After the conclusion of the 2017 NFL Season, Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Carson Palmer and Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald will likely consider retirement. Regardless of whether they continue past next season or not, the Cardinals need to consider future replacements. They need to make sure they have the future in place or else this organization will be in limbo like the post Kurt Warner era (2010-2012). There are still many questions that will need to be answered in this offseason that will determine the direction of this upcoming draft. Will Calais Campbell return? Will Chandler Jones be franchise tagged? Will either Tony Jefferson or D.J. Swearinger be brought back? Who will be the starting cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson?
Positions of Need: QB, CB, ILB, S, OG
Predicting Trades (The overall draft number affected by loss of Falcons' 6th Rd Pick & the projected compensatory picks for all teams. Check it out here: http://overthecap.com/projecting-2017-compensatory-draft-picks/ )
- Arizona Cardinals trade their 46th overall pick to the Houston Texans for the 57th & 129th overall picks.
- Arizona Cardinals trade their 118th, 158th, 234th overall picks to the Los Angeles Chargers for the 111th overall pick
Round 1(13): Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan (6'3'' 213lbs Senior)
- 2016 College Stats: 97 receptions 1500yds 19TD
ANALYSIS: The Arizona Cardinals are not in serious need of a wide receiver but with the future of Larry Fitzgerald in question beyond the 2017 NFL Season, it might be in their interest to draft his successor with the 13th overall pick. Corey Davis is one of the best, if not the best, wide receiver in the 2017 NFL Draft. His size, 6'3'' 213lbs, matched with his speed, at worst a 4.45 40, makes him a big deep threat that can take the Arizona Cardinals offense to a whole new level. He recently had surgery on his ankle due to an injury that occurred during training. The ankle injury is expected to keep him out of the NFL Combine but he is expect to participate during Pro Days. The injury is reported as minor and should not affect his availability for the start of the NFL Season. Davis was a dominant receiver at Western Michigan but was plagued with a career total of 16 dropped passes. He is fearless and aggressive in the redzone as he can leap under or over receivers to get the touchdown. He was never told to block a lot in college but with his size and strength alone gives him a lot of room for growth. With Michael Floyd gone, Corey Davis is the real replacement for Fitzgerald in the near future. He has Antonio Brown speed but Julio Jones physique/nature. With Fitzgerald, Davis, JJ Nelson, John Brown, Jaron Brown, and Brittan Golden, this would be the most feared and talented wide receiver group in the NFL.
Round 2(57): Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA (6'0'' 194lbs Senior) (from Houston Texans)
- 2016 College Stats: 31 tackles 2INT 8PD
Round 3: Davis Webb, QB, California (6'5'' 229lbs Senior)
- 2016 College Stats: 382-620 61.6% 4295yds 37TD 12INT
ANALYSIS: The Senior Bowl MVP that many people have been talking about. He could be the product of the system since he was part of an air raid offense at Cal. From what he has shown in the Senior Bowl, he can shed that label. He struggled to call plays at first when Hue Jackson was coaching him at the Bowl, but after every snap, he became more comfortable. He has a powerful arm and has displayed flashes of what he is truly capable of. Webb is the perfect quarterback for Bruce Arians to develop behind Carson Palmer. With Arians, Palmer, Tom Moore, Harold Goodwin, Freddie Kitchens and Drew Stanton, he should be ready when his time comes.
Round 4(111): Nazair Jones, DE/DT, North Carolina (6'5'' 295lb Junior) (from Los Angeles Chargers)
- 2016 College Stats: 70 tackles 9.5TFL 2.5 sacks 3PD 1FF
ANALYSIS: The future of Calais Campbell grows murkier by the day. With the big salary caps like the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers have, there is no doubt that he will be testing free agency. This is a business and so the Cardinals can't bring everyone back. This is where Nazair Jones comes in. He left North Carolina with a year of eligibility left which means that he will need time to grow. He does not offer much pass rush but he can grow over time to become a decent pass rusher one day. He brings excellent run defense skills, as a testament of his 9.5TFL. When he was out, North Carolina struggled. That shows how important he was to that football program. Jones can bat passes at the defensive line and he brings the size that Arizona wants at the DE/DT position. Originally had my eye on Tanoh Kpassagnon but the energy and passion that Jones has for the game is much greater.
Round 4(129): Lorenzo Jerome, S, St. Francis(PA) (5'10'' 202lbs Senior) (from Houston Texans)
- 2016 College Stats: 59 tackles 5.5TFL 6INT 11PD
ANALYSIS: I will be very surprised if his falls this far into the NFL Draft. Lorenzo Jerome was very productive and is excellent at run defense as a defensive back. He might have played in a small football program but he was excellent at the Senior Bowl. Tony Jefferson or Swearinger will be one of the starting safeties. Tyrann Mathieu will place mostly at the slot/nickel CB who will likely be on the field for the majority of games. Marcus Cooper or a free agent, Brandon Williams, Moreau will compete for the CB2 job. Harlan Miller and Jerome should have a lot of playing time in nickel/dime packages. Expect Jerome to be a key contributor on special teams to begin his NFL career but will have plenty of chances to play on defense.
Round 5(179): Jahad Thomas, RB, Temple (5'10 170lbs Senior) (compensatory pick-Bobby Massie)
- 2016 College Stats: 207att 953yds 13TD, 33rec 418yds 6TD
Round 6(198): Steven Taylor, LB, Houston (6'1'' 225lbs Senior)
- 2016 College Stats: 74 tackles 12TFL 8.5 sacks 1INT 3PD 2FF
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