Your Arizona Cardinals now hold the 16th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

[Mulli]

Fun Fact. Zaven Collins and Shaq Thompson are the only 1st round ILBs to sign a 2nd contract with the team that drafted them since 2015.

No, that is not justification to draft another one, sir

 

[Chopper0080]

Another fun fact. Since 2015, 12 RBs have been drafted in round 1.

Only 2 RBs drafted prior to 2018 (2015-2017) are still in the league. CMC and Zeke.

Only 1 RB drafted prior to 2023 (2015-2022) is still with the team that drafted them. Travis Etienne.

 

[BirdGangThing]

if we draft a wr in round 1 im gonna lose it

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Fun Fact. Zaven Collins and Shaq Thompson are the only 1st round ILBs to sign a 2nd contract with the team that drafted them since 2015.

I think a lot of that has to do with the franchise tag designation. Unlike DL, where's there are DE/DT designations and OL, where there are OT and IOL designations, there is only one tag for LB'S and the big money being spent on edge rushers filters over to the price tag for ILB and it's just not worth it to tag them. So, when teams let the guys reach their tag year, it's prohibitive to tag them so they let them hit free agency and go in another cheaper direction.

 

[Chopper0080]

I think a lot of that has to do with the franchise tag designation. Unlike DL, where's there are DE/DT designations and OL, where there are OT and IOL designations, there is only one tag for LB'S and the big money being spent on edge rushers filters over to the price tag for ILB and it's just not worth it to tag them. So, when teams let the guys reach their tag year, it's prohibitive to tag them so they let them hit free agency and go in another cheaper direction.

This is true for IOL and ILB. Their franchise tag amounts are inflated by EDGE players and OTs. A great argument as to why you should rarely use a 1st round pick on one.

Similar to the longevity argument for RBs in round.

So, not only are you risking the inherent uncertainty of the draft, you are also impacted in other ways by these positions.

 

[kerouac9]

if we draft a wr in round 1 im gonna lose it

The value argument is there. Four or five years of a cost-controlled WR who can play like a high-end #2 provides probably $30 million in excess value? Maybe more?

The problem is if it takes that guy a year and a half to arrive there, you're giving back a lot of that upside.

 

[kerouac9]

This is true for IOL and ILB. Their franchise tag amounts are inflated by EDGE players and OTs. A great argument as to why you should rarely use a 1st round pick on one.

Similar to the longevity argument for RBs in round.

So, not only are you risking the inherent uncertainty of the draft, you are also impacted in other ways by these positions.

Also the fifth-year option value is crazy.

 

[BirdGangThing]

The value argument is there. Four or five years of a cost-controlled WR who can play like a high-end #2 provides probably $30 million in excess value? Maybe more?

The problem is if it takes that guy a year and a half to arrive there, you're giving back a lot of that upside.

if wr is bpa at #16 trade back - im not a trade back guy but if this situation arises we should fleece a team that actually needs a wr1

first round wr - again? you mentioned money - im thinking targets - how many touches would that rookie get on this squad? we're likely talking wilson numbers

 

[kerouac9]

if wr is bpa at #16 trade back - im not a trade back guy but if this situation arises we should fleece a team that actually needs a wr1

first round wr - again? you mentioned money - im thinking targets - how many touches would that rookie get on this squad? we're likely talking wilson numbers

Philly had 448 passing attempts last season. AJ Brown had 21.7% of them. Devonta Smith had 19.9% of them.

The Cards had 543 passing attempts last season. Trey McBride had 27% of them; Charmin had 21.4% of them.

McBride was 8th in the entire NFL in targets last season. Charmin was T-23rd. I think we probably want those guys to have more yards in fewer targets. Cards were 26th in Intended Air Yards per Pass Attempt (to be fair, the Lions and KC were even lower-ranked).

A WR drafted in the first two rounds should probably see about 75-80 targets his rookie season? That's all of Michael Wilson's 47 targets plus another 15 each from Charmin and McBride?

 

[BirdGangThing]

Philly had 448 passing attempts last season. AJ Brown had 21.7% of them. Devonta Smith had 19.9% of them.

