There are many ways the Cardinals can “not panic” to fill their need at tight end.
The Arizona Cardinals still have a few glaring holes on the roster, though general Steve Keim has said they will not panic in terms of filling out the roster. One of those notable holes is at tight end. All they have on their roster is Maxx Williams, who dealt with an ankle injury all year, Darrell Daniels and Ian Bunting. Bunting has never played an NFL game.
There are many ways they can “not panic” to fill their need at tight end, even after re-signing Darrell Daniels to a one-year contract.
With these draft selections, the Cardinals could have a very promising 2021 season.
Well, the Arizona Cardinals’ offseason just got a whole lot more interesting after adding three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt on Monday. Their edge rusher room has become less of a concern than what it previously was. Drafting one could still be a possibility, but probably not until the later rounds. With just five draft picks this year, the Cardinals could have various ways they could approach it. With an NFC West division that continues to get stronger, this will be a crucial draft for the Cardinals with just five selections come April.
Here is the second edition of the Arizona Cardinals 2021 seven-round mock draft.
These five draft picks mentioned could really help them make a strong playoff push in an NFC West division that isn’t getting any weaker.
As we pass the Super Bowl, we are one week closer to the 2021 NFL draft. With a limited amount of cap space this offseason, The draft will be crucial for the Arizona Cardinals to address their most glaring needs. They also go into the draft with just five picks. So, the Cardinals will have to evaluate these players closely to see which ones fit the best with their team.
Here is a seven-round Cardinals mock draft with players who fit best with the team and can hopefully help them make a playoff push next season.
One big name is a player that screams consistency and that is the 6-foot-1 and 205 pound cornerback Jaycee Horn from South Carolina.
The Arizona Cardinals are coming off an impressive win against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, ending Seattle’s undefeated streak. The Cardinals defense are now ranked 20th in the league and they have lost some key players due to injuries like Chandler Jones and Robert Alford. General manager Steve Keim has transformed the Cardinals from a team that last year sat in the bottom of the NFC West to a now playoff-contending team. However, they have allowed an average of 247.3 passing yards per game, according to ESPN. One of the biggest struggles on consistency for their Cardinals is the cornerback room. While Byron Murphy is still young and entering his second year, he certainly has room to grow. However, there have been some nice flashes including his big third-down sack against the Seahawks. The Cardinals also only have Dre Kirkpatrick on a one-year deal, so they will need another secondary playmaker for their future.
Looking ahead into the 2021 NFL draft, there are talented cornerbacks the Cardinals could potentially select in the first round. One big name is a player that screams consistency and that is the 6-foot-1 and 205-pound cornerback Jaycee Horn from South Carolina.
Jaycee Horn has been nothing short of impressive throughout his past two seasons as a Gamecock. Last season, he finished with 40 total tackles and a sack. Through five games this season, Horn has 13 total tackles and two interceptions. He does a nice job keeping balance throughout the play and possesses a great amount of speed. Horn has gone up against elite talent like Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, Auburn receiver Seth Williams and Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith, all who have put themselves on the radar as early-round draft picks. One game that stands out for Horn so far this season is his game against Auburn where he was lined up against a big-bodied receiver in Seth Williams. Williams had 11 targets and only caught four of them for a total of 74 yards. Horn did an impressive job containing Williams by using his feet and hands to prevent him from making those big plays. Horn does a really nice job opening up his hips to anticipate the routes of the receiver. One play that analysts pointed out was against Florida when Horn was lined up against Pitts. As one of the commentators said, Horn stayed tight with Pitts and “worked back to get his arm wrapped low”. Jaycee Horn has put himself on the map as a first-round potential prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has the talent to an elite NFL corner and would be an integral part to the Cardinals defense.
