Big Red
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- Mar 16, 2019
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General Manager Steve Keim did an impressive job filling needs to begin the league year, as there are no longer any glaring holes in the starting lineup. He will aim to supplement the roster in the draft, beginning with the No. 8 overall selection. The Cardinals are without their second-rounder because of the DeAndre Hopkins trade, but did pick up an additional fourth in the deal. We will break down each position group heading into the draft, which will be held April 23-25.
Draft primer: Defensive line
More draft primers: OL I WR
Need: Medium
The Cardinals' situation: The biggest splash in free agency came on the defensive line, as Jordan Phillips was inked to a three-year contract worth a reported $30 million. He will slide into the starting lineup, alongside fellow projected starters Corey Peters and Zach Allen. Jonathan Bullard, Trevon Coley, Michael Dogbe, Miles Brown and Lyndon Johnson are depth pieces. Rodney Gunter and Zach Kerr were among the players who departed in free agency.
The draft class: There are a pair of upper tier defensive tackles that could be options at No. 8. Derrick Brown is seen as the best defensive line prospect in the draft, and if he can pressure quarterbacks consistently at the NFL level, his selection would be a big boost to the group. Javon Kinlaw is the other player who could be in the mix. Kinlaw is not as polished as Brown but has intriguing physical ability.
The conclusion: The Cardinals needed to add some pieces on the defensive line in free agency, and they did so by grabbing Phillips and Coley, as well as bringing back Bullard. This is still one of the team's thinner position groups, so additions would be welcomed, whether at No. 8 or in the later rounds. It will be interesting to see what Keim does if Brown is still on the board when the Cardinals are on the clock in the first round.
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