Arizona Cardinals 2017 NFL Draft Prospect Vote: Reuben Foster or Haason Reddick

With the 2017 NFL Draft now 17 days away, I thought it would be fun to introduce a daily poll of prospects.

That means, every day, two prospects will be pit against one another, from the same position, to figure out which 18 prospects the Arizona Cardinals fans prefer the most at pick 13.

The idea is that if we have 18, we should have a good shot at getting one on draft day.

Some will double up, quarterback, some will be names you aren’t sure about, and some will be hard decisions.

You can still vote on the wide receiver poll, but those close tonight at 11:59pm. Today, well we are starting early, and it pits two of the most talked about prospects on these web pages: Reuben Foster and Haason Reddick.

This one closes tonight at 11:59pm since it is during the week and we have more activity.

Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama - The heart and soul of one of the best defenses in the country, Foster is a throwback to the physical, intimidating linebackers and has evoked memories of names like Patrick Willis or Navarro Bowman.

That is lofty expectations, but there are flaws. Outside of the usual negative medicals from an Alabama front seven prospect, one NFC Director of Scouting said something I have never heard from anyone I spoke with:

"He's not a MIKE linebacker. I think he's a pure run-and-hit WILL linebacker with good cover talent.”

Haason Reddick, LB, Temple - No one had a more productive Senior Bowl than Haason Reddick, then the combine confirmed what many were already saying, Reddick is a day one player. Now the question is, is he the best linebacker in this class?

The athletic testing, the size and the ability to win from multiple positions has many thinking so, from Justis Mosqueda:

I think that if you're going to be a first-round linebacker you need to drop into coverage well or get after the passer well. You don't drop a first-round pick on a someone dropping into short zones in the middle of the field. Reddick had tackles for losses on both sides of fly sweeps (boundary/field) at Temple regularly as a penetrator. His background as a former cornerback shows up in coverage on wheel routes, etc. Think he's my favorite LB since Shazier. Very similar. That's my type.

Reddick will have to transition to playing more off the ball, which could take some time, but his physical talents lend him to be an early pick who has time to figure it out.