Jaycee Horn has room to grow in certain areas of his game. He does tend to play high at times. This will be an easy fix for him, as he has been efficient playing low. He just needs to stay consistent with it. Horn has been impressive lining up against big-bodied receivers. However, sometimes he is not as physical as he should be, which isn’t necessarily a red flag. Horn certainly has shown physicality at times, but if he can play even more physical and aggressive, that will help him immensely at the next level when he is going up against elite talent.
Jaycee Horn would be an immediate impact for the Cardinals’ secondary. With his speed, vision and consistency, Horn very well could be selected in the first round of the draft, and he would be the perfect pick for the Cardinals. He has areas of his game to work on, but Horn has made a name of himself as one of the top corners in the draft this year.
One player that would be a perfect fit for the future of the Cardinals’ edge rushing core is Penn State’s Shaka Toney.
Entering week seven of the NFL season, the Arizona Cardinals have started to get their momentum back, despite losing pass rusher Chandler Jones to a torn biceps, which ends his 2020 season. However, they did go out and trade for New York Giants edge rusher Markus Golden for a 2021 sixth-round pick. The Cardinals have talented edge rushers, but it is still an area of concern. They have Devon Kennard on a three-year deal and Jordan Phillips through the 2022 season. Markus Golden is only with the Cardinals through this season, and they need another player that possesses elite speed with a high motor.
The Cardinals will have some talented edge rushers to choose from in the 2021 NFL Draft. One player that would be a perfect fit for the future of the Cardinals’ pass-rushing corps is Penn State’s Shaka Toney.
Shaka Toney has a tremendous burst of speed and has the talent to be a key contributor for the Cardinals’ defense. The 6-foot-3 and 253-pound edge rusher has the athletic ability to make big plays out of nowhere, as he has done before. Toney plays with a high motor and uses his athleticism to his advantage. Penn State is without arguably one of the most talented prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft in Micah Parsons to an opt-out. They still have both Toney and Jayson Oweh as their top defensive stars. Last season, Toney recorded 40 total tackles and 5.5 sacks. The minute he stepped onto the field for the first time as a Nittany Lion, he was an immediate contributor. In 2017, Toney was named to the All-Freshman team by BTN.com, recording 17 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. Toney is one of the most impressive edge rushers in the Big Ten that should not be overlooked.
Shaka Toney is an impressive talent. However, there are two traits that he will have to polish up. First, Toney’s technique is impressive, he just needs to stay consistent with it. He is powerful with his rip move, but there are times where he will rely too much on his athleticism, meaning he will play too high and is not as active with his hands as he should be. Toney can also be a bit of a high tackler at times. This is an area where he should not have too much of a problem polishing up, as he has been on his game before of being an efficient tackler.
Shaka Toney has the talent to be a key contributor for the Arizona Cardinals. He possesses elite speed and athleticism that Vance Joseph will fall in love with. He has room to grow and with the loss of Micah Parsons to the NFL Draft, this is a big opportunity for Toney to take that big leap in his final season as a Penn State Nittany Lion.
Looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft, there are a few players that the Cardinals could grab in the first three rounds to help their run game
As Week 5 of the NFL gets underway, the Arizona Cardinals are coming off a two consecutive losses to teams many felt were inferior. The offense recorded just 109 yard on the ground against the most complete team Lions head coach Matt Patricia has ever had in his coaching tenure in Detroit, while the Cardinals running backs mustered only 51 rushing yards in Carolina. As the Cardinals pass blocking has taken a decent step to improvement, their run blocking still needs to be addressed.
The Arizona Cardinals recently extended 27-year-old guard Justin Murray, who has come a long way since being claimed off waivers by the Cardinals in 2019. In addition, offensive guard J.R. Sweezy was seen as a surprise cut candidate for the Cardinals because of his lack of progression. The team still needs depth in that area to help them flourish in the run game.
Looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft, there are a few players that the Cardinals could grab in the first three rounds to help their run game thrive and stay consistent. One of those names is USC offensive guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
The USC Trojans have some talented prospects coming into next year’s draft including Jay Tufele and Amon Ra St. Brown and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Tucker stands 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds who is versatile force with a tremendous amount of upper body strength. Like former Trojan and Miami Dolphins rookie offensive tackle Austin Jackson, Alijah Vera-Tucker is an athletic machine that moves very well for his size. He is productive as a run and pass blocker. As a run blocker, Tucker has a nice burst of speed of the ball as a pulling guard that uses his hands efficiently to win those one-on-one matchups. As a pass blocker, he has elite technique that keeps a steady balance throughout plays. He recorded an 88.6 pass blocking grade in 2019 with no sacks or QB hits, according to Pro Football Focus. Alijah Vera-Tucker is a versatile talent at his position and would be a nice addition to the struggling Cardinals run game.
Tucker has room to grow in certain areas of his game. First, he does not have the greatest vision. There are times, specifically in games like USC’s matchup against Utah in 2019, where Tucker did not get comfortable until late in the game. He would let guys with elite speed run right by him ease. Tucker is quick, but he needs to develop that vision to peel off onto other opponents and get to his assignments more efficiently. Second, you don’t see too much bull rushing from Tucker. He has the power and athleticism to do so, but there have been times, like his game against Notre Dame in 2019, where he wouldn’t have the leverage because he was blocking shoulder pads high and he wouldn’t drive his feet. This causes Tucker to lose that battle. He does have the talent, speed and athleticism to develop this trait efficiently.
Teams fall in love with versatility at the offensive line position, and Alijah Vera-Tucker has all the tangibles to have a successful NFL career. He is a player that will not only give the Cardinals a nice boost in their pass blocking, but his run blocking efficiently is something that will help them immensely.
If the Cardinals were to move on from Kenyan Drake, a great replacement would be Clemson product Travis Etienne.
Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season is here as the Arizona Cardinals take on the San Francisco 49ers. There are many pros to this team, specifically long-term. From making big additions both offensively and defensively, to locking down perhaps the best receiver in the game in DeAndre Hopkins long term, this team is built to win. However, one of the Cardinals’ biggest long term position has yet to be answered, and that is the running back position. Back in June, Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake spoke out to the media saying he is not worried about an extension with the Cardinals. On another note, the Arizona Cardinals also said that they see Chase Edmonds as a starting running back. Edmonds is under contract for another two seasons and has been a reliable complement to Kenyan Drake. Lastly, the Cardinals also drafted Eno Benjamin in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He might just be the Cardinals’ gem of the draft who has all the tools and skillset to be in the Cardinals backfield long-term.
However, as the season begins, there have been no updates on the Kenyan Drake extension talks. If the Cardinals were to move on from him, a great replacement would be none other than the best running back in the draft and Clemson product Travis Etienne.
Etienne shocked the college football world by returning to Clemson for his senior year. He racked up over 3,200 yards and 43 touchdowns as a Tiger the past two seasons. Etienne plays with a lot of power and intensity. Once he finds that open hole, he is tough to catch. As lean as he is, he still makes people overlook that case with his explosiveness and ability to power through defenders. The Cardinals need a running back that will flourish in both the run and passing game. We saw what David Johnson was able to do during his time in Arizona. His versatility is something that the Cardinals fell in love with right away. Travis Etienne can be just that.
Etienne’s receiving ability is not something that will jump out at you. However, in 2019 he was utilized in the passing game more than he ever has been in his three years at Clemson, recording 432 yards and four touchdowns. This is an area Etienne will have to polish up, but 2019 was definitely a promising year for him in the passing game, showing that he can be that guy in their backfield that can do it all.
Due to his body frame, Etienne can be inconsistent with his pass blocking. One of his games that stood out in this area of weakness was his 2019 matchup against North Carolina. There were times where he would use his shoulders but lack the technique to finish his blocks. There are some running backs that have this weakness coming into the league, and even some that still struggle with it in the NFL. This is something that Etienne will have to polish up as well, and he has all the skill and tangibles to do it.
