Arizona Cardinals’ 2017 draft class earns good grades
May 1, 2017, 10:55 AM | Updated: 5:32 pm
We knew the Arizona Cardinals earned positive reviews for their selection of Haason Reddick 13th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
After that pick, they landed safety Budda Baker in the second round, along with receiver Chad Williams (3rd), linemen Dorian Johnson (4th) and Will Holden (5th), as well as running back T.J. Logan (5th) and defensive back Rudy Ford (6th).
“Passion and speed and in the lineman, length,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said of what the team added. “I think the overall theme is 2-for-1, we just got a couple 3-for-1s, everybody’s position flexibility all the way through.”
Obviously it will take a few seasons to truly know how well the Cardinals did over the three-day draft, but immediate reviews for the overall class, as was the case for the Reddick pick, are positive.
At least, according to the experts who handed out overall grades.
Chris Burke, SI.com
Draft Grade: A-
This was a very on-brand draft for the Cardinals, who have made a habit of developing versatile defenders. Add to the list first-round LB Haason Reddick (No. 13 pick) and S Budda Baker (No. 36), both of whom can be utilized in myriad ways on a defense that already features Deone Bucannon and Tyrann Mathieu. Seventh-rounder Rudy Ford (No. 208) is a speed DB/special-teams guy that Arizona traded up for, too. Speaking of speed, that’s what RB T.J. Logan (No. 179) brings behind David Johnson. The picks of G Dorian Johnson (No. 115) and OT Will Holden (No. 157) add depth up front.
Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com
Draft Grade: A
They landed a future star in first-round pick Haason Reddick. He will add speed and versatility to their defense. I love second-round pick Budda Baker, the safety from Washington. He will help offset the loss of Tony Jefferson. Third-round pick Chad Williams, a receiver from Grambling, could be a steal where he was drafted, adding much-needed speed, and I love fourth-round pick Dorian Johnson. It was a really good draft.
Rob Rang, CBSSports.com
Draft Grade: B+
With longtime defensive standout Calais Campbell heading to Jacksonville on a massive deal, general manager Steve Keim needed a difference-maker in the 2017 draft. Instead he found two, nabbing one of the more dynamic front-seven defenders in Temple’s Haason Reddick and arguably the most versatile defensive back in the draft in Washington’s Budda Baker a round later.
The Cardinals have shown a willingness to gamble on small-school prospects since Keim took over, and they made Grambling State standout Chad Williams (another Senior Bowl star) the first non-combine invitee selected in the 2017 draft, making him the 98th overall pick. Athletic and highly competitive, he could be the complement and eventual replacement to Larry Fitzgerald the club had hoped former first-round pick Michael Floyd would become. Though they will be overshadowed by their flashier classmates, the Cardinals also solidified their offensive line with battle-tested veterans Dorian Johnson and Will Holden.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com
Draft Grade: B+
Haason Reddick is a very good linebacker and gives the Cardinals an infusion of youth at a position where they needed it. With the top receivers off the board, the Cardinals chose the best player available. Reddick can also be an effective pass rusher from outside or on inside blitzes. Budda Baker is an excellent football player who can cover and tackle, but they gave up three picks to land him. That lowers the grade a little, but putting him with Tyrann Mathieu is going to be a lot of fun to watch. Grambling receiver Chad Williams might have been a top-50 pick if he played at a major college, so it might be a bit of a gamble, but it’s one worth taking. I believe fourth-round selection Dorian Johnson will be a long-time starter at guard, but there is a bit of risk given his health situation.
Mel Kiper, ESPN.com
Draft Grade: B
With the top three QBs off the board at No. 13, Arizona stuck with a position of need and got versatile linebacker Haason Reddick, a former walk-on and superb athlete who absolutely nailed the pre-draft process.
Arizona gave up three picks to trade up for Budda Baker, but I love the player. He might have been a top-15 pick if he had been bigger — he’s only 5-10, 195. The comparison I made before the draft? Tyrann Mathieu. Now Arizona has both of them, and after losing Tony Jefferson and D.J. Swearinger, a plug-and-play safety was needed. Baker has cornerback-type cover skills, and he’s not afraid to tackle. He could be Arizona’s slot corner. I’m going to make an early prediction and say he ends up on my Rookie Big Board next season.
Nate Davis, USA Today
Draft Grade: B
First-round LB Haason Reddick and second-round DB Budda Baker offer valuable talent and flexibility to a defense that lost five starters this offseason. Fourth-round G Dorian Johnson might not need long to play his way into the lineup. Perhaps some concern that the Cards didn’t find a quarterback to start grooming behind 37-year-old Carson Palmer, but GM Steve Keim also didn’t have to mortgage future assets like the Bears, Chiefs and Texans did.
Vinnie Iyer, SportingNews.com
Draft Grade: B
GM Steve Keim didn’t panic or throw off his draft plan to force a potential future franchise QB, scoring two exceptionally versatile playmakers in Reddick and Baker to boost the defensive front seven. Johnson and Holden are good line values, and Logan will serve nicely as the new change-of-pace speed back.
Doug Farrar, BleacherReport.com
Draft Grade: B
The Cardinals didn’t get their quarterback of the future in this draft—they might have found Patrick Mahomes appealing if he was there at 13—but they did get two first-day starters in Reddick and Baker, two players who will thrive in a defense that doesn’t tie guys to specific positions.
It’s a great marriage of talent and scheme.
Johnson has the potential to start on the right side over time, and Holden could be a good guard convert. Logan is a smaller, quicker back who can help in the return game, and Ford is a thumper safety who could see the field in a rotation.
Mark Maske, Washington Post
Draft Grade: B
The defense gets better with the additions of LB Haason Reddick in the opening round and S Budda Baker in the second round. Baker played for a ridiculously talented secondary in college at Washington and now becomes part of what should be a very good defensive backfield in Arizona. Fourth-round guard Dorian Johnson could help.
John McClain, Houston Chronicle
Draft Grade: A-
Haason Reddick and Budda Baker were excellent picks who arrive at just the right time and should start from Day One. Dorian Johnson also could start. Chad Williams gives them some talented depth on the outside.
