Tag: Arizona Cardinals

Watch as Arizona Cardinals draft pick Max Melton once shut down Marvin Harrison Jr.

Max Melton was impressive this past fall against Marvin Harrison Jr.

With the selection of Max Melton in the second round of the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, the former Rutgers football star is heading to a team where he can and should see the field early. And Melton has already proven his ability to play big, shutting down first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. this past season.

Harrison, a first-round pick of the Cardinals (fourth overall in the NFL draft), was shut down by Melton during a Big Ten game last October between Ohio State and Rutgers. Have to think that Melton will remind Harrison of that during the Cardinals rookie minicamp.

Melton held Harrison to four catches for 25 receiving yards. It was the Ohio State standout’s second-lowest receiving tally of the season.

Rutgers had a halftime lead over Ohio State before falling 35-16.

Taken in the second round of the NFL draft (No. 43 overall) on Friday night, Melton brings plenty of experience as a multi-year starter at Rutgers in the Big Ten. Selected to multiple All-Big Ten teams over the past two years, Melton is an aggressive and instinctual defensive back in Melton.

He is coming off a strong NFL combine where he ran a 4.39 time in the 40. That performance, coupled with the Senior Bowl, helped elevate his draft stock.

 

Combative at the line, Melton uses his hands very well in press coverage. His hips are fluid and he has solid footwork.

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He is a sure and steady tackler. In coverage, he can match up well with smaller, shifter wide receivers as well as having the reach and length to challenge bigger downfield targets.

 

POLL: Grade the Cardinals’ selection of DL Darius Robinson

The Cardinals added a defensive lineman with some pass-rushing juice with the 27th pick in the draft

The Arizona Cardinals’ second selection of the first round of the 2024 NFL draft Thursday night was defensive lineman Darius Robinson.

Robinson played on the interior until last season at Missouri when he was moved to the edge. He had 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss and then was the top performer at the Senior Bowl.

He has versatility but will play mostly inside for the Cardinals, as things stand currently.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon is excited. Are you?

What grade do you think the Cardinals deserve for taking Robinson?

Vote in the poll linked here and embedded below.

You can see the live results of the voting here.

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

 

Max Melton taken in the NFL draft! Rutgers defensive back is an Arizona Cardinal

Max Melton goes No. 32 overall to the Arizona Cardinals.

Max Melton went in the second round of the NFL draft, landing with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 43. The former Rutgers standout landed with a team where he will have the chance to make an immediate impact and fill a very pressing need at cornerback.

The talented defensive back is coming off a strong offseason where he solidified a resume that saw him develop into one of the Big Ten’s top defensive players at Rutgers. The Cardinals, in need of help at cornerback, are getting an aggressive defensive presence in the NFL draft who is comfortable playing press coverage.

Melton has good length and is an aggressive, sure tackler. He is also a committed presence in the run defense.

During his four years at Rutgers, Melton was a multi-time All-Big Ten selection. The lead up to his Friday night selection was a tremendous build-up for Melton, starting with his running a 4.39 time in the 40 at the NFL combine.

Across his four years at Rutgers, Melton finished with 113 total tackles, eight interceptions, 20 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries in 43 games.

 

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The NFL bloodlines that Melton brings to the Cardinals have brought a competitive edge to his game. He is the younger brother of Bo Melton, a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers.

 

Cardinals land CB Max Melton with 43rd pick

Melton is the Cardinals’ second-round pick after they traded back eight spots.

The Arizona Cardinals made fans wait a little bit for their second-round pick. After trading the 35th pick to the Atlanta Falcons, they landed a cornerback with the 43rd pick.

With pick No. 43, the Cardinals selected Rutgers cornerback Max Melton.

Melton is 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds with long 32 1/8-inch arms and a 76 5/8-inch wingspan. He has speed an athleticism to spare. He ran the 40 at the combine in 4.39 seconds and posted a 40.5-inch vertical leap and 136-inch broad jump. At his pro day, he ran the three-cone in 6.96 seconds.

He is 22 years old.

Last season, he had three interceptions and picked off eight over the last three seasons. He broke up 21 passes in three seasons.

In addition to his play at cornerback, he also was a star special teamer. He was a starting gunner on the punt team for four seasons and blocked four punts in his career, including three in 2022.

