Tag: Arizona Cardinals

What do Day 2 mock drafts say the Cardinals will do in 3rd round?

Experts were nearly unanimous in having Arizona address their need on the offensive line with their pick at 72.

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Arizona only has one pick as of right now on Day 2 – Pick 72 in Round 3. Here are what a few experts think they will do with that pick:

Lance Zeurlein, NFL.com: Antonio Gibson, RB/WR Memphis

Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU: 

The Cardinals have to address the offensive line for Kyler Murray, and Niang has rare movement skills for someone his size.

Luke Easterling, DraftWire: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU

Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: Ben Bartch, OT, St.John’s

Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated: Matt Peart, OT, UConn

The vast majority of the Day 2 mock drafts have Arizona selecting an offensive lineman after they chose Isaiah Simmons in Round 1 it seems.

It makes a lot of sense to have a plan in place for 2021 to protect Kyler Murray on the right side now that the left side is locked up with DJ Humphries.

Niang, the most popular pick, makes a lot of sense after playing right tackle for the Horned Frogs. He’s athletic and falls because of his injury history, but may very well be worth the 72nd overall pick.

The outlier, of course, is Gibson, who would probably fill the backup running back role for Arizona as well as potentially becoming involved as a kick returner.

Day 2 will be a long wait for most Arizona fans, but they may be happy if they land someone who can help out Kyler Murray in the long run.

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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 2 mock draft simulation for Cardinals

A couple of simulations provided strikingly different results for pick 72 for the Cards.

One of the most fascinating parts of the NFL Draft might be Day 2, as sometimes players have fallen out of the first round, and teams waiting at the top of Round 2 snatch them up.

This year, however, for Cardinals fans the excitement will be mitigated since Arizona will not pick (barring a trade up or down) until pick 72. Cardinals fans can rejoice at pick 40 however, knowing that this bought them the rights to DeAndre Hopkins.

Given the lack of picks this year for the Cardinals, who have only six in the entire draft, a trade up seems unlikely unless a player with a solid Round 1 grade for them falls to the end of Round 2 or top of Round 3.

In the meantime, I ran through Day 2 on the Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine to see who was available at pick 72 for Arizona – here are the top 10 players according to their board:

S Jeremy Chinn, S Kyle Dugger, S Ashtyn Davis, WR Tee Higgins, IDL Raekwon Davis, IDL Davon Hamilton, EDGE Curtis Weaver, TE Cole Kmet, RB/WR Antonio Gibson, EDGE Julian Okwara

In this simulation, any of these players could fill a potential need for Arizona, although the 3 safeties seem not needed. Getting defensive line help would seem like the best fit here, so that narrowed the pick down to Davis, Hamilton, Weaver, and Okwara.

For those wondering, the highest 2 offensive tackles left were Prince Tega Wanogho and Matthew Peart.

In the end, Weaver was the pick, with Edge being a more premium position, but in reality, any of the last seven on the list would make some sense for Arizona.

I also ran the mock draft simulator over at PFF to see what the 10 players could be left according to their board, and had quite a different, and potentially more exciting outcome for Cardinals fans:

RB DeAndre Swift, RB Jonathan Taylor, G Jonah Jackson, EDGE Terrell Lewis, RB JK Dobbins, TE Cole Kmet, CB Troy Pride, S Terrell Burgess, EDGE Darrell Taylor, IDL Davon Hamilton

It would be surprising to see Arizona pass on a running back if this is the way the board fell, although they could potentially trade back in this scenario, given that it’s highly unlikely that Swift, Taylor and Dobbins all fall to pick 72.

The pick here might be one of them, although Hamilton, Lewis and Taylor would all make sense to fortify the defensive line. In the end, the pick was Swift as the top rated running back (no teams wanted to trade up).

What are your thoughts Cardinals fans? Would any of these players make Day 2 a success for 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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Isaiah Simmons models his game after a former Cardinals player

He looks to Tyrann Mathieu and Derwin James for their vesatility.

Versatility is the word everyone keeps using to describe Arizona Cardinals first-round pick Isaiah Simmons. Listed as a linebacker by the team, he played a little bit of everything on defense in his time at Clemson.

He played linebacker, as a pass rusher, as a safety, in the slot and sometimes even as a boundary cornerback.

General manager Steve Keim describes him as “unusual, unique and dynamic.”

He unlike almost all players in the league.

He does, though, have players he models his game after. One is a former Arizona Cardinals defensive back.”

“Like the former Cardinal Tyrann Mathieu, his versatility that he has within his game, as well as (Los Angeles Chargers safety) Derwin James,” Simmons told the media after his selection. “We kind of played similar roles, so I definitely would say I modeled many parts of my game after those two.”

The key for the Cardinals will be using him in a variety of ways. Will defensive coordinator Vance Joseph be able to find ways to maximize his skillset?

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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 set to make only one selection on Day 2 of the draft

The Cardinals do not have a second-round pick in the draft so they must wait 39 picks to make their selection on Friday.

The Arizona Cardinals didn’t have to wait long on Thursday to make their pick in the first round of the 2020 draft. They had the eighth overall pick.

They will have to wait a while on Day 2, which begins Friday afternoon.

They only have one pick in the second and third rounds. They traded their second-round selection to the Houston Texans in the deal to acquire receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

So they will have their one pick in the third round. It is the eighth pick of the round and 72nd overall, so 39 selections will be made before they make their pick, unless they make a deal to move up.

What picks do the Cardinals have remaining in the entire draft?

