With the Super Bowl complete, everyone is in full draft season. That means mock drafts from all over the Internet from many analysts. ESPN’s Todd McShay has a new mock draft.
For the Arizona Cardinals, who have the 16th overall pick in the first round, he has them landing a pass rusher.
His pick for Arizona is Miami pass rusher Gregory Rousseau.
Finally, an edge rusher. The last time it took this long to see one drafted was 2004, when Will Smith went to the Saints at No. 18. But you won’t hear any complaints from the Cardinals, who can jump on an opportunity to slide in a difference-maker opposite Chandler Jones (who is a free agent after next season). The Cardinals were tied for fourth in sacks this season (48), but 12.5 of those came from Haason Reddick, who is hitting the open market this spring. Rousseau opted out in 2020 but trailed only Chase Young in sacks in the FBS the season prior with 15.5.
Rousseau has length. He is 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds. The production in 2019 is undeniable. However, it is his only season of production, Having opted out of the 2020 season, 2019 is the only games the Cardinals have to go on, as he played in only one game in 2018.
Assuming he can be productive in the pros, the timing is good. He would get a season with Jones and could become the stud pass rusher as Jones gets older and less productive.
It is a premium position with a premium pick and a player who had elite production for one season.
The pick makes sense.
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