Can the Cardinals Ace the 2019 NFL Draft?

Here we are on the eve of the 2019 NFL Draft, after months of mocks, analyses and speculations.

Having the #1 pick in Rounds 1-6, plus 4 added picks in Rounds 6-7, the Arizona Cardinals are in a position to ace this draft.

The Cardinals would like to drink whatever the Colts were drinking last year, as you can see by taking a close gander at the 2018 NFL All-Rookie Teams (per NFL.com and PFF):

With draft pick #s:

QB Baker Mayfield, CLE (#1)

RB Saquon Barkley, NYG (#3)

RB Phillip Lindsay, DEN, UCFA

TE Dallas Goedert, PHI, (#49)

TE Mark Andrews, BAL, (#86)

WR D.J. Moore, CAR, (#24)

WR Calvin Ridley, ATL (#26)

WR (flex) Robert Foster, BUF, UCFA

T Braden Smith, IND, (#37)

T Mike McGlinchey, SF (#9)

G Quenton Nelson, IND, (#6)

G Frank Ragnow, DET (#20)

G James Daniels, CHI (#39)

G Will Hernandez, NYG (#34)

C Mason Cole, ARI, (#97)

C Billy Price, CIN, (#21)

KR Tremon Smith, KC, (#146)

K Jason Sanders, MIA (#229)

P Michael Dickson, SEA (#149)

DT Da’Ron Payne, WAS, (#13)

DT B.J. Hill, NYG (#69)

DT Da’Shawn Hand, DET (#114)

DT Vita Vea, TB (#12)

DE Bradley Chubb, DEN (#5)

DE Marcus Davenport, NO (#14)

LB Leighton Vander Esch, DAL (#19)

LB Roquan Smith, CHI (#8)

LB Darius Leonard, IND (#36)

CB Denzel Ward, CLE (#4)

CB Jaire Alexander, GB (#18)

CB (flex) Justin Reid, HOU (#68)

S Derwin James, SD (#17)

S Jeremy Bates, CIN (#54)

ST Zeke Turner, ARI, UCFA

1st Rounders---17

2nd Rounders---6

3rd Rounders---4

4th Rounders---1

5th Rounders---1

6th Rounders---1

7th Rounders---1

UCFAs---3

Picks 1-10---7

Picks 11-32---10

Picks: 33-40---4

Picks 41-64---2

Picks 65-70---2

Picks 71-97--2

The Colts’ 1st 3 Picks:

#6---G Quenton Nelson (16 starts) All-Pro

#36---LB Darius Leonard (15 starts) All-Pro, Defensive Rookie of the Year

#37---T Braden Smith (13 starts)

Total Offense: 386.2 (7th)

Total Defense: 339.4 (11th)

2017 Record: 4-12

2018 Record: 10-6

Post-Season Record: 1-1 (win @ HOU, loss @ KC)

Started the season 1-5 under new HC Frank Reich and then won 9 of their last 10 games.

Look at the hot spots of last year’s draft---and if this year suggest the same, the numbers play right into the Cardinals’ wheelhouse:

7 of the top 10 picks---top QB at #1---Cardinals pick at #1

4 of the first 5 picks in Round 2 (#33-39)---Cardinals pick at #33

2 of the first 5 picks in Round 3 (#65-69)---Cardinals pick at #65

Plus---having the 1st pick in Round 4 at #103

Man, this is exciting for the Cardinals and our fans, isn’t it?