ESPN tabs Cardinals’ Haason Reddick as rookie who landed with ‘perfect team’
May 3, 2017, 2:42 PM
Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Haason Reddick waits to speak while being introduced at the teams' training facility, Friday, April 28, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. Reddick was the 13th overall pick in the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
The Arizona Cardinals absolutely fell in love with Temple linebacker Haason Reddick during the months leading up to the draft.
And, as luck would have it, things in front of them fell just right last Thursday night, allowing the team to pick Reddick with the 13th overall selection of the NFL Draft.
“He checked every box at the Combine,” general manager Steve Keim said after picking Reddick. “His workout was off the charts. At the Senior Bowl, he stepped in with all the top talent, played different positions and dominated. So again, he checked every box and then when you talk about the character and those sort of things, he was an ‘A’ football character, he loves it. All the connections we had at Temple, everybody signed off on this kid.
“It was a pretty easy pick.”
It’s pretty much agreed upon that Arizona did pick up a dynamic talent, but team fit is so important when it comes to young players becoming successful. ESPN’s Matt Bowen believes that’s a plus for the Cardinals as well.
Wednesday, Bowen published an article highlighting newly-drafted rookies he feels landed with perfect teams. Reddick’s name was one of nine mentioned in the piece.
The Cardinals’ defense highlights defenders who can play in space, attack the run game and also get home to the quarterback. At the Senior Bowl, Reddick displayed those same traits during one-on-ones and team drills. This guy was a star in Mobile. He did it all. Fast and athletic.
As a rookie, Reddick (6-1, 237 pounds) should carve out a productive role as a key sub-package defender for the Cardinals. He has the speed (4.52 40) to get sideline to sideline and the physicality to hit the run game in the mouth. And with his experience as a college defensive end, Reddick shows the acceleration and technique to produce as an edge rusher.
Also mentioned by Bowen were Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey, Myles Garrett and Jabrill Peppers of Cleveland, Jamal Adams of the Jets, Tampa Bay’s O.J. Howard, Green Bay’s Kevin King and Dalvin Cook of Minnesota.
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