Steve Keim’s approach on first two days of NFL Draft was aggressive, logical

TEMPE, Ariz. — Let’s hold off on proclaiming general manager Steve Keim’s brilliance on the first two days of the 2018 NFL Draft. That’s just emotion-charged hyperbole bereft of the coming and telling body of on-field work.

Everything looks bright and shiny on draft day, and there are more reasons than usual to feel good about this year’s haul, but only time will tell if Josh Rosen is the Cardinals quarterback of the future, if receiver Christian Kirk can overcome a lack of size, and perceived catch radius to transition outside, or if Mason Cole’s versatility can help an offensive line with significant questions and a critical duty to protect oft-injured quarterback Sam Bradford.

What the first two days of the draft did tell us about the Cardinals general manager was that he was as aggressive as he promised he would be if opportunities arose, and he was logical in his attempt to fill some critical holes in his lineup, even if we’re told that NFL teams don’t draft for need.

“I’m really excited about this draft so far because of two things,” Keim said. “We’ve stuck to our board. We didn’t veer because of grades or because of positional need. We stuck to value and we stuck to the person.”

The price Keim paid to get Rosen wasn’t exactly a ham sandwich, but it was little more than two days’ lunches of liverwurst to land the prized peanut butter and jelly package. The Cardinals traded the No. 15 pick, their second, third-round pick (No. 79) and their fifth-round pick (No. 152) to acquire Rosen at No. 10. Nothing on that outgoing list is cause for concern.

“We got to the 79th pick and coach [Steve Wilks] and I looked at each other,” Keim said. “We saw the players who were left on the board and I said, ‘I’m glad we have a potential franchise quarterback’ vs. what was left. Not to take away [from] anything that was left on the board but I would certainly do that over and over if I had the opportunity.”

In Kirk, the Cardinals got a local kid who caught 234 passes for 2,856 and 26 touchdowns in three seasons at Texas A&M, a kid who could help a perilously thin wide receiving corps that is entirely too dependent on soon-to-be 35-year old Larry Fitzgerald.

In Cole, they got the first true freshman in history to start the season opener on a Michigan offensive line, a player that Keim noted started 51 consecutive games and a player who took one for the team his senior season, playing left tackle instead of guard or center where he admitted he is more comfortable.

“He was a guy who could have potentially been a higher draft pick as a center,” Keim said. “That’s a tough transition for a guy that’s got dreams and aspirations of playing in the NFL because you feel like obviously you’re on an island out there and maybe it diminishes your draft stock. Not once did he question it.”

As we noted previously, Keim needed success in this draft to begin charting a new course for the Cardinals after the retirements of coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer, the departure of safety Tyrann Mathieu and the approaching retirement of wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. With his first two days’ work, he has given himself a chance.

“I think we’re doing the right thing so far,” Keim said.

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