Round 1, No. 27 (from Houston Texans): Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
My take: Arizona needed help getting to the quarterback and Robinson will contribute to that. The Cardinals are coming off a season with just 33 sacks, their fewest since 2010, so addressing their pass rush was a priority heading into the draft. Robinson can play inside and outside, giving him enough versatility to stay on the field for all three downs (coach Jonathan Gannon raved about this after drafting him), but he'll likely play inside for Arizona. He's still raw in some ways, such as with his moves, but with how much emphasis the Cardinals have put on the defensive front this season, Robinson could come in and start while also having a chance to learn from a deep defensive line room.
Key stat: When Robinson moved to edge rusher for his last season at Missouri, he doubled his pressure rate from 6% to 13%, which was the sixth-best in the SEC, according to ESPN Stats and Information. He finished with 8.5 sacks and 35 pressures, each the fourth-most in the SEC last season.
Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole?: Both. After re-signing defensive lineman
L.J. Collier, the Cardinals signed three more defensive linemen in free agency. Adding Robinson gives them more depth up front but also addresses a need at pass-rusher.
Let's take a closer look at each of the Cardinals' 2024 draft picks.
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