Why the Cardinals should draft WR CeeDee Lamb

The Arizona Cardinals will have many options on who to select with the eighth overall pick come April. The best pick would be CeeDee Lamb out of Oklahoma.

The Arizona Cardinals may not have the level of draft speculation that they had a year ago with the 2019 first overall pick, but this year’s incoming class has generated tons of hype for the fanbase.

The Cardinals, sitting at pick No. 8, have a few pressing needs to fill this offseason. Lucky for them, many of their positions of need are available to them in a loaded free agency and draft class.

As fans are aware, the team will be upgrading the following positions this offseason: outside linebacker, inside linebacker, wide receiver, interior defensive line, and right tackle.

Debates about the best use of the 8th overall pick are already running wild, despite the fact that free agency hasn’t even started.

The Cardinals have been most heavily linked to offensive talent, as the team appears motivated to surround their Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning quarterback, Kyler Murray, with as many playmakers as possible.

There are valid arguments for many of the top prospects in this year’s draft class. The team could very much use a right tackle to solidify the protection for Murray. There are two great receivers likely available to the Cardinals, so there is a large part of the fanbase advocating for one of the two. The Cardinals could also address their porous 2019 defense. While top defensive players like Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah and Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons are likely to be gone by the eighth pick, there are still others like Auburn defensive Derrick Brown.

While there are many great players that would make the Cardinals a better ball club, one stands out amongst the rest as a dream scenario for the front office, head coach, quarterback, and fanbase.

Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb is the best fit for the Arizona Cardinals organization.

A glaring need in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense:

CeeDee Lamb brings the physical presence at receiver on the outside that Kliff Kingsbury’s offense is missing. Kingsbury undoubtedly wants a star receiver this offseason, as his offense struggled at times without one.

Lamb’s incredible college football career netted 3,292 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns in three years. His 807 receiving yards as a freshman broke the University of Oklahoma record for a freshman receiver. I imagine that qualifies as a star receiver, no?

Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray are rightfully praised for their major contributions in turning the Cardinals offense into a formidable unit in 2019. However, throughout all this hype for their potential in 2020, many fans seem to forget how the team mightily struggled in the red zone at times. That is one of the areas in which CeeDee Lamb helps this team in 2020 and beyond. Having a dominant outside receiver in the red zone does wonders for an offense, and even if the ball isn’t going Lamb’s way on a particular play, his presence alone draws defenders to him, giving other players a better chance to make a play.

The Cardinals relied on a potent rushing attack in 2019, highlighted by Kenyan Drake, David Johnson and the constant threat of Kyler Murray’s running ability. At times when the running game was shut down, the rest of the offense did so as well. Take the first matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, for example. Their dominant defensive line kept the Cardinal running game contained, and the team suffered their worst loss of the season.

Perhaps the most telling need for another receiver is this: There were only four instances throughout the entire 2019 season where a Cardinals receiver eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark(Larry Fitzgerald vs DET, BAL & Christian Kirk vs BAL, TB). While Kirk is expected to take another step forward next season, the numbers illustrate a missing component to this offense. That missing link is a dominant outside receiver, which is a void that could be filled by CeeDee Lamb.

Kliff Kingsbury did the most with limited playmakers in 2019. It could be fireworks in Arizona if he is given high-level talent like CeeDee Lamb.

Release? pic.twitter.com/A3DSryGwbM

— CeeDee Lamb (@_CeeDeeThree) February 28, 2020

Familiarity with Kyler Murray:

CeeDee Lamb’s junior year at Oklahoma was played alongside quarterback Kyler Murray. With Murray throwing him the ball, Lamb totaled 65 receptions, 1,158 yards, and 11 touchdowns.

A huge factor of Kyler Murray’s successful rookie campaign was his familiarity with the Kliff Kingsbury offense and his relationship with the first-year coach. It allowed Murray to step into the NFL and play well from the start.

The same scenario would likely be the case for CeeDee Lamb, as he played in the same offense as Kyler Murray. The two have already developed chemistry in their timing and execution during their days at Oklahoma. The familiarity of the scheme and the obvious relationship with Murray would give CeeDee Lamb the best chance to succeed early, and make an impact for 2020 and beyond.

