The Arizona Cardinals signed two more draft picks today, announcing that third round pick David Johnson, and 2015 Mr. Irrelevant Gerald Christian have signed their four year deals.
Many fans hope that Johnson can be the guy the team needs to help alleviate some of the load that Andre Ellington had to carry last year. Both Bruce Arians and Steve Keim have said they expect him to make an impact from day one. Johnson however is not yet sure how his role will play out with the Cardinals, saying this to Darren Urban on the teams official website.
"I definitely hope so," Johnson said Monday after signing his first NFL contract, a standard four-year deal the terms of which were undisclosed. "There is no telling right now (my role) but hopefully by the time the regular season comes I can be on the field and help out the team."
While the team tries to figure out what role Johnson will fill exactly, the teams seventh round selection, Gerald Christian, will be trying to compete with several other rookie tight ends, fighting to fill the void that John Carlson left with his unexpected retirement.
With Troy Niklas and Darren Fells likely to make the 53 man roster come September, the last two (possibly) are up for grabs. Ifeanyi Momah, the 6'7, 248 pound tight end, has caught the attention of Cardinals coach Bruce Arians. Momah was signed shortly after the NFL's inaugural Veteran Combine. After Momah, undrafted Free Agent, Gannon Sinclair has also impressed several of the writers who document the team.
Many would think that Christian would make the roster, simply because he was a draft pick. But after 2013 and the struggle by Cardinals seventh round pick, DC Jefferson, who simply failed to impress coaches in offseason and training camp work, was cut following a DUI arrest. Christian will have to outshine Sinclair and Momah to make the final roster.
After today, only first round pick DJ Humphries is left to sign.