They have five left:

  • Round 3, pick 8 (No. 72 overall)
  • Round 4, pick 8 (No. 114 overall)
  • Round 4, pick 25 (No. 131 overall)
  • Round 6, pick 23 (No. 202 overall)
  • Round 7, pick 8 (No. 222 overall)

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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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Isaiah Simmons can’t decide whether he likes sacks or interceptions more

A pick-six is great, but a strip-sack is also great. I don’t know how anybody can pick between those two feelings.”

The Arizona Cardinals added a versatile defensive weapon in the NFL draft on Thursday night, selecting former Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons with the eighth overall pick. He is a do-it-all player.

In 2019, he was the ACC Defensive Player of the year, collecting more than 100 tackles, eight sacks and three interceptions.

He can rush the passer and cover players in the passing game.

For Simmons, he doesn’t know which big play he likes better — a sack or an interception.

“I’m not sure I can answer that,” he told Draft Wire’s Justin Melo in an exclusive interview. “Nothing really sticks out to me. I enjoy making interceptions just as much as I enjoy getting a sack. Those two things lead to a great feeling. I can’t really pick between the two. A pick-six is great, but a strip-sack is also great. I don’t know how anybody can pick between those two feelings.”

If things go the way the team plans, Simmons will get to experience both and multiple times.

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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: Grade the Cardinals’ selection of Isaiah Simmons in the 1st round

Did you like the pick, or would you have preferred another player or a trade?

The Arizona Cardinals did not make a trade in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. They also did not draft a receiver or an offensive lineman. They used the eighth overall pick to select linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

Naturally, general manager Steve Keim was excited about the pick.

But what do you think? What grade do you give the Cardinals for the selection?

Vote in the poll:

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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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Draft played out perfectly for Cardinals to land Isaiah Simmons

The Cardinals needed either a run on tackles or quarterbacks. Two quarterbacks and one tackle were taken in the first six picks.

The Arizona Cardinals were thrilled to select Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons. He was one of their top players on their entire draft board and many felt he wouldn’t be available for the Cardinals to pick with the eighth overall selection.

General manager Steve Keim would not say exactly where he had Simmons ranked on his board, only saying “he was top five.”

However, something else he said suggests he might have been a little higher than just in their top five.

“Just the way we stacked the board, he was obviously one of the few players we considered elite,” Keim said after the team’s selection. “For a long time, those top couple on the board, I didn’t think there was any chance he was going to be there at our selection.

Things worked out perfectly.

The board had to fall a particular way.

“Are the quarterbacks going to go or is there going to be a run on three or four offensive tackles,” Keim said. “Either way, I just needed a run on either tackles or quarterbacks to get him.”

It was the quarterbacks that did it. The Miami Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall and the Los Angeles Chargers took Justin Herbert sixth overall. With the New York Giants taking a tackle fourth overall, it meant that when the Cardinals were one pick away, Simmons was still available.

The Panthers went with defensive lineman Derrick Brown. That left Simmons for the Cardinals.

They had the opportunity to trade down.

“I did field some trade calls,” Keim said. “This was a player were not going to pass on.”

They didn’t and now they have added another potential impact player to the 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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Former Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb drafted No. 17 overall by the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys just selected Lamb with the No. 17 pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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The Dallas Cowboys just selected Lamb with the No. 17 pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Richland, Texas native came to Oklahoma in 2017 as a four-star prospect. Lamb made an immediate impact his freshman season with 807 yards breaking the school’s freshman receiving yards record while hauling in seven touchdowns. Opposite Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown for the 2017 and 2018 seasons the duo were one of the best dual-threats in the nation while catching passes from Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.

In 2019, Lamb led the Sooners in receiving with 62 receptions, 1,327 yards, and 14 touchdowns, good for a Big 12 best in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Lamb finished his career at Oklahoma with plenty of accolades including being named a Consensus All-American in 2019, First Team All-Big 12 in 2019, Second Team All-Big 12 in 2018, and an ESPN Freshman All-American in 2017.

Lamb is the highest-drafted Sooner wideout since former corps mate Marquise Brown in 2019 who was taken No. 25 overall by the Baltimore Ravens.

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Cardinals 1st-round pick Isaiah Simmons to make more than $20M

That contract will be fully guaranteed for all four years.

The Arizona Cardinals have made their selection in the NFL draft in the first round. They landed versatile Clemson defender Isaiah Simmons. First-round picks get fully guaranteed contracts and Simmons is no different.

He is set to make a lot of money in his first NFL deal.

According to Joel Corry, Simmons will make more than $20 million in fully guaranteed money.

His signing bonus will be more than $12 million.

Congratulations, young man. You have made it.

Now, if he plays like the Cardinals believe he can, his next contract will be huge.

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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 select LB Isaiah Simmons in first round of NFL Draft

Clemson defender Isaiah Simmons was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The Arizona Cardinals selected Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday evening.

Simmons (6-4, 238 pounds) is an amazing athlete who ran a 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds and posted a vertical jump of 39 inches at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Simmons to Darius Leonard, who was a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

“He’ll miss run fits and can be misdirected due to a lack of instincts near the line, but his playmaking range outweighs those concerns for now,” Zierlein wrote of Simmons on NFL.com before the draft.

Simmons is an excellent coverage linebacker and he’s versatile enough to play safety or even cornerback if needed. During his final three years with the Tigers, Simmons totaled 237 tackles, 11 sacks, four interceptions, 20 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and six forced fumbles.

Simmons was the third-best player in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s big board for Draft Wire. Ohio State edge defender Chase Young and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow were the only players Draft Wire had ranked higher than Simmons.

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