A chance to learn from one of the greatest

NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald committed to the team for another season. He may not put up the numbers he used to, but he still has arguably the best hands in the league and is the backbone of this organization.

With Fitzgerald nearing the end of his career, time is running short for the Cardinals to find someone to take over in his inevitable absence. By drafting CeeDee Lamb, the Cards are giving him a great opportunity to learn from one of the greatest of all time at his position. Fitzgerald was an active voice in the ear of Kyler Murray during his rookie development, and it’s safe to assume the same would be done for Lamb.

It’s a great opportunity for all parties. The Cardinals get two talented receivers in the short term, CeeDee Lamb gets to learn alongside Larry Fitzgerald, and the inevitable retirement of Fitz will be lessened by the presence of Lamb.

Final thoughts

Like I said, there are a ton of talented players available to the Cardinals in this year’s draft. There isn’t a wrong argument for who they should take with the 8th overall pick. Still, I believe the facts are evident enough to where the best player available to the Cardinals is clear.

CeeDee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 260

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DT Chris Jones must absolutely be the Cardinals’ top priority this offseason

The Arizona Cardinals will be looking to bolster their porous 2019 defense with big additions this offseason. They should look no farther than Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is a dominant force on the defensive line.

It’s no secret the Arizona Cardinals will be looking to allocate their offseason resources to fixing their porous 2019 defense, but how exactly should they go about doing it?

As if the answer wasn’t already clear enough, the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominant defensive Super Bowl performance against the 49ers gave Steve Keim and company a very easy blueprint for fixing their defense.

Sign defensive tackle Chris Jones to a lucrative contract.

The Cardinals are in desperate need of a revitalized pass rush. They have arguably the league’s best in Chandler Jones, but even he can’t do it all on his own.

Last Sunday, Jones had property in the 49ers’ backfield. He helped limit their potent rushing attack and made Garoppolo uncomfortable all night.

INTERCEPTION.

Breeland takes it back for the @Chiefs! #ChiefsKingdom

📺: #SBLIV on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app pic.twitter.com/HMA5XXYWO7

— NFL (@NFL) February 3, 2020

This was one of the biggest plays of the game for the Chiefs, and cornerback Bashaud Breeland will get most of the credit on this play. But pay attention to No. 95. Chris Jones puts immediate pressure on Jimmy G, forcing the poor decision and the subsequent turnover. Jones also had a couple key deflections late in the game that allowed Patrick Mahomes to lead their team back from a ten-point deficit.

There is a long time until March 18th, when the new league year begins and free agents can officially sign with new teams. Jones has been very outspoken about wanting to be a Chief for the entirety of his career, but it remains to be seen if Kansas City will be financially able to make that a reality.

Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes is due for a monster payday, and the team just dished out heavy contracts to DE Frank Clark and WR Tyreek Hill. Recent rumors have suggested the Chiefs and WR Sammy Watkins may be parting ways, so that would generate some cap relief. The Chiefs may also be in the market for extending star tight end Travis Kelce, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. Between Mahomes and Kelce, the impending contract extensions facing the Chiefs could leave Chris Jones as the odd man out.

So, what sort of contract would Chris Jones command? The two current contracts to keep an eye on are Philadelphia’s Fletcher Fox and Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams. Jones has played his way into the same conversation as these two perennial All-Pros, so the contract he receives will likely be similar to theirs.

Cox signed a six-year, 102 million dollar deal that pays him an average annual salary of 17 million. Donald, on the other hand, signed for the same duration but is making 135 million and 22 million per year.

With Jones playing as well as he did in Kansas City’s postseason run, coupled with his nine sack 2019 regular season and his whopping 15.5 sack 2018 campaign, one would expect him to receive a similar contract.

How does this fit in with the Cardinals? They certainly have a few notable holes to fill this offseason, highlighted by right tackle, wide receiver, inside linebacker, and defensive line. Many would argue that the Cards would be wise to use their cap space to fill more holes as opposed to spending for a premium piece like Jones.

