PFF: Cardinals have been hit and miss with top picks since 2015
Feb 18, 2019, 9:04 AM
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) makes a touchdown catch as San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tyvis Powell (30) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Since 2015, the Arizona Cardinals have drafted seven players in either the first or second rounds of the NFL Draft.
Pro Football Focus graded all of them for the Cardinals in that time and some have lived up to their potential, while others have fallen short.
Offensive tackle D.J. Humphries had the highest overall single season grade of the seven, scoring an 81.7 on a scale from 0 to 100 during the 2017 season.
More on Humphries, the 24th overall pick in 2015:
Humphries regressed a bit in 2018 after a stellar (but shortened) 2018, but he was still effective in a league where offensive line talent is hard to come by. His 72.2 run-blocking grade ranked 11th among tackles, and he committed only two penalties on 500-plus snaps.
Other top-graded performers include linebacker Markus Golden (74.3 in 2016), cornerback Budda Baker (72.5 in 2017) and wide receiver Christian Kirk (70.3 in 2018).
All three were second round picks in 2015, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
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“Kirk was the third-highest graded rookie wideout in 2018 behind 43 receptions on 65 targets,” PFF said. “That production should carry over relatively seamlessly into 2019, as the Cardinals’ offense will likely see upgrades at key positions.”
The Cardinals’ worst-graded top picks since 2015 were all first round selections.
Josh Rosen, who the Cardinals traded up for to take 10th in the 2018 draft, had a team-low grade of 49.1 in 2018. It’s the worst career-best season for any NFC West first or second round pick since 2015.
Arizona’s 2016 and 2017 first rounders — defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche and linebacker Haason Reddick — have also struggled.
Reddick’s career-high single season grade was 61.3 in 2018 while Nkemdiche’s 2018 season netted him a grade of 59.5.
Hope that Reddick can still live up to his billing as the No. 13 pick in 2017 is still there, though.
From PFF:
Reddick is on the right path to living up to his first-round billing. He allowed just 8.6 yards per reception in 2018 (18th), a facet linebackers tend to struggle in. And as a pass rusher, his 18 quarterback pressures tied for eighth among linebackers.
