The Cardinals have been at the center of the NFL draft conversation for weeks, sitting at the top of the league with the most picks (six) within the first 90 selections of the draft. There's a lot of areas the Cardinals will look to address through the draft. General manager Monti Ossenfort's first draft was a success, adding multiple full-time starters and role players that played meaningful snaps. He will look to replicate that performance when the Cardinals are on the clock. Before the draft kicks off on April 25th, let's take a look at each position group and see how the Cardinals may use the draft to evaluate their needs.
Primer schedule: S April 18; DL April 19
Draft primer: Edge
Players under contract: Zaven Collins, Dennis Gardeck, BJ Ojulari, Victor Dimukeje, Jesse Luketa, Cameron Thomas, Tyreke Smith
Need: High
The Cardinals' situation: Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis loves to utilize a rotation when it comes to the defensive front seven. The rotation has its benefits, such as keeping the players fresh as the games and season rolled on. But the room itself struggled to generate enough pressure, finishing near the bottom of the NFL with 33 sacks.
The draft class: It seems unlikely an edge rusher will make sense at No. 4, but there will be prospects available towards the Cards' second first-round pick at 27. Florida State's Jared Verse and Alabama's Dallas Turner likely won't fall that far, but players like Chop Robinson, Chris Braswell, and Darius Robinson have been mocked to the Cardinals in previous mock drafts. Laiatu Latu out of UCLA is an elite talent, but has an injury history that makes him a wild card.
The conclusion: Except for BJ Ojulari and Cameron Thomas, no other outside linebacker is under contract beyond this season. Besides forcing Justin Fields out of bounds in Week 16 against the Bears, the Cardinals did not record a sack in their last six games of the season. Finding an edge rusher that can help in that regard figures to be high on the priority list.
A look at some of the top edge rushers entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner (15) pursues Arkansas running back Dominique Johnson (20) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
FILE - Florida State defensive lineman Jared Verse (5) rushes the passer against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Syracuse, N.Y. Jared Verse was named to The Associated Press preseason All-America team, Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex, File)
UCLA defensive lineman Laiatu Latu (15) battles with Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (55) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson (44) pressures Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov.11, 2023, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell (41) sacks Chattanooga quarterback Luke Schomburg (17), but is called for targeting, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The targeting call was confirmed on replay. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson (6) against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams, left, gets away from Washington defensive end Bralen Trice during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac (20) celebrates a sack during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Massachusetts, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Utah defensive end Jonah Elliss (83) tackles Southern Utah running back Elijah Burns (15) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Kansas defensive lineman Austin Booker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
