Tag: Arizona Cardinals

POLL: What grade do you give the Cardinals’ selection of LB Evan Weaver?

Weaver was the Cardinals’ sixth-round selection on Saturday.

The Arizona Cardinals added productive linebacker Evan Weaver in the sixth round of the NFL draft on Saturday. He brings fire and intensity. He was incredibly productive in college.

However, the Cardinals did not take a defensive back, running back or receiver in that spot.

What grade do you give the pick? Vote in the poll below.

[polldaddy poll=10543356]

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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LOOK: You’ll love this Lego version of Kliff Kingsbury’s draft setup

An exact replica of Kliff Kingsbury’s draft setup was made with Legos.

When the 2020 NFL Draft began on Thursday, the Arizona Cardinals tweeted a photo of head coach Kliff Kingsbury and how he was set up for the draft in his home.

It got a ton of attention.

Here is the photo.

It was one of the biggest takeaways of the first night of the draft.

His digs inspired a Lego replica a couple of days later. Check it out!

From the cabana, to the fire pit, the monitors on the table and even the water bottles on the floor, this Lego version of Kingsbury’s house is spot on.

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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Cardinals take Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin in 7th round

The hometown running back stays in Arizona and his fall in the draft ends in the seventh round.

The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their 2020 NFL Draft with a local fan favorites. With their seventh-round pick, No. 222 overall, they selected Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin.

Benjamin played three seasons for the Sun Devils before declaring for the draft as an underclassman. He was a workhorse.

He had 300 carries for 1,642 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2018 and then, last season, had 253 carries for 1,083 yards and 10 touchdowns. He played behind a very young offensive line and with a freshman quarterback in 2019.

He also caught 77 passes in two seasons as well.

He is a three-down back who moves the pile forward.

He will bring versatility to the running back room with Kenyan Drake, Chase Edmonds and another former Sun Devil D.J. Foster.

He is 5-9 and 207 pounds. He ran the 40 in 4.57 seconds but is explosive and quick. He has a 39-inch vertical leap, 6.97-second three-cone and 10-2 broad jump.

He was projected by many to be drafted as high as in the third round and he fell all the way to the seventh. But that fall is over and he stays in Arizona.

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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Cardinals add LB Evan Weaver with 6th-round pick

He had over 150 tackles each of the last two seasons for California.

The Arizona Cardinals added some toughness with their sixth-round pick of the draft. They used the 202nd overall pick to select Cal linebacker Evan Weaver.

Weaver was a tackling machine for the Golden Bears. He had 181 last year and 155 the previous. He combined for seven sacks and 20 tackles for loss.

He is 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, built like a linebacker. He was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American.

He does not have elite athleticism but is athletic enough for the NFL.

He plays with urgency and physicality. He will be a nice replacement in the linebacker room for Joe Walker and will fit in with Dennis Gardeck. He will have to contribute on special teams as a rookie.

It is unlikely he will see time on the field on defense.

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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49ers LT job changes in big way after trade, retirement

The 49ers trade for Trent Williams and Joe Staley announces his retirement.

Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones has a new one-on-one opponent this coming season when the Cardinals take on the San Francisco 49ers twice this year. The 49ers had two big things happen at left tackle.

First, they made a deal with the Washington Redskins, trading for left tackle Trent Williams. They gave up a fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft and a third-round pick in 2021.

Williams has one year left on his contract and is 32 years old. He did not play in 2019 and has not played a full 16 games in a season since 2013. He was a Pro Bowler every year from 2012-2018.

Following the announcement of the trade to acquire Williams, longtime starting left tackle Joe Staley announced his retirement.

Injuries limited him to seven games in 2019 and he has a neck issue that continues to bother him.

He is nearly 36 years old. In 13 seasons with the 49ers, he was selected to six Pro Bowls.

The 49ers lose one of the greatest at his position but also acquire one who is his equal when healthy.

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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POLL: What grade do you give the Cardinals’ pick of DL Rashard Lawrence?

Vote in the poll to give your grade of the Cardinals’ second fourth-round pick.

