The Arizona Cardinals released a new episode of Flight Plan on Thursday focused on the 2020 draft and their six selected players. In the episode, we learn a few things about the process and the players.
What specifically did we learn?
Kliff Kingsbury was sold on Isaiah Simmons after combine interview
Simmons impressed the Cardinals in the interview with how he was able to break down his assignment and with his confidence.
After the interview was over, Kingsbury told the rest of the room, “I’m good with that one at eight, if y’all are.”
Cardinals seemed set on a defensive player at No. 8
In the episode, Keim was excited when the Los Angeles Chargers selected quarterback Justin Herbert. That left both Simmons and Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown on the board.
“We knew there would be a number of teams ahead of us that would take positions of need or quarterbacks, so we thought that there would be a run on offensive tackles or there could be a run on quarterbacks,” he said in the episode. “And the fact that three quarterbacks went before our pick, we felt like for sure that one of those dynamic defenders would be on the board.”
Based on Keim’s reaction to the Herbert pick, it would appear he would have been equally pleased to be able to draft Brown.
Josh Jones was more than just top-30 for Cardinals
After the Cardinals selected Jones in the third round, which was a surprise, Keim told reporters he was in the top 30 of their board.
In the episode he says the same thing, but in one clip we learn specifically Jones was No. 21 on their board.
They expected Leki Fotu to be drafted earlier
Keim says in the episode he thought Fotu, the Cardinals first fourth-round pick, would get selected in the second or third round.
Kliff Kingsbury is heard talking on the phone, presumably with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, about the pick and how defensive line coach Brenston Buckner really wanted Fotu.
Cardinals targeted DL Rashard Lawrence
Many, including myself, believed the Cardinals were zeroed in on Baylor defensive line pick James Lynch, and when the Minnesota Vikings traded up to get him, Arizona had to regroup.
That apparently was not the case. They ended up taking LSU defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence. We learn in the episode that they were already planning on Lawrence with their second fourth-round pick ifhe was still there.
Putting two and two together, it would be reasonable to think that Lawrence would have been their pick with the first fourth-round pick had Fotu not been on the board.
Kingsbury’s house is on a T-shirt
We know about the buzz that Kingsbury’s house got when it was shared on social media. State 48 made a T-shirt of the picture. Keim said he got one for Kingsbury.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 266
Ep.265
