The Arizona Cardinals

Up and down is the best way to describe how the Cardinals have been the last couple years. Kyler and D-Hop had the world buzzing for the first eight to nine weeks they were together and it really looked like the Cardinals would make their first real run since Kurt Warner. That did not, landing them top spots the last couple of years in the draft so let’s see how they did with the first four picks this year and talk about the future for the Cardinals.

At 4 it was easy to grab the best wide receiver prospect ever in my eyes with Marvin Harrison Jr (WR). Coming off back to back 1,200 and 14 touchdown seasons Marvin is the prototype receiver every team wants. He comes from a hall of fame bloodline and the speed, size and route running ability he has is just off the charts and you see all of that in his film. Harrison Jr will enter the team facility number one and will make his case for OROY and then best receiver in football very soon.

Staying in round one and grabbing Darius Robinson (EDGE) at 27 was another amazing grab for the Cardinals. Robinson moved to outside the tackle this year and had his best year yet in college and which earned him a first round selection from the Cardinals. Chandler Jones was the last pass-rusher the Cardinals had beside JJ Watt that could consistently get to the QB but now they just grabbed a young hungry player with great size to attack the edge for them.

Pick 43 Max Melton (CB) is someone I can see that may have been taken a bit early but with how the Cardinals were on defense I can see him coming in and performing very well. Posting his lowest passer rating allowed this year at 65.7 Melton showed very great improvement from 2022 and even grabbed 3 interceptions. I can see if Garrett Williams struggles, they give Melton a try on the opposite side of Murphy-Bunting.

The Cardinals just keep hitting on this draft and pick 66 Trey Benson (RB) is no different. With a contract looming for James Connor it was time to grab a cheap and very effective RB. Benson almost broke 1,000 yards but amassed 14 touchdowns in 2023 while grabbing 223 receiving yards. Benson shined in the 40 yard dash posting a 4.39 which I think is insane for someone at 6’ 1 220 pounds. Benson will be effective when they use him and it may be year two that he gets the starting role and he and Harrison Jr are the new Bell and Brown of the NFC though.

I really like how the Cardinals have gone about their last two drafts, gaining capital and then using it on the right guys. I give the Cardinals an A+ for this draft. The future of the Cardinals looks very very bright. I like what they have done and in a tough division it’s always going to be a dog fight but a year with 9 Wins is a good one for them because the team still has holes and is very young. A playoff berth exceeds all expectations!