Langford is so much more than that. He can protect the quarterback in pass protection and accelerate through holes, and he does a nice job of getting outside the tackles.
Langford is a guy who doesn't do anything out of the norm. Instead, he has a balanced skill set that can help any NFL team out.
Jay Ajayi, Boise State
The one running back out there who could really help the Cardinals is Jay Ajayi. The Boise State product ran for 1,823 yards in 2014 on 347 carries. That's bell-cow work right there.
Ajayi is very physical. He gets low and attacks when the ball is placed in his hands. His style and body type have drawn comparisons to Marshawn Lynch, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. If the Cardinals land Ajayi, and he turns out to be similar to Lynch, the entire draft would have to be deemed a success.
That's the good part of running backs falling down like Jenga pieces. Talented players are pushed into the latter rounds, and that means smart teams can cash in.
Adding Ajayi would be a money accomplishment for Keim and the rest of the staff in Round 2.
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Defensive Tackle
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Clogging up the middle of the field is what the Cardinals do best. Thanks to the efforts of players such as Dan Williams, this defense has usually been stout against the run.
Unfortunately, Williams is now a member of the Oakland Raiders. His departure has opened up space on the defensive front—a front that has to stop Marshawn Lynch, Tre Mason and Carlos Hyde twice a year.
Keim and Arians could turn once again to the draft to find his heir. There are a few names out there who could help that line produce instant results in 2015.
Danny Shelton, Washington
Danny Shelton kicks off the list of three impressive candidates who would all be great fits for the Cardinals front.
As a Washington product, Shelton was consistently appealing on film. He showed off strength and aggression mashing offensive linemen. At 6'2", 339 pounds, he also has plenty of size in order to be a run-stuffing nose tackle.
You can't tell at first glance, but Shelton is actually creative when he's shedding blocks. His hand placement and movement around the line of scrimmage are what free him up to make plays.
Shelton is a genuine "thinking" defensive tackle. He understands how to attack at the mesh point and make the most of his reps.
Eddie Goldman, Florida State
In football terms, Eddie Goldman is a bad man. He has radical strength, and he's able to move around effortlessly on the field.
Scouting him and vocalizing his strengths, CBSSports.com's Rob Rang talked about how Goldman is "just scratching the surface of his potential."
As Rang also mentioned, Goldman isn't the type of guy who is going to break through the line and rack up sacks. He's a controlling force who's there to keep the line honest.
In his latest mock draft, B/R's Matt Miller has Goldman falling to the Cardinals in the first round. "Goldman might not just be Williams' replacement; he has the potential to be his upgrade," Miller mentions.
Edge-rusher is still the go-to position, but if Keim decided to chase Goldman instead, it wouldn't be a downgrade by any means.
Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma
Speaking strictly from watching tape, Jordan Phillips is a borderline first-round pick. He has all of the physical tools you'd want: a large frame (Phillips is listed at 6'5"), long arms and a powerful core.
When Phillips gets everything rolling, it becomes painfully obvious that he's one of the best defensive tackles in the draft.
The main concern surrounding Phillips is that he vanishes at times when you're nitpicking the film. For all of his ridiculous dominant bursts of play, you can lose track of him just as quickly.
Frankly, he's actually more of a boom-or-bust prospect. Don't let that term completely scare you. Great coaching and being plugged into a solid scheme can alleviate that at times.
Either way, Phillips is an intriguing talent who could easily slip outside of the top 32 picks.
Cornerback
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Antonio Cromartie is gone. That leaves a void in the Cardinals' secondary.
At the moment, it looks like the defense will turn to veteran Jerraud Powers for help or possibly Justin Bethel. And that might not be a bad thing.
Former Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is a fan of the gritty Powers, as Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reported. The 5'10" defensive back has spent two seasons with the Cardinals, and because of that, one would assume he understands how this defense is supposed to operate.
Even with Powers in the mix, using the draft to select a young corner would be a smart move. You never can have enough good defensive backs in this league.
Jalen Collins, LSU
At one point, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had Collins mocked to the Cardinals at pick No. 24 (h/t ArizonaSports.com). Kiper has since changed his prediction, but that doesn't mean Collins should be completely ruled out.
Collins is a tall corner at 6'1", and at LSU, he proved to be one of the best athletes in the SEC. In his scouting report, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared him to Terence Newman of the Minnesota Vikings.
"Collins is a work in progress, but his physical and play traits create a very high ceiling if he continues to learn to play the position," wrote Zierlein.
No one knows for sure where Collins will fall. But if we're using predictions, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has him going at the tail end of the first round.
Assuming that proves to be the case, the Cardinals would have to go cornerback early if they wanted his services. That may be too much of a reach considering how raw Collins is.
P.J. Williams, Florida State
There's been a lot of talk about cornerbacks, but one guy who doesn't get enough credit is P.J. Williams out of Florida State.
At 6'0", Williams is another lengthy corner. He thrives in press coverage. Put him on the line of scrimmage, and watch what he can do.
Rob Rang and Derek Stephens of CBSSports.com talked about Williams' aggressiveness. Though it's the core of his game, the duo said he has to be more cautious at times because it tends to lead to big plays.
The Cardinals need difference-makers. It's that simple. With the right amount of polishing, Williams can be that.
It should also be noted that Williams was recently arrested for a DUI, per NFL Network's Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport.
Trae Waynes, Michigan State
Jumping back into the pool of perceived first-round picks, Trae Waynes from Michigan State is an interesting name for the Cardinals.
