The Arizona Cardinals had a dozen draft picks in 2019. All but two made the team. They also had an undrafted rookie make the team and a supplemental draft pick also make the team.
From Kyler Murray to Miles Brown, let’s see how they did.
QB Kyler Murray
Murray should be the league’s rookie of the year. Fans can vote for him to win it. He passed for over 3,700 yards, rushed for over 500 yards and had 24 combined touchdowns between throwing and running.
He set all sorts of team rookie records and overall had one of the best rookie seasons for a quarterback we have seen.
He played in and started all 16 games.
CB Byron Murphy
Murphy started all 16 games as a rookie and had ups and downs. He had an interception, 10 pass breakups and 78 tackles. He played physically and also made mistakes. The plan for him is to play in the slot, which he did down the stretch after Tramaine Brock was released.
WR Andy Isabella
Isabella was definitely a disappointment in terms of production. He appeared in 15 games, was inactive once, but struggled to get playing time. He had only nine receptions all season. Two were huge plays but he also was not targeted often — 13 times all season. He also returned five kicks and had four rushing attempts.
He struggled in the transition to the slot and eventually was moved back outside. This offseason and upcoming season will be critical.
DL Zach Allen
Allen basically lost his rookie season. He played four games before suffering a neck injury that set him back the rest of the season. He had eight tackles in those four games. They kept him on the roster six weeks after his injury hoping he could get back on the field but ultimately landed on injured reserve. The team liked what he had to offer so he is someone who could be productive in 2020.
WR Hakeem Butler
Butler never played a down this season. A hand injury at the end of the preseason landed him on injured reserve before the season even began. He was very up-and-down in his play in training camp but showed flashes of brilliance.
The bad thing is he was unable to practice all year so he is a big question mark next year.
S Deionte Thompson
He was given an opportunity early on in the season to play after D.J. Swearinger was released. Initially, he split time with fellow rookie Jalen Thompson. Deionte played in nickel packages. He got hurt and then his playing time dwindled as Jalen emerged. He was inactive the final four games of the season.
He played in 11 games, starting twice, and had 18 tackles and a quarterback hit.
WR KeeSean Johnson
Johnson was the talk of training camp and the preseason and began the season playing significant snaps on offense. He had five catches in the season opener. However, despite being healthy, he fell to the back of the depth chart and was inactive all of December for the final five games of the season as a healthy scratch.
He finished the season with 21 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown in 10 games.
OL Lamont Gaillard
Gaillard was inactive for 14 of the team’s 16 games this season. The only two games he was active he did not play. He wasn’t ever expected to play as he was behind Mason Cole, who was the team’s main backup interior lineman.
OL Joshua Miles
Miles was active in seven games this season. He played one snap in Week 1 as an extra blocker and replaced left tackle D.J. Humphries for two plays when Humphries came out with an injury in Week 9. He had 25 special teams snaps as well. He could be the team’s primary backup tackle next season if he continues to develop or he could even put himself in the mix for the starting job at right tackle.
DL Michael Dogbe
Dogbe, a seventh-round pick, was at the back end of the rotation on the defensive line. He was inactive the first four games of the season and seven of the first nine. He finished the season appearing in eight games and getting five tackles, one for loss and a quarterback hit.
He is an intriguing option for 2020 who hopefully sees his role increase.
TE Caleb Wilson
Wilson did not make the team out of training camp but was signed to the practice squad. He was on the practice squad for 13 weeks before he was signed by the Washington Redskins to their active roster. He remains with Washington.
S Jalen Thompson
Thompson was the last rookie to join the team, as he was a supplemental draft pick in July. He missed the entire spring but made an impact. He went from splitting time at safety with fellow rookie Deionte Thompson to playing every down. He was inactive once, played in 15 games, starting nine times.
He had 56 tackles, an interception, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hit.
He might be good enough that the Cardinals don’t need to go sign a starting safety for next season.
Miles Brown
Brown was the one undrafted rookie to make the team and played some. He started the season inactive and later spent six weeks on the practice squad. He played in nine games and had four tackles, one for a loss.
The team likes his potential as a nose tackle.
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