The Cards had 543 passing attempts last season. Trey McBride had 27% of them; Charmin had 21.4% of them.

McBride was 8th in the entire NFL in targets last season. Charmin was T-23rd. I think we probably want those guys to have more yards in fewer targets. Cards were 26th in Intended Air Yards per Pass Attempt (to be fair, the Lions and KC were even lower-ranked).

A WR drafted in the first two rounds should probably see about 75-80 targets his rookie season? That's all of Michael Wilson's 47 targets plus another 15 each from Charmin and McBride?

are you seriously pimping a wr in the first round or just showing why it could be justified? because i don't think you want a wide receiver either - not with our first pick - it's not happenin jackson

 

[Garthshort]

JMO, but with our first three picks, in order, OL, Front Seven, CB. Of, course I'll be happy with whomever the team picks.

 

[BACH]

The value argument is there. Four or five years of a cost-controlled WR who can play like a high-end #2 provides probably $30 million in excess value? Maybe more?

The problem is if it takes that guy a year and a half to arrive there, you're giving back a lot of that upside.

But that goes for all 5 premium positions. WR over a LB - yeah arguments holds. WR over Edge - not so much

 

[kerouac9]

are you seriously pimping a wr in the first round or just showing why it could be justified? because i don't think you want a wide receiver either - not with our first pick - it's not happenin jackson

I'm not really, but I don't pay attention to this draft stuff until the day of the draft. I don't have capacity (anymore) for 90-200 prospects just to get down to, like, eight at the end of the draft.

But our WR room sucks. Someone said that we have a bottom-five WR room in the NFC, maybe the NFL. They are probably right; it's hard to find someone worse off than we are. If we don't want to spend $18 million a year for a #2 WR, you're going to have to look for one in the first two days of the draft.

As much as I like Michael Wilson and think he can be a low-end #2, I would like to see a Hollywood Brown type who can play outside in 2WR sets and move into the slot on third down. I'm not encouraged running back the Charmin-Wilson-Dortch trio for another year. Charmin will get better, but the other two?

But that goes for all 5 premium positions. WR over a LB - yeah arguments holds. WR over Edge - not so much

I disagree. You don't see high-end #2 edge rushers getting paid crazy money. Josh Sweat was the top Edge FA on the market, but he's good not great. He got what is essentially a two-year, $38 million deal.

Tee Higgins was playing under the franchise tag and got what is essentially a two-year, $64 million deal from Cincy.

I also think that the time-to-value for Edges is longer now than it is for WRs. A great WR prospect will hit almost immediately. That's why I'm less confident that Charmin will be the next Justin Jefferson but still expect him to be as good as or better than, like, Drake London.

 

[Chopper0080]

are you seriously pimping a wr in the first round or just showing why it could be justified? because i don't think you want a wide receiver either - not with our first pick - it's not happenin jackson

The argument is that Golden is exactly the type of WR to immediately benefit the offense. He can play inside and outside, shows effort run blocking, and has the vertical speed to create space for McBride, MHJ, and the running game.

 

[BirdGangThing]

The argument is that Golden is exactly the type of WR to immediately benefit the offense. He can play inside and outside, shows effort run blocking, and has the vertical speed to create space for McBride, MHJ, and the running game.

would you be good going with a receiver at #16

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Fun Fact. Zaven Collins and Shaq Thompson are the only 1st round ILBs to sign a 2nd contract with the team that drafted them since 2015.

This is not fun.

 

[Chopper0080]

would you be good going with a receiver at #16

It's not my first choice but it would depend who is on the board. Matthew Golden is the only WR I would consider at 16.

I think Josh Simmons, Matthew Golden, and Mykel Williams is an interesting debate at 16. The facts are you would rather trade back and grab one, but a trade back response may never come. (also a bit of a worst case draft scenario for AZ)

 

[ASUCHRIS]

It's not my first choice but it would depend who is on the board. Matthew Golden is the only WR I would consider at 16.

I think Josh Simmons, Matthew Golden, and Mykel Williams is an interesting debate at 16. The facts are you would rather trade back and grab one, but a trade back response may never come. (also a bit of a worst case draft scenario for AZ)

You wouldn't even consider the only WR considered a top 10 prospect?

