The Cardinals didn't make a big splash in free agency, preferring to add lower-priced veterans to the roster before turning their attention to the draft. The prospect pool is considered deep this year, and General Manager Steve Keim will aim to add pieces that can make an impact in 2017 and beyond. The three-day draft will kick off with the first round on Thursday, April 27, where the Cardinals have the No. 13 overall pick. Position primers will be rolled out daily as it approaches.
Draft primer:Linebacker
Players under contract:Chandler Jones; Markus Golden; Deone Bucannon; Karlos Dansby; Alani Fua; Jarvis Jones; Kareem Martin; Gabe Martin; Zaviar Gooden; Scooby Wright; Cap Capi
Need: Low
Images of the linebackers projected to get drafted next week
ILB Reuben Foster, Alabama: Projected top-15 pick
ILB Haason Reddick, Temple: Projected first-round pick
ILB Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt: Projected first-round pick
OLB Takkarist McKinley, UCLA: Projected first-round pick
ILB Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State: Projected second-round pick
ILB Jarrad Davis, Florida: Projected second-round pick
OLB T.J. Watt, Wisconsin: Projected second-round pick
OLB Tim Williams, Alabama: Projected second-round pick
OLB Tyus Bower, Houston: Projected second-round pick
OLB Alex Anzalone, Florida: Projected third-round pick
OLB Ryan Anderson, Alabama: Projected third-round pick
ILB Duke Riley, LSU: Projected third-rounder
ILB Jayon Brown, UCLA: Projected fourth-round pick
ILB Anthony Walker, Northwestern: Projected fourth-rounder
ILB Connor Harris, Lindenwood: Projected fourth-round pick
ILB Kendell Beckwith, LSU: Projected fourth-round pick
OLB Vince Biegel, Wisconsin: Projected fourth-rounder
ILB Blair Brown, Ohio: Projected fifth-rounder
OLB Carroll Phillips, Illinois: Projected fifth-rounder
OLB Jordan Evans, Oklahoma: Projected fifth-round pick
OLB Marquel Lee, Wake Forest: Projected fifth-rounder
ILB Dylan Cole, Missouri State: Projected sixth-rounder
ILB Ejuan Price, Pittsburgh: Projected sixth-rounder
ILB Ben Gedeon, Michigan: Projected sixth-round pick
ILB Matt Milano, Boston College: Projected sixth-round pick
ILB Tanner Vallejo, Boise State: Projected sixth-round pick
ILB Elijah Lee, Kansas State: Projected seventh-round pick
ILB Hardy Nickerson, Illinois: Projected seventh-round pick
OLB Devonte Fields, Lousiville: Projected seventh-round pick
OLB Dylan Donahue, West Georgia: Projected seventh-round pick
ILB Eric Wilson, Cincinnati: Projected seventh-round pick
OLB Samson Ebukam, Eastern Washington: Projected seventh-round pick
The Cardinals' situation: Jones signed a five-year extension before free agency, so he and Golden will return as the starting edge-rushing duo. Bucannon is slotted in as one starter on the inside, while Dansby, signed in free agency, is projected to man the other. The Cardinals have a lot of talent at linebacker and hope this group can help the defense absorb some key losses.
The draft class: Dansby's signing was a stopgap, so the inside linebacker spot next to Bucannon could still use a long-term answer. Alabama's Reuben Foster is the cream of the crop, and while his athletic prowess would have him off the board before No. 13, off-field and medical concerns could make him available. Temple's Haason Reddick, Ohio State's Raekwon McMillan and Florida's Jarrad Davis are on the next tier at inside linebacker.
The conclusion: The Cardinals are stable enough at linebacker to head into the season feeling fine with the current collection. If they choose one, it would be a true best-player-available choice. Foster is an intriguing piece if he falls, as he could round out a potentially dominant unit alongside Golden, Jones and Bucannon for the foreseeable future. The signing of Dansby gives the team some wiggle room here, allowing them to select a linebacker early on only if they truly love the pick.
