The NFL Draft is finally upon us this week. While there has been a lot of talk about what Arizona could do at pick 8, how about at pick 72?
This player could also play a big role in this upcoming season, even if they aren’t a full-time starter.
Here are 10 players that could make sense for the Cardinals.
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Arizona has shown quite a bit of interest in Moss, having a FaceTime visit with him and spent time with him at the combine. He makes some sense in Round 3. He’s not a back that fits every system, but would make for a good one-two punch with Kenyan Drake.
Moss would bring a bigger body to the backfield room, but not only that, he would bring a surprising amount of elusiveness and ability to cause miss tackles. Those traits are what led him to be PFF’s number one ranked running back.
Moss finished 2019 with 1,416 yards for the Utes to go along with 28 catches out of the backfield and 17 total TDs.
Oregon LB Troy Dye
The Cardinals did sign someone to play alongside Jordan Hicks, who played well for Arizona last season but struggled to cover tight ends.
Enter Dye, who played well in coverage last season for the Ducks.
Dye is a bit of a smaller linebacker and may not fit the prototype of linebacker that Vance Joseph is looking for at 6-3, 231 pounds.
He may just be what they need alongside Hicks though, and with De’Vondre Campbell only signed through this season, would have time to learn Arizona’s defensive system.
TCU OT Lucas Niang
If you’re looking for a high upside tackle pick, should he fall to the top of round three, look no further than Niang.
The ex-Horned Frog has gotten lost in the shuffle with some risers at the tackle position, such as Ben Bartch and Ezra Cleveland, but comes with a nice track record at TCU:
With Marcus Gilbert and Justin Murray only signed for a year, it could make sense to add a security policy on Day 2 for Arizona.
Niang may not last that long, but other players of his caliber have fallen before.
Dayton TE Adam Trautman
The tight end class is not fantastic this year, but Trautman is considered by many to be one of the more complete ones.
He shown at the Senior Bowl, which would likely put him on the Cardinals radar, though he may not last until 72 given the lack of depth in the tight end class.
He could also see some time in his first year, but would not be rushed with players like Maxx Williams and Dan Arnold already at the position.
Tennessee EDGE Darrell Taylor
Taylor is someone Arizona has already shown interest in, and would potentially be a good add as a rotational edge player at pick 72.
He’s a larger defensive end (weighing in in the mid-260s) but has been a productive four-year player. Taylor finished with 16.5 sacks over his last two seasons as a Volunteer.
Utah EDGE Bradlee Anae
Anae was a headlining figure for the Utes’ stout defense this past season and brings a lot of fire and intensity with him to the position.
His overall athleticism might be questioned, but his play-with-his-hair-o- fire style may remind some of former Cardinals pass rusher Markus Golden.
He would make for a solid third-round selection with the chance to be a future starter in Arizona’s 3-4 defense.
Notre Dame CB Troy Pride
Perhaps no one player helped themselves more than Pride did this offseason, first at the Senior Bowl:
Then, at the combine, he ran a 4.4 40 yard dash.
This may be a bit high for him, given his lack of production at Notre Dame. However, given the need for cornerbacks in today’s pass-happy NFL, he may get pushed up to the end of Day 2.
Louisiana-Lafayette OL Robert Hunt
If Arizona is looking for someone who could have positional versatility at either guard or potentially tackle, Hunt might be someone to target in Round 3.
They’re already met with Hunt, and he could really add to their O-Line depth very quickly if they chose him at 72.
Utah DL Leki Fotu
Another player they have met with (and another Utah Ute on this list), Fotu has pretty solid athleticism (5.15 40 yard dash at the Combine) for a man his size (6-5, 330 pounds).
Fotu is a plus run defender that could see a lot of rotational snaps (especially on early downs) and could learn from Brentson Buckner about adding a foray of pass-rushing moves.
UConn OT Matt Peart
Another hot name in the offensive tackle list coming into the draft, Peart showed how athletic he was at the Senior Bowl.
Arizona seems to like to add athletic offensive lineman with upside to its arsenal, and Peart would seem to fit that mold, and Sean Kugler would likely love to work with a player like the ex-Husky.
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