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

 

Cardinals trade back from 35th pick, pick up another 3rd-round pick

The Cardinals move back eight spots and get a fourth pick in the third round.

Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort teased a potential trade back in the second round. That tease became a reality Friday afternoon. When the Cardinals were on the clock for the 35th overall pick, they made a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

They agreed to send pick No. 35 and their sixth-round pick (No. 186) to the Atlanta Falcons, moving back eight spots to No. 43 and picking up the 79th pick, a selection in the third round.

With the 35th pick, the Falcons selected Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro.

With the move back, the Cardinals added a fourth selection in the third round.

Their Day 2 picks then became No. 43 (Round 2) and then their four in the third — No. 66, No. 71, No, 79 and No. 90.

With four picks in the third, it seems almost certain they will try to trade back up into the second round.

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

 

Round 2 mock draft for Cardinals has them landing center

Touchdown Wire’s Round 2 mock draft has the Cardinals taking Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson.

The Arizona Cardinals started the NFL draft with two picks in the first round on Thursday, selecting receiver Marvin Harrison fourth overall and then adding defensive lineman Darius Robinson with the 27th pick in the round.

They now enter Day 2 of the draft with the 35th pick or third of the second round and three selections in the third.

What will they do? Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar mocked the second round of the draft and has the Cardinals taking Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round.

Powers-Johnson could slide into the starting lineup immediately at center, replacing Hjalte Froholdt, if the team wanted. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah believed JPJ can be a top-five center in the league, even as a rookie.

He also could play guard if the team wanted to keep Froholdt as the starter for another season. Their starting left guard job is very much up for grabs this offseason.

The Cardinals currently have no interior offensive linemen who have logged at least one NFL game in their career signed beyond 2024.

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

 

What jersey number will Marvin Harrison Jr. have with the Cardinals?

The way things look now, he won’t be able to have a number that is at all related to the No. 18 he wore while at Ohio State.

The Arizona Cardinals made receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday. While most people thought about the on-field impact he will have for the Cardinals, bolstering the passing game and giving quarterback Kyler Murray an alpha receiver to throw to.

However, those who are also fans of NFL gear wondered what number he will wear with the Cardinals.

It is a good question, even when fans aren’t able to get a Harrison jersey yet, as he has not signed a licensing agreement with the NFLPA yet.

He wore No. 18 for Ohio State.

Right now, that isn’t an option, as it belongs to linebacker BJ Ojulari, the Cardinals’ second-round pick last year.

Because he was a first-round pick, he got to hold a No. 1 jersey with his name on it when he was drafted. He can’t really wear No. 1 because that is Kyler Murray’s number.

His father, Marvin Harrison, is a Hall of Famer who played for the Indianapolis Colts. Could the son wear his father’s number — No. 88? That’s also a no, as that number is retired for J.V. Cain, who died in 1979 during practice.

No. 8? Also a no. That number if retired for Hall of Fame safety Larry Wilson.

No. 11? That would be bold. It isn’t retired for Larry Fitzgerald but it hasn’t been worn since Fitzgerald quietly retired. That number is expected to be retired.

No. 81 is a possibility. Murray wore a No. 81 Anquan Boldin jersey during the first round of the draft, perhaps a sign of what Harrison will wear?

Even still, No. 81 now belongs to tight end Travis Vokelek.

The way things stand, he will have to wear a jersey that has nothing to do with or even similar to what he wore in college.

When it happens, though, it will certainly be a hot-selling item.

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

 

Cardinals GM teases trade in 2nd round

Monti Ossenfort said Thursday that “options are going to be plentiful for teams that are interested in coming up to us.”

The Arizona Cardinals were the subject of many trade rumors leading up to the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Ultimately, they did not make any trades in the first round, selecting receiver Marvin Harrison fourth overall and defensive lineman Darius Robinson 27th overall on Thursday.

But a deal might be coming.

Following the first round, general manager Monti Ossenfort suggested they could be making a trade in the second round of the draft, which starts Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. Arizona time.

“I think our options are going to be plentiful for teams that are interested in coming up to us,” he said. “Just as today, I think we’ll be ready to pick a player at 35 and I think we’ll also have plenty of options in case we (want) to move around a little bit.”

The Cardinals currently have the 35th pick, a second-round selection, and the 66th, 71st and 90th picks, all in the third round.

