With the first few waves of free agency in the rearview, the Cardinals are in the midst of their annual draft prep. GM Steve Keim will lay the groundwork to bring in a new class of rookies to supplement the roster already built and forge a direction upon which a few more free agents are likely to be signed.
Here is the fourth position group breakdown.
Draft Primer: Inside Linebacker
Players under contract: Zaven Collins, Isaiah Simmons, Nick Vigil, Tanner Vallejo, Joe Walker
Need: Low
The Cardinals' situation: The Cardinals appear set at inside linebacker. Zaven Collins will start at the "Mike" linebacker position after the team released Jordan Hicks in March, paving the way for the 2021 firstround pick to have a larger role. Isaiah Simmons, the 2020 first-round pick, is the other inside starter and should take another step this season after a solid sophomore campaign. The Cardinals have several guys already on the roster for depth.
The draft class: Utah's Devin Lloyd and Georgia's Nakobe Dean headline the class of off-ball linebacker prospects. Both project as first-round picks in the coming weeks. Wisconsin's Leo Chenal, Georgia's Quay Walker and Channing Tindall, Montana State's Troy Anderson are other top prospects at the position.
The Conclusion: Although the last two Cardinals' first-round draft selections have been inside linebackers, that won't be the case this year. But with eight total picks in the seven-round draft, the potential of adding one late in the draft could still happen.
Images of the top inside linebacker prospects heading into the draft.
Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) readies for a play in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Nakobe Dean runs football drills during Georgia's Pro Day on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Wyoming's Chad Muma runs during an NCAA football game against Texas State on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in San Marcos, Texas. Wyoming won 23-14. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall (41) plays against Vanderbilt during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Georgia linebacker Quay Walker plays against Vanderbilt during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith (12) celebrates with fans following the 28-20 victory over Auburn after an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
National Team linebacker Brian Asamoah II of Oklahoma runs through drills during practice for the Reese's Senior Bowl Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal (09) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Montana State linebacker Troy Andersen calls out orders before a South Dakota State snap during a NCAA college football game in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Bozeman, Mont. (AP Photo/Tommy Martino)
Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Darrian Beavers (0) runs with the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Murray State Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Nebraska defensive back JoJo Domann, front, warms up during practice, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. Nebraska is scheduled to play Tennessee in the NCAA college football Music City Bowl Friday. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
LSU linebacker Damone Clark plays against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Appalachian State linebacker D'Marco Jackson (18) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Baylor linebacker Terrel Bernard (26) returns an interception against TCU during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas. Baylor won 29-23 in triple overtime. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (20) during an NCAA spring intra-squad college football game, Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Indiana linebacker Micah McFadden (47) in action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Bloomington, Ind. Ohio State won 51-10. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn (31) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Utah linebacker Nephi Sewell runs during Utah's football Pro Day for NFL scouts and coaches, Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Florida linebacker Jeremiah Moon (7) sets up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Charleston Southern Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Nate Landman (53) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona State linebacker Darien Butler (20) in the first half during an NCAA football game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Auburn linebacker Zakoby McClain (24) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