Etienne also struggles at times with his decision making. This is probably a weakness that he will have to polish up more than others. As quick as he is, Etienne struggles to find those tight holes. He will immediately lose the battle because he either panics or will hop around in the backfield trying to find an open hole. He needs to develop that elite vision for teams to feel confident in using him as their workhorse running back. As for the Cardinals, Etienne will have to face Aaron Donald and Nick Bosa twice a year, two of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFC West. So, he would certainly have his work cut out for him, but he is talented enough to develop this trait.
Travis Etienne is going to do great things in the NFL. He would be the perfect long-term answer for the Arizona Cardinals if they end up letting Kenyan Drake walk. Etienne is a unique type of talent because his speed, versatility and elusiveness make scouts and analysts overlook the case of him being undersized. He has room to grow and with his tape right now, Etienne is first-round talent that any team like the Cardinals would love to have in their backfield.
Fotu has tremendous upside and will be a fun player to watch grow and develop into the Cardinals’ defense as an elite run stopper.
The Arizona Cardinals made all the right moves this offseason in both free agency and the draft. One of the main areas of concern for them was their run defense, which ranked well below-average in 2019. However, the Cardinals made a huge addition by selecting Utah defensive tackle Leki Fotu in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, who has the talent to be an elite run stopper for the Arizona Cardinals. You may not see an immediate impact from Fotu, as Jordan Phillips and Corey Peters are ahead of him. He may be that exciting role player for Cardinals’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to plug in on certain plays.
Leki Fotu is a very unique type of player. He was recruited by Utah as a standout rugby athlete and his highlights are not something to mess around with.
Fotu has already been impressing in training camp, and other players like Jordan Phillips have quickly taken notice. Last week, Arizona Cardinals defensive line coach Brenton Buckner compared Fotu to Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Vita Vea, whom Buckner coached in 2018. Fotu is another guy that will be able to create disruption for the Cardinals’ run defense, an area where Fotu is more polished in than the pass rush. He ran a 5.15-second 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine, which was faster than Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (5.16) and Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Benito Jones (5.26). Fotu also weighed in as the heaviest defensive lineman at the combine, according to NFL Draft. It is actually quite impressive how well he is able to move around given his size and how heavy he is.
Fotu is another big-bodied player the Cardinals can plug in on their front defensive line. The 6-foot-5 and 335-pound tackle has played all around the interior defensive line, but he excels the most as a nose tackle. Fotu has a tremendous amount of upper body strength to create chaos in the run game. At Utah, it was quite easy for him to gain leverage right away because of his size. If you are lined up against him, he is one tough player to move. For his size and as heavy as he is, Fotu plays with a lot of power and explosiveness.
Fotu has room to grow in areas like the passing game, where he currently lacks the quickness to be that effective pass rusher. However, given his size and athleticism, Fotu has tremendous upside and will be a fun player to watch grow and develop into the Cardinals’ defense as an elite run stopper for years to come.
Looking ahead into the 2021 NFL Draft, one player that stands out and would give Kyler Murray another elite target is Miami TE Brevin Jordan
As the Arizona Cardinals begin training camp, they bring in some new faces like WR DeAndre Hopkins and LT Kelvin Beachum. Even though they did address a few key positions this offseason, there are still some that leave question marks.
One of the biggest needs that the Cardinals still need to address is the tight end position. The Cardinals extended Maxx Williams to a two-year extension. However, outside of him, there is quite a bit of unproven talent and the Cardinals need a big-bodied guy that will really flourish in their offense.
The tight end position is arguably one of the toughest to learn in the NFL. It is a position where you have so many responsibilities and it takes a lot of skill. We have seen some teams go through several tight ends throughout the past few years, while others like the Cardinals are still struggling to find their answer at. If they can find one long-term, their offense would be even scarier than it already is.