That is the mindset that has kept this organization in mediocrity for five years.

The Cardinals need star power. They are on the right track with Kyler Murray at the helm, and have a solid defensive nucleus to build upon with Chandler Jones, Budda Baker, and Patrick Peterson, but they need more.

Chris Jones is one of the best players at his position- a position the Cardinals desperately need. Pairing Chandler and Chris Jones would spell doom for opposing quarterbacks every Sunday, which would in turn take heaps of pressure off the rebuilding Cardinals secondary. (Plus, you’d have two All-Pros in the front seven named Jones. Maybe it’s a sign).

If the Kansas City Chiefs are unable to extend their superstar defensive lineman, it is critical that the Cardinals pay whatever it takes to send Jones to the desert.

Follow @alexsuttonnfl on Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest Cardinals news and rumors.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 257

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Mel Kiper has two Georgia football players going early in 2020 NFL mock draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has two Georgia football players taken in first round of his 2020 NFL mock draft.

ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has two Georgia football players going in the first round in his most recent 2020 NFL mock draft.

With the No. 8 pick in the NFL Draft, Kiper predicts the Arizona Cardinals will bolster their offensive line by selecting Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas. Kiper has Thomas as the first left tackle off the board.

Kiper wrote:

This is about the range in which we could see a run on offensive tackles, and Thomas, who has played on both the left and right, is No. 1 on my board. I debated going with a receiver here; wouldn’t Kyler Murray’s former teammate CeeDee Lamb enjoy catching a few more long touchdown passes from his friend? But this comes down to protecting the franchise quarterback, and Arizona desperately needs help along its line, particularly at left tackle, where starter D.J. Humphries is a free agent. The Cardinals also have some defensive deficiencies, so keep an eye on a defensive back, too.

Running back D’Andre Swift is the second Georgia player that Kiper has going in the first round. He has Swift going to the Miami Dolphins, who possess three first round picks, at 26 overall. Kiper also has the Dolphins taking Too Tagovailoa with the fifth pick. What a tandem that would be.

On the prediction, Dolphinswire.com sounds content with the Swift selection.

Miami’s biggest area of need is improvement in the run game. Forget positional value — Miami has enough picks that they should be focused on finding difference makers for their team. Swift definitely fits the bill as a dynamic three down back.

Cardinals vs. Seahawks ultimate Week 16 preview

The Arizona Cardinals take on their division rival Seattle Seahawks in this exciting week 16 matchup.

When the NFL schedules are released in April, the annual trip to CenturyLink Field is always circled by Cardinals fans. The rivalry between the Cardinals and the Seahawks has produced some very memorable games over the past few years. Sunday will mark the second matchup between Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson, two of the league’s more dynamic quarterbacks.

Before we dive into Sunday’s matchup, here were some of the previous games at CenturyLink Field:

2018: The Cardinals lose on a last-second field goal by Sebastian Janikowski after a near-comeback by quarterback Josh Rosen.

2017: Blair Walsh misses a potential game-winning field goal as the Drew Stanton-lead Cardinals upset Seattle in Bruce Arians’ final game with the team

2016: Quarterback Carson Palmer and David Johnson put on an offensive clinic as the Cardinals win on a last-second Chandler Catanzaro field goal.

2015: The Cardinals and MVP candidate Carson Palmer get a statement victory on Sunday Night Football against the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks.

2014″ The Cardinals are unable to find any offensive momentum and lose 19-3 in disappointing fashion.

2013: In a game dominated by defense, Carson Palmer finds Michael Floyd on a long pass down the sideline to beat Seattle and keep their playoff hopes alive.

2012: The Cardinals suffer arguably their worse loss in team history, losing 58-0.

So, aside from two outings, the Cardinals and Seahawks games have always been very fun.

