The Arizona Cardinals finished their work in the 2021 NFL draft selecting seven players. They added five defensive players, including three defensive backs — two cornerbacks.
They feel they got good value with their picks and followed their draft board.
However, when general manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury were both asked which player they felt was the biggest “steal” of the draft in terms of ability and where he was drafted, they both agreed on the player.
It was their fourth-round pick, cornerback Marco Wilson.
“I would say, based on need, going into the weekend and how things fell, Marco Wilson,” Kingsbury answered. “His athleticism, his workout, what we think of him as a staff and as a personnel department, he’s a big-time talent to get where we got him.”
Keim agreed.
“I would echo Kliff’s sentiments, really just because when you look at the big picture, the guy has got such a high ceiling and yet has a pretty high floor as well,” he said. “I think he’s going to be a really good player, and for him to fail with those athletic traits and his passion for the game, I think when you look at the risk to reward, I think it’s pretty high.”
They liked Wilson enough to move up 24 spots to get him. They did not have a fourth-round pick originally, so they gave the Baltimore Ravens their fifth-round pick (No. 160 overall) and a 2022 fourth-round pick in exchange for the 136th pick and also pick No. 210, a sixth-rounder.
They had to trade a future asset to move up to get him and still feel like he was a steal.
The last time the Cardinals traded up for a defensive back, it was for Budda Baker. That has worked out, as in four seasons he has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times and was also an All-Pro this last season.
Wilson has big potential. We will see what his role is in 2021 and what he becomes in the seasons that lie ahead.
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