Tag: Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals have been in contact with super-athletic Stanford pass-rushing prospect

He had eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss in his only season as a starter in 2019.

The Arizona Cardinals have been doing a lot of predraft work on pass-rushing player prospects. The latest is Stanford edge defender Casey Toohill.

According to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo, the Cardinals have recently had a virtual meeting with Toohill via FaceTime.

Toohill is one of the most athletic linebackers in the draft. He would play outside linebacker for the Cardinals if he were drafted by them.

Toohill is 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds. He ran the 40 in 4.62 seconds at the combine, had a 39-inch vertical leap, a 10-6 broad jump and 7.08-second three-cone.

2019 was his only season at Stanford as a full-time starter. He finished the season with 57 tackles, eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

He has potential to grow. He is not known for being good against the run but hits hard and plays with intensity. He also has stood out on special teams.

As the Cardinals need pass-rushing depth, he is a name to watch on Day 3 of the draft.

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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. 264

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Ep. 263

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Report: Christian Kirk not on trading block; Cardinals have not been contacted

Despite the rumors, no team has reached out and the Cardinals have no plans of moving him.

As the NFL draft approaches, trade rumors and possible trade rumors heat up. One rumor that has come up without any real report is that there could be interest in Arizona Cardinals receiver Christian Kirk. One possible team is the Dallas Cowboys, who would like to replace Randall Cobb, who left to the Houston Texans in free agency.

However, while Kirk might fit what the Cowboys need, there has been absolutely nothing to it.

According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, the Cardinals have not been approached by any teams about Kirk and they have no plans to move him.

Kirk enters his third season after being drafted in the second round in 2018. In two seasons, he has 111 receptions for 1,299 yards and six touchdowns. He has also missed seven games to injuries.

Kirk began to get treated by opponents as a No. 1 receiver, defending him with their top cornerback. That should change this coming season after the acquisition of receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

The Cardinals believe Kirk has the capability of being a No. 1 receiver, winning in the slot and outside.

This presumably means that even if the Cardinals draft a receiver in the first round, the plan is to have more weapons instead of looking to replace him.

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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. 264

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Ep. 263

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Cardinals have had recent contact with small-school TE prospect

The tight end out of Portland State was invited to the combine and participated in the Senior Bowl.

The Arizona Cardinals have not been afraid to take chances in the NFL draft on players from small schools. They have had recent contact with a tight end out of Portland State.

According to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo, the Cardinals recently had a virtual meeting with Portland State tight end Charlie Taumoepeau via FaceTime.

Taumoepeau participated in the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine.

He does not have the traditional build for a true tight end at 6-2 and 240 pounds, but is built for the H-back tight end role.

He had 36 catches for 474 yards and two touchdowns last season.

He missed two games each in 2018 and 2019.

He has some athleticism, having run the 40 in 4.75 seconds. He had a 36.5-inch vertical leap, a 10-1 broad jump and 7.0-second three-cone.

He could be drafted late on Day 3 or end up a priority rookie free agent.

The Cardinals currently have three tight ends on their roster — Maxx Williams, Dan Arnold and Darrell Daniels.

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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. 264

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Ep. 263

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Cardinals have contacted small-school pass rusher recently

James Madison pass rusher Ron’Dell Carter had 12 sacks and 27 tackles for loss in 2019.

The Arizona Cardinals have garnered a reputation of targeting players from small schools and getting some production from them. As they prepare for the NFL draft this week, they have their eye on at least one small-school prospect.

According to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo, the Cardinals have had a virtual meeting recently with pass rusher Ron’Dell Carter out of James Madison.

Carter was dominant in 2019, piling up 12 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. That was after a 2018 season with 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss.

He is 6-3 and 269 pounds. He started out his collegiate career at Rutgers before transferring to James Madison. He piled up the awards last season.

He was a consensus first-team All-American. He was the FCS Defensive Player of the Year.

He is considered a late Day 3 prospect or could be a target as an undrafted free agent.

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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. 264

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Ep. 263

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Cardinals have had recent contact with Syracuse pass rusher Alton Robinson

The Syracuse pass rusher is drawing interest from the Cardinals.

The NFL draft is just days away and the Arizona Cardinals are getting some final communication with player prospects. They have interest in one of the defensive stars of the Senior Bowl.

According to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo, Arizona has recently held a virtual meeting with Syracuse edge defender Alton Robinson.

Robinson had a pair of sacks in the Senior Bowl. In 2019, he had only four sacks and nine tackles for loss but in 2018 had 10 and 17.

He has the size and burst to be an impact pass rusher in the NFL, but doesn’t have a variety of moves.

He is either a late Day 2 or Day 3 pick and would give the Cardinals some youth as a rotational pass rusher and some upside.

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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. 264

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Ep. 263

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Report: Broncos eyeing Cardinals’ pick to trade up in draft

Woody Paige says the Broncos want Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy.

