With their offseason moves in free agency, the Arizona Cardinals have not played their hand at all as to what they will do or might do in the NFL draft next month. The way the roster is set up, it makes sense for the Cardinals to go a number of ways.
Whether it is drafting one of the top defensive players with the No. 1 pick, taking Kyler Murray or trading down, any of these scenarios make sense.
It makes sense to draft Kyler Murray
In terms of roster construction, it makes the least amount of sense to draft a quarterback first overall after trading up to draft a quarterback in the top 10 the previous year. There are salary cap ramifications as well. However, it makes sense to give Kliff Kingsbury and his innovative offense the best quarterback to run it. And if Murray is as good as Kingsbury believes, he could be special. It always makes sense to get the best quarterback.
It makes sense to draft Quinnen Williams
The dominant Alabama defensive tackle is considered by some to be the best player in the draft. The Cardinals have almost nobody on the roster on the defensive interior and have not addressed the position in free agency. They have a soon-to-be 31-year-old Corey Peters, Robert Nkemdiche and his torn ACL, plus players like Pasoni Tasini and Vincent Valentine, both of whom were late-season additions to the back of the roster of the worst team in football in 2018.
Adding a top talent to the mix makes sense and fills a huge need, especially when some think he can be as good as Gerald McCoy.
It makes sense to draft Nick Bosa
The Cardinals could take the talented pass rusher in Nick Bosa at the top of the draft. He still is considered by many to be the best player in the draft and to be an elite pass rusher. Edge rusher is a premium position in the league, one worthy of the top pick. In defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s system, he needs two good pass rushers. He has Chandler Jones on one side and 16-year veteran Terrell Suggs on the other, but adding Bosa would be like adding Bradley Chubb to the Denver Broncos with Von Miller. It would make the defense scary for opposing quarterbacks. Bosa would give the Cardinals continuity and price control at a position that requires a lot of money.
It makes sense to draft Josh Allen
For all the same reasons it makes sense to take Bosa, it makes sense to take Allen. Allen, though, might be a better fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He has the relentless motor and is believed to be better in space if he is asked to drop once in a while in coverage.
It makes sense to trade the first pick
Another potential scenario that also makes sense is trading down. The Cardinals have so many holes to fill on the roster that getting multiple first-round picks would allow them to get top talent to fill multiple positions instead of just one.
And if the price gets where they want it, they could also end up with two first-rounders in 2020.
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