Looking ahead into the 2021 NFL Draft, there are a few tight ends that the Cardinals could select early. One big name that stands out among others that would really help the Cardinals and give Kylar Murray another elite target is Miami TE Brevin Jordan.
Brevin Jordan-Tight End/Miami
Strengths
Miami Hurricanes know how to utilize tight ends really well in their offense. Brevin Jordan is an absolute machine and not only does he have impressive speed, but he does a nice job of creating separation with his defenders. The 6-foot-3 and 235-pound tight end is another guy that uses his body to his advantage by trucking defenders that he sometimes makes look effortless. Another trait that really stands out among other 2021 tight end prospects is his yards after catch rating. In 2019, Jordan averaged 8.9 yards after the catch per reception. That is the most by any Power Five tight end with at least 45 targets, according to 24/7 Sports. Jordan also has elite hands. In 2019, he recorded 495 yards, two touchdowns and only one dropped pass. Brevin Jordan would be both a reliable and consistent weapon for Kylar Murray and the Cardinals would have another franchise cornerstone on their offense.
Weaknesses
The biggest issue with Brevin Jordan is his blocking. There are times where he does a nice job staying square with his body and uses good technique. However, there are some plays where he will start too high and lose leverage, causing the defender to slip right through him. Overall, there are some good areas of his blocking and other areas he needs to work on. He just needs to stay consistent with it.
Brevin Jordan would be a huge addition to the Arizona Cardinals and would be the answer to their tight end concerns. As Jordan’s rise up the draft boards continues, the Cardinals’ franchise player at the tight end position still awaits.
The future of the Cardinals running back position is in question, but Eno Benjamin might be their draft gem that will come in and compete.
The future of the running back position for the Arizona Cardinals is in question, as Kenyan Drake is playing this season on the one-year transition tag tender and Chase Edmonds has just two years left remaining on his rookie contract. However, seventh-round pick Eno Benjamin, a running back selected out of Arizona State, might just be the Cardinals’ gem of the draft.
Benjamin was projected to get drafted as high as the third round, but he fell all the way to the seventh, giving him great value for the Cardinals. In three years for the Sun Devils, Benjamin racked up nearly 3,000 rushing yards with 27 touchdowns. He not only put on an impressive showing in the run game, but he was a reliable asset in the receiving game, recording over 600 yards and four touchdowns. These stats might not be impressive, but it shows just how capable Benjamin is in the passing game. He is everything you want in an NFL running back. He could develop into a reliable asset in the passing game for the Cardinals.
Eno Benjamin has the talent to not only come in and compete, but also be in the Cardinals backfield long-term. Even though receiver Brandon Aiyuk, drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers, was the top weapon for Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels, Benjamin played a crucial role in that offense. He was the heart and soul of that run game and was a leader for the Sun Devils offense.
Now, with every rookie comes weaknesses and one of the biggest ones for Benjamin was his consistency in the passing game. This is an area where Benjamin will need the most grooming. To start, he is not the most diverse route runner. He needs to have more of an expanded route tree for the Cardinals to feel confident in using him in the passing game.
Benjamin is also more of a chip blocker, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if he relies on that skill, he will have a tough time getting by with it in the NFL, as he might have to face guys like Aaron Donald and Nick Bosa twice a year.
Unlike several running backs in this draft class, Benjamin’s 4.57 speed is not something that will wow you. He is not a running back that is tough to catch down the field. However, Benjamin’s shiftiness is a unique trait of his that should translate well into the NFL.
Benjamin is also a bit undersized, standing at 5-foot-9 and 207 pounds. But that doesn’t seem to affect his game much, as he is still a powerhouse in the run game and will still make defenders pay.
Isaiah Simmons might have been the Cardinals’ steal of the draft, but they are really getting something special in Eno Benjamin and for the future of their run game. He has all the tools and skillset to help the Cardinals succeed.
