The Arizona Cardinals are playing host to Super Bowl LVII, as the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will play for the Lombardi Trophy Sunday at State Farm Stadium.
The Cardinals, of course, went 4-13 in 2022 and did not qualify for the postseason.
However, there are some connections between the Cardinals and the Chiefs and Eagles. In fact, there are some great “what-if” scenarios related to the Cardinals where things could be drastically different for all the teams involved.
The latest edition of the podcast, there were four Cardinals-related what ifs connected to the Chiefs and Eagles.
One has to do with the Chiefs’ best defensive player.
The Cardinals could have and should have drafted defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Jones had 15.5 sacks in 2022, which tied a career high he set in 2018. He has been a Pro Bowler each of the last four seasons. He was third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and was a first-team All-Pro this season.
He has 65 career sacks and 146 career quarterback hits.
He was selected 37th overall in the 2016 draft by the Chiefs.
The Cardinals drafted a defensive tackle with the 29th selection of the first round. That was defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche.
Nkemdiche was a highly talented defender who had off-the-field issues, The Cardinals vetted him and met with him a number of times because of the concerns.
Jones also came with off-the-field concerns.
The Cardinals selected Nkemdiche instead of Jones.
Nkendiche was a complete bust. The Cardinals cut him in 2019. He has played in only 38 games since being drafted. Jones has 65 sacks. Nkemdiche had 4.5, all in 2018.
The Cardinals have wanted a big-time interior defender. They had a chance to take one in Jones but went with Nkemdiche.
The Arizona defense would be much better and the Chiefs wouldn’t be what they are today.
Instead of Jones wrecking opposing offenses for the Cardinals, he is doing it with the Chiefs in the Super Bowl for the third time.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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