2023 2nd round #41 pick is BJ Ojulari LB

[kerouac9]

We’re not a Super Bowl contending team as of this moment, so I believe it made perfect sense to drafting a dude who needs time to develop. If we were contending for a SB, then I would agree with you.

If that isn’t the perfect time to develop a young player to you, then I’m not sure when is. Unless, you just don’t believe in that at all.

I guess you hope to develop players into something better than what you would immediately expect from the position. I’m fine with investing in Beej if he showed traits and room to grow in his rookie season, but he didn’t really.

If we invested two development years for a guy we hope can average 6-8 sacks per year, that’s a waste. You expect to get secondary pass rushers who can contribute that almost immediately in the second round.

We’ll see, the book’s not closed on him by any means.

Then it’s his worth year…

I don’t expect management will have anything but a short leash on any currently rostered player.

Players they held onto last year will be shown the door.

I didn’t see drafting of recently injured players which is different than last year’s draft.

I guess? If Beej and Clark are out the door after two seasons and Garrett Williams is a 4th DB, how can you have faith in the roster-building of the front office?

If he gets 8 sacks this year, he'll be a very good pick in the 2nd round.

But like I've said, I don't want to see just 8 sacks, I want to see him pressure the QB consistently.

Obviously sacks are a lagging indicator. Everyone would be happy if Beej tripled his pressure count in year two; and it likely would lead to more sacks.

What is MOST concerning about Beej is how 2-3 of his sacks last year were schemed on stunts, not winning a 1:1.

 

[DVontel]

We’ll see, the book’s not closed on him by any means.

Which I believe is everyone’s point in defense of BJ.

 

[kerouac9]

Which I believe is everyone’s point in defense of BJ.

That the bottom line, but no one defending Beej can seem to admit that his rookie season was disappointing in basically every way. Like short of Cody Brown-level immediate bust:

 

[CardNots]

That the bottom line, but no one defending Beej can seem to admit that his rookie season was disappointing in basically every way. Like short of Cody Brown-level immediate bust:

I certainly admit it was disappointing first year.

I think the kid will not have a repeat season. In fact I expect I will be saying I think we were fortunate to get him in the second round in a down draft for edge rushers.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

What is MOST concerning about Beej is how 2-3 of his sacks last year were schemed on stunts, not winning a 1:1.

Oof

 

[DVontel]

but no one defending Beej can seem to admit that his rookie season was disappointing in basically every way.

Is anyone actually arguing in favor of it?

 

[kerouac9]

Is anyone actually arguing in favor of it?

Do you think his rookie season was disappointing? What did you see him do on the field last year that gives you hope?

 

[DVontel]

Do you think his rookie season was disappointing? What did you see him do on the field last year that gives you hope?

Aight, so no one was arguing in favor of it, lmao.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Aight, so no one was arguing in favor of it, lmao.

I think it’s more k9 trying to figure out why people have hope when the only tape has been disappointing.

 

[Shane]

I think it’s more k9 trying to figure out why people have hope when the only tape has been disappointing.

It’s been explained ad nauseam. He just doesn’t like the answers because it is his whipping boy this season.

 

[The6]

Growth of Cardinals' BJ Ojulari, Garrett Williams on display

Second-year pros BJ Ojulari and Garrett Williams could be competing for significant roles for the Arizona Cardinals this offseason.

arizonasports.com

 

[Stout]

We’re not a Super Bowl contending team as of this moment, so I believe it made perfect sense to drafting a dude who needs time to develop. If we were contending for a SB, then I would agree with you.

If that isn’t the perfect time to develop a young player to you, then I’m not sure when is. Unless, you just don’t believe in that at all.

I get that. It's kind of a double-edged sword in this case. It's the right time for us to be developing talent, no doubt, and investing in that is wise in a vacuum. This doesn't mitigate his age when it comes to his contract length, though.

 

[Stout]

I think the issue is that there’s not really a finished product pass rusher that’s going to get you 10+ sacks a year available at pick 41. Look at all the DL and LB picks in top two rounds over the past 4 years.

A scintillating 6-8 sacks is what should be expected. If you want consistently over 10 you better be drafting that player in the top 10 overall.