They will be busy on Day 2 of the draft.

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

 

Former Cardinals OL Korey Cunningham found dead at home in New Jersey

Cunningham was 28 years old. He was a seventh-round pick of the Cardinals in 2018.

Former Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Korey Cunningham, age 28, was found dead in his residence Thursday, reported RLS Media.

Police and emergency medical services responded to the scene shortly before 3:30 p.m. after reports emerged of an unconscious man at the location.

Upon arrival, officials discovered Cunningham and promptly notified the medical examiner.

Per the report, Cunningham’s death was self-inflicted.

He was drafted in the seventh round by the Cardinals in 2018, starting the final six games of the season.

He was traded before the 2019 season to the New England Patriots, where he spent the last two seasons before two seasons with the New York Giants.

He appeared in a total of 31 games in his career, his only starts coming with Arizona as a rookie.

The Giants released a statement on Friday.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Korey Cunningham. He was a vital part of the spirit and camaraderie of the locker room. Our thoughts are with Korey’s family, friends and teammates.

Offensive lineman Justin Pugh, teammates with Cunningham in 2018 in Arizona and more recently with the Giants, shared a lovely story about Cunningham.

“We would invite him to the OL dinner every week even though he wasn’t on the team [on the practice squad] which doesn’t happen…ever,” Pugh wrote on X. “Team dinners are for players on the team only. Except for Korey….solely because he was beloved by all the guys regardless if you knew him or not! He’d tell stories and we’d laugh our asses off all night.

“Today is a sad day but I’ll always remember the good times and the laughs. Everyone who knew Korey Cunningham was better for it. The world lost a great soul.”

Our hearts go out to those who knew Cunningham.

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

 

The story of new Cardinals DL Darius Robinson and his ‘anaconda arms’

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart called Robinson “one of the hardest guys to block in our league.”

It’s in the arms baby, it’s in the arms.

That’s the case with Darius Robinson, the defensive lineman the Arizona Cardinals selected with the 27th overall selection in the first round of Thursday’s draft.

Most pre-draft projections listed Robinson as an edge player because that’s where he played last season at Missouri weighing 285 pounds on his 6-foot-5 frame.

However, the year before, he was at 305 and played on the inside.

At the NFL combine, Robinson said, “When I was at D-tackle, I was 305 my whole career. This past year, I got (down) to 285. (That) feels great right now, but like I told NFL teams, if you see me as a true edge, I can get even lighter, and if you see me going back inside, I’ll gain my weight back. At 285, I can continue to play everything.”

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said he loves Robinson’s “versatility” and “violence,” and referred to him as “a war daddy.” He concluded, “We will have a good plan for him.”

Robinson was enthused about being drafted by the Cardinals, and claimed he wasn’t “antsy” being in the green room at draft central in Detroit as the first round neared the end.

He said, “I knew AZ was the one for me since the beginning of this process. They were one of the first teams that met with me at the Combine and one of the first teams that met with me at the Senior Bowl, so I’m really excited to be there and ready to put the work in.”

Echoing Gannon’s comments about the plan, he said during his talks with the team, “I felt like they have a really good plan of action in how they want to use their defensive linemen in their defense, in their scheme, and to me it felt like I just fit in.”

Oh, yes, the arms, which measure 34.5 inches. Most important, he uses them well.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart called Robinson “one of the hardest guys to block in our league.”

The Athletic’s draft analyst Dane Brugler couldn’t stop raving about Robinson’s physicality, writing that he has “large, violent hands to hammer blockers and physically break down their rhythm; displaces tight ends like rag dolls; (and is) a power-based rusher, (who) wears down blockers with his upper-body strength and aggressive hand usage, deploying his anaconda arms to swallow ball-carriers in the run game.”

Frankly, I’m trying to picture “anaconda arms” swallowing ball-carriers!

Most important is that the Cardinals ended the 2023 season with linemen Leki Fotu, Phil Hoskins, Naquan Jones, Roy Lopez and Ben Stille on the active roster. Dante Stills and L.J. Collier, re-signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, were on injured reserve. Fotu is now with the Jets, while Robinson and veterans Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and Khyiris Tonga have been added to the group since March.

Noting that the depth on the line was tested last year, general manager Monti Ossenfort said, “You can never have enough big guys.”

Consider that mission accomplished.

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