The Arizona Cardinals could be looking to trade down in the first round of the NFL draft. While three teams are reported looking to move up, it appears the Denver Broncos could be a team specifically looking at moving up to where the Cardinals pick.

According to The Gazette’s Woody Paige in Colorado, the Broncos are targeting Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy and looking to move up to the eighth pick, which the Cardinals have, or the 10th pick, which belongs to the Cleveland Browns.

The Cardinals do not have a second-round pick in this draft because of their trade to acquire receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Based on the players they have contacted, it would appear they would like to have a second-round pick.

If the Broncos were to offer their second-rounder, it might be appealing to Arizona. It might take them out of the running for the top tackles in the draft or even a player like CeeDee Lamb, but they still could land a talented player on defense like Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray. Florida cornerback CJ Henderson or Houston tackle Josh Jones.

As the draft approaches, keep an eye on these rumors.

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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. 264

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Ep. 263

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Last 7-round mock draft simulation has Cardinals failing to trade back, taking big OT

They are unable to make a trade that gets them a second-round pick.

Based on the names of the players that have come out as having had contact with the Arizona Cardinals, it would seem the team would like to trade down in the first round, hopefully adding a second-round pick. The players consistently seem to be ones pegged to be selected between picks 15 and 50.

However, in a mock draft simulation I ran, the Cardinals were unable to work a trade with either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos or Atlanta Falcons that would bring a second-round pick to the Cardinals. All three teams reportedly are looking to move up in the draft but were unwilling to give up a second-round pick.

So here are the results of this simulation for the Cardinals.

Round 1: Louisville OT Mekhi Becton

(AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Becton is Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 1 tackle in the draft, but in this simulation, the first tackle to be selected in Tristan Wirfs at No. 5 overall. Becton has experience playing both tackle positions. He is a mammoth of a young man an has very quick feet and good speed. His technique improved tremendously from 2018 to 2019, showing how coachable he is. And his tape shows him throwing guys around with ease. He can play right tackle as a rookie and gives the Cardinals flexibility if D.J. Humphries gets hurt or underperforms during his new contract.

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4 things Texans RB David Johnson learned from Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald

Newly acquired Houston Texans running back says that Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald had a profound impact on him on and off the field.

Houston Texans running back David Johnson played his first five seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, operating in the same offense as 11-time Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

The 2016 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year had a profound impact on Johnson, and the former 2016 All-Pro shared with the Houston media on a conference call on April 17 four ways Fitzgerald impacted his career both on and off the field.

1. Leading by example

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest things Johnson learned from Fitzgerald was how to be a leader, which is more than telling teammates what to do.

“I’ve learned just as much off the field as I did on the field, just as far as entrepreneurship, being a leader — not just by speaking, but leading by example, doing everything right on and off the field, so no one can ever have anything negative to say about you,” Johnson said.

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New Cardinals 7-round mock draft simulation starts with different OT

What if Arizona bucks the recent mock draft trends and takes a different Offensive Tackle at Pick 8?

What if Arizona surprises everyone and goes with a different offensive tackle than many have them taking?

What if they take Andrew Thomas at number 8 overall?

This simulation looks what would happen if the Cards do just that:

Round 1: Georgia OT Andrew Thomas

(AP Photo/John Amis)

Thomas may not excite fans like the massive Mekhi Becton, or be as athletic as Tristan Wirfs, or as dominant in the run game as Jedrick Wills.

But one thing he may be more than the other top three tackles? A very safe pick.

Given the Cardinals’ history of first-round picks that have not worked out very well, safe may be good. Thomas has the potential to be a solid right tackle for years, then take over at left tackle should something happen to DJ Humphries.

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DeAndre Hopkins was prepared to get traded, won’t talk about contract

He heard rumors of potentially getting traded as early as the beginning of last season.

The Arizona Cardinals’ biggest move so far this offseason was trading for All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins. While it was shocking to many around the league and for many fans, Hopkins wasn’t surprised.

“I kind of heard some rumor talks about being traded the beginning of last year from some people I trusted that actually know stuff,” he told reporters on Friday in a conference call. “It wasn’t a big surprise for me. I was prepared for it.”

He actually got the news while he was in Los Angeles working out with Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones. When he heard it was the Cardinals who was trading for him, he was pleased.

‘I was very excited about it because of what Arizona’s been building,” he said, noting how they have a young quarterback in Kyler Murray and some solid veterans.

The Houston Texans were willing to trade him because Hopkins was seeking a new contract even though he has three years remaining on his current deal.

Hopkins would not talk about that, though.

“That’s between my agent and the organization,” he said.

General manager Steve Keim has said he has been in contact with Hopkins’ agent and that discussions are ongoing.

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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. 264

[protected-iframe id=”b8298580b0556a34b31c8547e1eb9674-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/25551206/download.mp3″ ]

Ep. 263

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