At this point in the season, there are fans who want the team to lose in favor of a higher draft pick. They’ve given up on the season and are already thinking about their favorite college player. In a game like this, fans should want to see a Cardinals victory, for a signature win against the No. 1 seed of the NFC would go a long way in the direction of the franchise. It could make the Cardinals a more attractive destination for free agents, which would improve the team quicker than any draft pick would. All in all, beating Seattle would be very beneficial to the outside view of the Cardinals.

With that said, let’s preview this game.

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Cardinals vs. Browns ultimate Week 15 preview

It’s Kyler Murray vs Baker Mayfield in this week 15 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Arizona Cardinals.

Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns was one of the more anticipated games of the 2019 season when the schedule released last April. While both teams haven’t had the kind of year they’d hoped, there are still storylines all over the field.

Baker Mayfield faces Kyler Murray in a battle of the 2018 and 2019 No. 1 overall picks.
Steve Wilks’ makes his return to State Farm Stadium as Browns defensive coordinator.
LSU standouts Patrick Peterson vs. Odell Beckham Jr. will certainly be one-on-one.

Before the season started, many thought this game had primetime flex potential. With a combined eight wins between the teams, that certainly didn’t happen. Still, the connections between these two teams make this an interesting matchup to watch.

Read on for our Week 15 preview:

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Chandler Jones should be NFL Defensive Player of the Year

While the Cardinals’ season has gone quite as they had hoped, one of their best in Chandler Jones should be given a great honor for his stellar play in every game.

The Arizona Cardinals have had a very up-and-down season so far. There have been moments of great promise for the future paired with equally concerning ones. Nevertheless, one constant has remained through all 12 games — the play of outside linebacker Chandler Jones.

Since Jones’ first season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2016, no player has had more sacks. Honestly, it really isn’t close. Jones has registered 52.5 QB takedowns, the next closest being Aaron Donald with 45. Previous Defensive Player of the Year winners in Donald and Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack just don’t have the stats that Chandler Jones has.

With that said, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year is for 2019 only. So for this award, previous stats don’t matter (although it gives a perspective on the kind of player Jones has been for years).

Let’s take a look at 2019, then. Oh, Chandler Jones is leading the league in sacks again.

Jones sits atop the quarterback takedown throne with 12.5 sacks registered on the year. Beneath him is Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Shaquil Barrett, who started off the year red-hot with nine sacks in four games. Since then, he’s cooled down a good amount. Jones looks like he’s headed for another season sack crown.

So, who else is in contention for the league’s best defender? Patriots corner Stephon Gilmore is having another stellar year and could take home the award. However, there’s another ballhawk defensive back that has been incredible down the stretch. Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick seemingly won games for Pittsburgh on his own. Since being dealt from Miami to the Black and Gold, Fitzpatrick has five interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown. He would certainly be another great choice for defensive player of the year.

In the past few years, it seems like the league’s best defender has been either Aaron Donald or Khalil Mack. While both have been very good for their respective teams, neither has had their typical best-defensive-player caliber season. Donald has been great, but hasn’t quite been the force he was last year. On the other hand, Mack only has 5.5 sacks on the year. Both of these players are still great, but their stats just don’t give way to another DPOY award.

Cardinals DC Vance Joseph’s defense includes a lot of soft zone coverage that allows for quick ball release by opposing quarterbacks, targeting the short and intermediate passing game. This obviously makes it more difficult for edge rushers to reach the quarterback, yet it hasn’t slowed down Jones one bit. As the young Cardinals secondary gets more playing time together, Jones’ numbers will only go up.

If Chandler Jones registers one sack in each of his last five games, he will finish the 2019 season with 17.5 sacks. If he has multiple sacks in at least two of those games, he would be close to 20 sacks. That is absolutely absurd. Jones has to be excited for this opportunity, especially considering the struggling Browns offensive line and the Rams(2x) coming up on the schedule.

Jones’s statistics certainly warrant the Defensive Player of the Year title, but the award has typically gone to a member of a playoff team. The Cardinals(3-7-1) have made great progress towards 2020 and beyond, but they won’t be in the postseason this year. Still, Chandler’s numbers should outweigh the record of the team.

As of November 24th, 2019, there has not been a better defensive player in the NFL than Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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