Arizona Cardinals Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades

The 2015 NFL draft has arrived, and Bleacher Report is your one-stop shop for the Arizona Cardinals. This slideshow will provide quick reactions to every move the Cardinals make in the draft, so keep this handy throughout the next 72 hours. 

Entering the draft, the Cardinals have eight selections in seven rounds, including two seventh-round picks. Arizona doesn't have many glaring needs, allowing the team the flexibility with its picks to take the best player available. 

At some point, the Cardinals will want to add talent at the following positions:

• A power running back or a feature back to complement the Cardinals' vertical passing attack. Arizona's running backs have struggled staying healthy, which means another talented body must be added to the fold.
• An edge-rusher to keep the defense effective. Pressuring the quarterback helps force turnovers and hide weak spots in a defense. Arizona doesn't have an elite pass-rusher on the roster, so if one falls to the 24th overall pick, we may see the Cardinals swoop in for him.
• A center to complete the offensive line. Arizona's line is nearly complete after years of adding new talent to the group. All that is left is a solid center to make it whole. 
• An inside linebacker to help protect against injuries or a down season for the current core. Projected starters Sean Weatherspoon and Kevin Minter haven't proved to be reliable, which could lead the Cardinals to add more depth at some point in the draft.

These are just some positions that could be addressed during the draft. It will be a wild ride as always, so make sure you're buckled in with us for it. 

Check back shortly after the Cardinals' selections for a quick reaction!

Round 1, No. 24 Overall: D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida

The Arizona Cardinals were able to snag Florida tackle D.J. Humphries with the 24th overall pick. Instead of moving up to add an offensive playmaker, the Cardinals sat on their assets and took the best player available.

In Humphries, the Cardinals are getting a potentially dominant tackle. At 6’5” and 307 pounds, Humphries is a great athlete capable of developing into a household name.

He was a late riser in the draft process because he wasn’t expected to declare for the draft. When experts saw his film, they fell in love. NFL.com has him graded as an “instant starter”.

It’s a little unclear where Humphries will play in 2015, unless he bumps inside to right guard. Long-term, he could be the replacement for right tackle Bobby Massie.

It's hard to give this pick an A right now, since he may not have an instant impact on the Cardinals. Still, he's a good talent with major upside.

Grade: B

Round 2, No. 58 Overall: Markus Golden, DE, Missouri

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

To move back three spots to No. 58 overall, the Arizona Cardinals picked up an extra fifth-round pick, No. 158 overall.

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TRADE ALERT: Ravens Receive: #55 overall pick Cardinals Receive: #58 overall pick #158 overall pick (5th round)

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) May 2, 2015"

By trading down for Missouri edge-rusher Markus Golden, the Cardinals were able to get their guy and add an extra pick this weekend. Arizona desperately needed a talent like Golden, as outside linebacker was a position needing more help in 2015 and beyond.

The 2014 second-team All-SEC member was a team captain for the Missouri football team. His high character and motor were likely big selling points for Cardinals general manager Steve Keim.

At 6’2”, 260 pounds, Golden has good size and athleticism. He’s not a creator as a pass-rusher like the elite edge guys, but he will bring value on passing downs. He has good quickness and some bend to his frame, which allowed him to notch 16.5 career sacks.

Golden is considered a fairly low-upside prospect, as he doesn't possess great athleticism or rush moves. He wins more with effort than speed and power.

Trade Grade: A

Pick Grade: C-

Round 3, No. 86 Overall: David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa

With the 86th overall pick, the Arizona Cardinals address their backfield by selecting Northern Iowa running back David Johnson. At 6’1” and 224 pounds, Johnson will immediately give the Cardinals a new, dynamic look to work with.

Johnson isn’t a traditional running back. His role as a receiver out of the backfield is what makes him a unique talent. Statistically, the game that put him on the NFL’s map was his five-reception, 203-yard performance against Iowa in 2014.

His size and receiving ability will immediately earn him playing time. He’s not very flexible, so he must work downhill and attack with aggressiveness. Along with running back Andre Ellington, the Cardinals have one of the more explosive and dynamic backfields in the NFL.

Grade: B+

Round 4, No. 116 Overall: Rodney Gunter, DE, Delaware State

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The Arizona Cardinals moved up in the fourth round of the NFL draft to get Delaware State defensive end Rodney Gunter. Arizona traded picks No. 123, 198 and 241 overall for the right to select Gunter.

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Trade details: #Browns traded pick 116 overall to the Arizona Cardinals for picks 123, 198 and 241.

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 2, 2015"

Little is known about Gunter. The 6’4”, 298-pound end was ranked as a seventh-rounder and the 28th end in the draft by NFL Draft Scout.

His athleticism tests at his pro day were average, as his lower-body explosiveness seems limited. There isn’t much film available for Gunter, but he was projected as an undrafted free agent by National Football Post as well.

Grade: D-

Round 5, No. 158 Overall: Shaq Riddick, Edge, West Virginia

Chris Jackson/Associated Press

With the first of back-to-back picks in the fifth round, the Arizona Cardinals selected pass-rusher Shaq Riddick of West Virginia. Riddick is a freaky athlete who spent one year at West Virginia before entering the NFL draft.

Earlier in the draft, the Cardinals went with a lower-upside pick in Missouri’s Markus Golden. Now, the Cardinals add the long, prototypical project for their 3-4 edge-rusher role.

At 6’6”, 242 pounds, Riddick has immense upside. He was a highly recruited transfer coming out of Gardner-Webb prior to 2014. He was not a great fit with West Virginia’s 4-2-5 defense but still logged seven sacks in 2014. His speed, size and quickness make him a very good value in the fifth round.

Grade: A-

Round 5, No. 159 Overall: J.J. Nelson, WR, UAB

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

With the 159th overall selection, the Arizona Cardinals went back to the offensive side of the ball. UAB receiver J.J. Nelson was announced as the newest member of the Cardinals.

At 5’10”, 154 pounds, Nelson is extremely thin, but he's also lightning fast. Nelson ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine with a 4.28 time.

His role in the NFL is going to be a return man on special teams. At just 154 pounds, he’s the lightest player ever at the combine, so he could struggle to take hits in the NFL.

The Cardinals needed an electric return man, so Nelson makes a lot of sense. He immediately fills a hole for Arizona, so this pick earns a slightly above-average grade.

Grade: B-

Round 7, No. 256 Overall: Gerald Christian, TE, Louisville

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

With the final selection of the 2015 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals secured the rights to Louisville tight end Gerald Christian. The No. 256 overall pick has the honorable distinction of Mr. Irrelevant, which is a tradition that started in 1976.

Christian was a natural fit for the Cardinals offense with his blocking ability. He’s not overly fast or dynamic as a receiver, but he is one of the few good blockers who enters the NFL as a rookie.

Arizona doesn’t have a deep tight end spot, so Christian has the opportunity to make the roster in 2015. At 6’3” and 244 pounds, he has good size and the frame to add more bulk if he needs to.

Grade: A-

Ian Wharton is an NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. 
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