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The NFCW is going to be tough again. All teams have hope, at least on paper.
The Cardinals are generally considered 3rd/4th best in the division if you read the major news channels... but 3rd/4th in this division is still no slouch.
Watt, Green, Hudson were big off-season moves.
Did their draft help close the gap?
Thoughts?
Arizona Cardinals
2021 draft grade: B (Pete Prisco)
Best pick: No. 49: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue (Jeff Kerr)
Most questionable pick: No. 16: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa (Josh Edwards)
2022 mock draft picks: No. 14: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M (Ryan Wilson)
SportsLine's 2021 win projection: 8
William Hill season win total: 8 (-140 over, +120 under)
William Hill odds to win division: +575
William Hill odds to win Super Bowl: +4000
The Cardinals were the most active team in free agency this offseason. They were able to land J.J. Watt and A.J. Green, two veterans that will immediately pay dividends toward a young roster. They acquired Rodney Hudson and signed Brian Winters to improve the offensive line and altered the secondary by signing safety Shawn Williams and cornerback Malcolm Butler -- better fits for the man-coverage scheme defensive coordinator Vance Joseph likes to run.
Arizona did allow Kenyan Drake, Patrick Peterson, and Haason Reddick to walk in free agency -- but the Cardinals are getting Chandler Jones back to significantly improve the pass rush. Collins will be the MIKE linebacker, which allows Jordan Hicks to become available for trade. The Cardinals will pair him with Isaiah Simmons in the middle as Markus Golden will play the outside with Jones. This defense is better than the unit that walked off the field in Week 17 last year.
Murray may have the best group of wideouts in the NFL with DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, and the rookie Moore as the top four. The Cardinals have a major problem at tight end, but that position isn't utilized in head coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Offensive line is a unit that improved, but can this unit run block for Chase Edmonds? The Cardinals will be throwing significantly in 2021.
Arizona is the wild card in this division. The Cardinals are good enough to steal the division title and will be a problem all year long. If the defense doesn't improve, they could be staring at another 8-8 record. Arizona needs a strong finish in order to make the playoffs, which the Cardinals are certainly capable of.
Round 1 (No. 16 overall) - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa: He's massive at 6-5 and 259 pounds, but don't mistake him for an edge rusher. Collins, valedictorian of his high school class, is a heady off-ball linebacker who will team at the second level with last year's first-rounder, versatile Isaiah Simmons. Draft tracker
Round 2 (49) - Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue: Moore blazed an unofficial 4.29 40 at his pro day while posting 42½-inch vertical jump. He posted 114 catches and 14 TDs as a freshman in 2018 ... but injuries have kept him off the field quite a bit since. Small (5-7, 181) but very strong, he could be a dangerous weapon – also able to produce on jet sweeps or pitches – between veteran WRs DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green. Draft tracker
Round 4 (136, from Chiefs through Ravens) - Marco Wilson, CB, Florida
Round 6 (210, from Ravens) - Victor Dimukeje, DE, Duke
Round 6 (223, from Vikings; compensatory selection) - Tay Gowan, CB, Central Florida
Round 7 (243) - James Wiggins, S, Cincinnati
Round 7 (247, from Bears through Raiders) - Michal Menet, C, Penn State
The Cardinals are generally considered 3rd/4th best in the division if you read the major news channels... but 3rd/4th in this division is still no slouch.
Watt, Green, Hudson were big off-season moves.
Did their draft help close the gap?
Thoughts?
2021 NFC West draft reset: Division odds, team grades, best picks, 2022 mock draft and more
The NFC West is unpredictable once again
www.cbssports.com
Arizona Cardinals
2021 draft grade: B (Pete Prisco)
Best pick: No. 49: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue (Jeff Kerr)
Most questionable pick: No. 16: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa (Josh Edwards)
2022 mock draft picks: No. 14: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M (Ryan Wilson)
SportsLine's 2021 win projection: 8
William Hill season win total: 8 (-140 over, +120 under)
William Hill odds to win division: +575
William Hill odds to win Super Bowl: +4000
The Cardinals were the most active team in free agency this offseason. They were able to land J.J. Watt and A.J. Green, two veterans that will immediately pay dividends toward a young roster. They acquired Rodney Hudson and signed Brian Winters to improve the offensive line and altered the secondary by signing safety Shawn Williams and cornerback Malcolm Butler -- better fits for the man-coverage scheme defensive coordinator Vance Joseph likes to run.
Arizona did allow Kenyan Drake, Patrick Peterson, and Haason Reddick to walk in free agency -- but the Cardinals are getting Chandler Jones back to significantly improve the pass rush. Collins will be the MIKE linebacker, which allows Jordan Hicks to become available for trade. The Cardinals will pair him with Isaiah Simmons in the middle as Markus Golden will play the outside with Jones. This defense is better than the unit that walked off the field in Week 17 last year.
Murray may have the best group of wideouts in the NFL with DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, and the rookie Moore as the top four. The Cardinals have a major problem at tight end, but that position isn't utilized in head coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Offensive line is a unit that improved, but can this unit run block for Chase Edmonds? The Cardinals will be throwing significantly in 2021.
Arizona is the wild card in this division. The Cardinals are good enough to steal the division title and will be a problem all year long. If the defense doesn't improve, they could be staring at another 8-8 record. Arizona needs a strong finish in order to make the playoffs, which the Cardinals are certainly capable of.
Arizona Cardinals draft picks 2021: Round-by-round selections
Here is a 2021 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Arizona Cardinals.
www.usatoday.com
Arizona Cardinals draft picks 2021: Round-by-round selections
Here is a 2021 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Arizona Cardinals:Round 1 (No. 16 overall) - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa: He's massive at 6-5 and 259 pounds, but don't mistake him for an edge rusher. Collins, valedictorian of his high school class, is a heady off-ball linebacker who will team at the second level with last year's first-rounder, versatile Isaiah Simmons. Draft tracker
Round 2 (49) - Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue: Moore blazed an unofficial 4.29 40 at his pro day while posting 42½-inch vertical jump. He posted 114 catches and 14 TDs as a freshman in 2018 ... but injuries have kept him off the field quite a bit since. Small (5-7, 181) but very strong, he could be a dangerous weapon – also able to produce on jet sweeps or pitches – between veteran WRs DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green. Draft tracker
Round 4 (136, from Chiefs through Ravens) - Marco Wilson, CB, Florida
Round 6 (210, from Ravens) - Victor Dimukeje, DE, Duke
Round 6 (223, from Vikings; compensatory selection) - Tay Gowan, CB, Central Florida
Round 7 (243) - James Wiggins, S, Cincinnati
Round 7 (247, from Bears through Raiders) - Michal Menet, C, Penn State