Waynes is ranked as CBSSports.com's top corner. He put a lot of great work on film, and that's clearly paid off.
This guy understands how to play the position. There's no need for a long-winded explanation. The way he moves and goes about his business is unique. He processes information fast, and that's clear when you turn on the tape.
A team that wins 11 games the season before the draft never wants to reach for a player. That's the danger with the Cardinals going after a cornerback. But if somehow Waynes slips down the board, you can bet Keim and Arians will have trouble passing on him.
Quarterback
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You knew we'd eventually get to this, right? We live in a quarterback world, and that means securing talent at the position is vital to a team's life.
Fresh off a knee injury, Carson Palmer should be the man once again in 2015. The veteran has been great for the Cardinals. Driving the ball down the field and doing it often make Palmer a great fit for Arians' style of offense.
Last offseason, the Cardinals drafted Logan Thomas in Round 4. With Drew Stanton and Palmer also on the roster, you'd think the Thomas experiment isn't over yet considering the position he's in. And that's fine. But if Arians is building toward the future, and a QB he likes is there, would he pass on that person?
Here are a few options who might work if the Cardinals choose to go in that direction.
Garrett Grayson, Colorado State
If we're out here avoiding early picks in the draft, Garrett Grayson is a name worth considering.
Grayson did a nice job of busting onto the scene in 2014. He completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,006 yards and 32 touchdowns, all while looking like a QB with next-level potential.
He has a strong arm, and that's big for Arians' system. That being said, Grayson isn't an easy evaluation. He really only has one good year of film under his belt. But he has flashed some potential at times, and it sure looks like he could turn into a serviceable backup.
As we learned last year, anything is better than Ryan Lindley. With the fear of injuries and Stanton's impending trip to free agency in 2016, Grayson could be a late-round pick for the Red Birds.
Sean Mannion, Oregon State
We're not going to sit here and write a love story about Sean Mannion. The Oregon State QB isn't an elite prospect based on personal film study.
Nevertheless, like most prospects in this world, you can find a bunch of positive traits. Mannion is accurate. He does a good job of placing the pigskin where it needs to be.
Acting like more of a game manager than a dominant presence, if thrown into a prosperous situation, Mannion should be fine. He can learn from the modern-day quarterback whisperer (Arians) and develop within the confines of that scheme.
CBSSports.com has the QB falling between Rounds 4 and 5. Depending on how the beginning of the draft shakes out, Round 5 is a spot you could justify the Cardinals taking another QB.
Bryce Petty, Baylor
It will be interesting to see where Bryce Petty ends up. Playing in Art Briles' offense down at Baylor, Petty was always a numbers guy. He put up points and looked good doing it.
Watching Petty play, you find the words "prototypical" emerging from your vocal box. But that's not even a thing anymore. There really isn't a "prototypical" quarterback in the NFL. Teams are way too creative to let that term become a reality.
Where Petty stands out is that he's able to make all of the throws. He's a strong guy, and his arm reflects that.
The negative part about Petty is that he played in a system that was tailor-made for QBs. Coming to the NFL, he's going to have to adjust his style of play.
Drafting Petty is probably a reach for the Cardinals. Based on the tape and his positive traits, Petty could realistically go anywhere from Round 2 to Round 4. Drafting a QB in that range is wasting a pick.
However, if the powers to be shatter, and Petty's stock slips, then and only then could we open up a dialogue about the Cardinals going after him.
Interior Lineman
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Before the Cardinals reached a deal with former San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati, this was a bigger problem. Iupati definitely soothes a lot of the interior line woes because he's a proven commodity.
Even so, there's always room to build the line with a youthful approach in mind. The draft gives the Cardinals that chance—especially when it comes to adding a center.
B.J. Finney, Kansas State
Listed as a center, B.J. Finney is the perfect mid-round candidate who could give a boost to the Cardinals' offensive line. He has the wherewithal and seasoning needed to play in the NFL.
In a review on what Finney brings to the table, Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com explained two characteristics that embody Finney's game: "durable and tough."
Adding Finney would be a smart move considering he's slated to be picked between the third and fourth rounds of the draft.
Shaquille Mason, Georgia Tech
When a player draws comparisons to one already on a team's roster, that's a good sign.
Shaquille Mason and current Arizona Cardinals center A.Q. Shipley are similar players—at least in the eyes of CBSSports.com's Brandon Thorn: "Like Shipley, Mason will be one of the shorter interior OL in the NFL but one of the most physical as well. Shipley was a seventh-round selection in 2009 and Mason will likely go much higher, but their impact on the next level will likely be similar."
Mason isn't a generational player, but if he pans out like Shipley, he could be a nice late-round haul for the Cardinals. Having the ability to play either guard or center helps paint a prettier picture around the 6'2", 310-pound center.
Mitch Morse, Missouri
Mitch Morse is versatile. During the time he spent at Missouri, Morse played both tackle positions.
He is now listed as a guard on sites such as CBSSports.com because of his build and skill set.
The tape reflects what Rob Rang of CBSSports.com pointed out. Morse's struggles mainly came when he was trying to protect the edge. As a guard, he won't have that issue, and that means he will be able to use all of his positive attributes to help a team out.
Keim and Arians need consistent and effective players. Morse easily fits both of those labels. He plays smart, and his technique is strong.
Because of that, connecting the dots between him and the Cardinals is a piece of cake.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats and information come courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.
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