 

[Chopper0080]

This is my first round Cardinals board (considering a trade back scenario so not just at 16)

WR - Matthew Golden
OL - Armand Membou
OL - Will Campbell
OL - Josh Simmons
DT - Mason Graham
DT - Kenneth Grant
DT - Walter Nolen
DT - Derrick Harmon
EDGE - Abdul Carter
EDGE - Mike Green
EDGE - Shemar Stewart
EDGE - Mykel Williams
CB - Travis Hunter
CB - Will Johnson

That's pretty much it for me.

 

[Chopper0080]

You wouldn't even consider the only WR considered a top 10 prospect?

If you are talking about Tet...no. He is too redundant with MHJ without being as good of a prospect. I think Luther Burden is a better option for AZ at WR.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

If you are talking about Tet...no. He is too redundant with MHJ without being as good of a prospect. I think Luther Burden is a better option for AZ at WR.

Was Fitz redundant with Boldin? (Esp with Tet testing speed wise much better than either)

 

[Chopper0080]

Was Fitz redundant with Boldin? (Esp with Tet testing speed wise much better than either)

No. Fitz and Boldin did different things. MHJ and Burden are more like Fitz/Boldin than MHJ and Tet are.

 

[oaken1]

after the combine..all the player evals, some investigation, and lots of hype filtering...I have made a decision on who I want at pick 16.....

and it has not changed... James Pearce Jr is our guy.

entering the 2024 season Pearce was being considered a top 5 pick in the draft..he had a slightly down season...it happens...

Then talks of "character issues" comes up and suddenly he is an axe murderer and nobody wants to touch him.
what character issues??
a traffic stop...yeah, a young guy got pulled over by the cops...wow...
"Pearce was transported to Knox County Detention Facility and charged with speeding, driving on a suspended license, failure to present insurance, registration not properly displayed and improper window tinting."
Yeah, that improper window tint...thats a gateway crime,...dude sure is headed downhill...
all charges dropped a couple weeks later...but it all looks like a typical college kid that has not managed their money well...
you might say, well NIL changes that...and it often does... But even with James Pearce being talked about as a top 5 pick last summer...did he use the portal to go to Bama, or Ohio State,..where he could get that huge NIL money?
No...James Pearce stayed with the school that gave him his shot and coached him up...thats a character thing too,...isnt it??

oh, the other character concern??.... one of James Pearce's high school team mates says dude is crazy...has the worst anger issues he has ever seen.

every single dude that ever stepped on the football field with ME still believes to this day that I am totally insane and that I absolutely must eat live puppies for breakfast.

However, nobody at Tennessee has seen these anger issues...not the coaches, his team mates, nor his fellow students...
In fact his quarterback has come out on twitter backing him up, saying the character issues are bullhockey...and that Pearce is all about football and nothing else...and some people take that the wrong way.

Jalen Carter partook in street racing that resulted in the death of a teammate..and then failed to stick around until help arrived.

James Pearce got a stack of traffic tickets...but stayed at TN instead of chasing NIL money.

Jalen Carter was passed on by us,...and now has a Super Bowl ring just a couple years later.

James Pearce is not a rapist, or a killer, or a guy who goes around assaulting people,...or conning old ladies out of their social security.
He is a young guy...who maybe failed to properly prioritize getting the tags and insurance for his car...is that a maturity issue?? sure, but it was two years ago... and whom among us did not have some need of maturation when we were 19 years old?

all these "Character issues" are total BS

what matters in regards to James Pearce JR is that even with a down season he ranks highest in nearly every metric...pass rush win rate, run stuff win rate... agility, explosiveness...

is he a little crazy like his old HS team mate claims?? Maybe..hell, I hope so honestly...we could use some crazy on our defensive front.

 

[SECTION 11]

if we draft a wr in round 1 im gonna lose it

I dunno, I’d be happy with Golden in the first, Skat in the third, and some other dude in the second.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

some other dude in the second.

I heard he's going to be an awesome pro...much better than in college.