Arizona Cardinals had a great draft in 2017.

When I started writing seven years ago about the NFL Draft I made a decision. I would never give out draft grades.

I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to write with Arizona Sports in 2013, covering the draft, thank you Vince Marotta, and I gave my first and last draft grade. I gave the Arizona Cardinals and “A”.

Who could blame me?

They got an Alan Faneca like guard at seven, picked up a linebacker who was going to be the missing piece to the defense next to Daryl Washington, hit a home run with the Honey Badger and then were able to swing for dynamic day three players who could become not just contributors... But long term starters, bell cow running backs and difference making tight ends and wide receivers.

Fast forward four years... That draft is a “C” if we are being generous and my reluctance to grade drafts proved to be 100% astute.

However, draft grades are a ratings bonanza, so I developed my own grading system.

I compare the NFL Draft to beer, everyone loves beer, you have different types of beer, but beer is always good.

It is just that some beer is better than other’s and some beer is... special.

That was the thesis behind my grading system and this is how it looks:

Special Draft = Chimay

Great Draft = Your favorite craft beer

Hey, it’s still a draft = Domestic beer

The Cardinals 2015 NFL Draft is teetering on being a Chimay. Potential franchise left takcle, dynamic edge rusher, All Pro running back, above average starting defensive tackle and a play making #3 receiver all in one draft class? That is special.

In 2017 the Arizona Cardinals selected:

Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
Budda Baker, S, Washington
Chad Williams, WR, Grambling
Dorian Johnson, OG, Pitt
Will Holden, OT, Vanderbilt
T.J. Logan, RB, North Carolina
Johnathan Ford, S, Auburn

For the 2017 NFL Draft, I have the Cardinals having a “great draft”, or for me, an Ommegang Three Philosophers Quad Ale.

It is a draft beer you look forward to, a draft beer to be excited about, a draft beer that can take a good football team evening and make it great.

That is a great draft to me.