We need BJ to develop into the solid #2 pass rush option (and that’s all that should be expected from a 2nd round pick unless you have unrealistic expectations). We need to find the #1 guy still.

Unfortunately, the Cards have once again put us as fans into the position to need to have unrealistic expectations, because they've done a crappy job of fixing the position. Ojulari simply bears the weight of those expectations because he's the only freaking guy they've chosen to do anything to fix the gaping holes--multiple--in the edge room.

 

[Stout]

We don't have a wonderful track of just about anything. Doesn't mean we should stop trying...

Uh huh, 'cause that was my point

 

[Stout]

Which I believe is everyone’s point in defense of BJ.

Yet everyone seems to follow up with they'll be happy with having a wholly underwhelming BJ in the next year or two. Like, they'll be content with teeny tiny bits of progress. Naw. He needs to do worlds better than last year or we are screwed. I think it's the level of acceptance that he'll be a JAG and folks are okay with it that's driving my arguing here.

 

[BritCard]

That the bottom line, but no one defending Beej can seem to admit that his rookie season was disappointing in basically every way. Like short of Cody Brown-level immediate bust:

Beej isn't even top 10 in disappointing rookie seasons out of top 100 picks in the last 10 years.

You should see the seasons every Edge that went above him not called Will Anderson had.

 

[WakeForestCard]

Unfortunately, the Cards have once again put us as fans into the position to need to have unrealistic expectations, because they've done a crappy job of fixing the position. Ojulari simply bears the weight of those expectations because he's the only freaking guy they've chosen to do anything to fix the gaping holes--multiple--in the edge room.

I guess. But premium draft capital has been spent at other premium positions (OT, WR, DL). If we used one of those picks on an Edge then we’d have a gaping hole somewhere else. I don’t think we were ever going to be at a point where we’d have a team with no holes at a premium position this year. It was a pick your poison scenario. They clearly prioritized getting a major weapon and additional protection for our offense.

 

[kerouac9]

It’s been explained ad nauseam. He just doesn’t like the answers because it is his whipping boy this season.

Excuses are not explanations

 

[Krangodnzr]

Unfortunately, the Cards have once again put us as fans into the position to need to have unrealistic expectations, because they've done a crappy job of fixing the position.

I don't know; I think that they did use a premium pick and they moved over a recent high picks with traits to see if he can develop. For sure, they could've done more, but there are so many holes that it's a position that can be fixed later while you sort through the roster options.

The same can't be said for CB which needed a total overhaul.

Ojulari simply bears the weight of those expectations because he's the only freaking guy they've chosen to do anything to fix the gaping holes--multiple--in the edge room.

But the counter is that people like you SHOULDN'T be heaping those expectations on him. He's one dude.

 

[kerouac9]

Beej isn't even top 10 in disappointing rookie seasons out of top 100 picks in the last 10 years.

You should see the seasons every Edge that went above him not called Will Anderson had.

This is irrelevant to the question being asked.

 

[SECTION 11]

So 8 sacks then?

 

[Stout]

I guess. But premium draft capital has been spent at other premium positions (OT, WR, DL). If we used one of those picks on an Edge then we’d have a gaping hole somewhere else. I don’t think we were ever going to be at a point where we’d have a team with no holes at a premium position this year. It was a pick your poison scenario. They clearly prioritized getting a major weapon and additional protection for our offense.

We should've also been active in FA last year; that would have helped a lot. We clearly de-prioritized rebuilding the roster by doing that and left extra holes to be filled. I think the team did a decent job this past offseason, but had extra catch up to do for this reason.

 

[oaken1]

We should've also been active in FA last year; that would have helped a lot. We clearly de-prioritized rebuilding the roster by doing that and left extra holes to be filled. I think the team did a decent job this past offseason, but had extra catch up to do for this reason.

Gotta protect the tank

 

[cardsfanmd]

That the bottom line, but no one defending Beej can seem to admit that his rookie season was disappointing in basically every way. Like short of Cody Brown-level immediate bust:

Cody brown was on IR his rookie year…

 

[CardNots]

We should've also been active in FA last year; that would have helped a lot. We clearly de-prioritized rebuilding the roster by doing that and left extra holes to be filled. I think the team did a decent job this past offseason, but had extra catch up to do for this reason.

and we have MHJ to show for it, darn…