The Arizona Cardinals selected a second defensive lineman in the fourth round, using the 131st overall pick to draft LSU defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence. It was the pick they received from the Houston Texans as part of the deal for DeAndre Hopkins.

He was a three-year starter and three-year captain for the Tigers, this year’s national champions.

He is big, athletic and versatile.

He could contribute as a rookie.

What do you think of the pick? Vote in the poll:

[polldaddy poll=10543260]

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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POLL: What grade do you give the Cardinals’ selection of DL Leki Fotu?

Tell use what you think about the Cardinals’ first fourth-round selection.

The Arizona Cardinals used the first of their two fourth-round picks in the draft on big Utah defensive lineman Leki Fotu. He is 6-5 and 330 pounds and has quick feet.

He is a disruptive run-stuffing nose tackle. He fills a need and could contribute as a rookie.

What grade do you give the pick?

Vote in the poll:

[polldaddy poll=10543235]

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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Cardinals use second 4th-round pick on LSU DL Rashard Lawrence

They make a defensive line pick for the second time in the fourth round.

The Arizona Cardinals have made their second fourth-round pick of the day. They again use it to select a defensive lineman.

With the 131st pick in the draft, the pick they acquired as part of the DeAndre Hopkins deal, they select LSU defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence.

He is 6-foot-2 and 308 pounds and can move. He ran the 40 at the combine in 5.08 seconds.

He had 28 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for the national champion LSU Tigers last season. He had even more production in 2018 with 54 tackles, four sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

He can play all over the defensive line, so he has some versatility.

He should be able to push for playing time as a rookie.

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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Day 3 mock draft has Cardinals landing pass rusher, TE in 4th round

How about Bradlee Anae and Albert O in the fourth round?

The Arizona Cardinals will make two picks in the fourth round of the 2020 draft on Saturday unless they make a trade to change that. They enter Day 3 of the draft with a few needs they could address. Among them are a pass rusher and a tight end.

They address both in Draft Wire managing editor Luke Easterling’s mock draft of the fourth round for Saturday.

With their first pick of the round, the eighth of the round, they take Utah pass rusher Bradlee Anae.

He is one of my personal favorites for the remaining picks because he reminds me of a slightly more athletic Markus Golden, who has been solid in the pros. Anae plays with relentless effort and would be a great rotational pass rusher to have and, with a limited snap count, would be highly efficient.

With the second, the Cardinals are projected to land Missouri tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.

The Cardinals do not use tight ends heavily in the passing game but he is big and fast. He has developing he needs to do, especially as a blocker and route runner, but his player comp is Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens.

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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Cardinals don’t plan on Josh Jones starting in 2020, but he’s ready to jump right in

“To not have to rush him into a spot I think is going to be helpful for Josh Jones long-term,” said Kliff Kingsbury.

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Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim was adamant about the impact that the team’s first-round pick, linebacker Isaiah Simmons, would be an impactful player as a rookie. “He’ll find his way on the field, that’s for sure,” he said.

With the team’s third-round pick, they addressed what was considered their greatest offensive need — a tackle — and selected Josh Jones. Kliff Kingsbury doesn’t see Jones necessarily playing right away.

“To not have to rush him into a spot I think is going to be helpful for Josh Jones long-term,” he said in a video conference after the selection of Jones.

Kingsbury spoke hopefully about the return to health of Marcus Gilbert, who they feel was their best lineman before his knee injury. He said Justin Murray, who started 12 games in 2019 “developed tremendously” and also had praise for 2019 seventh-round tackle Joshua Miles.

Jones, though, believes he is ready to jump into the starting lineup, even though it would be at right tackle where he never played in college. He was a four-year starter at left tackle for Houston.

“I feel like I’m ready to play at that level against a lot of great guys,” Jones said in a conference call after he was drafted. “I feel like I’m definitely one of the play-ready tackles in the league right now in this draft. The Cardinals got a good one.”

Kingsbury was glad to hear Jones has confidence. He wants that in his players. “You want him to believe he can come in and play right away,” he said.

Jones projects more as a 2021 starter, as both Gilbert and Murray will be free agents after this coming season. When offseason work is allowed on the field and training camp can happen, it will be fun to see if he can push for the starting job.

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

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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