Cardinals Birds Nest

[TheKingOfVa]

Cardinals Offseason Wrap Up

Keithen Suydam leading the defense


The Cardinals had a quiet but effective off season. In free agency they signed only one player, back up TE Curry who decided to test the market. Arizona believes in building through the draft and molding players for their system. In the 1st round the Cardinals had a tough choice to make, LT Nate Mutin who they loved and scouted all year fell to them in the 1st round. But the number 2 DE Keithen Suydam (behind Verbal who went to the Rams in the top 10) on their draft board fell to them and also their number 3 DE on their draft board Kashawn Kniles fell into their laps. The team decided that their young tackles should be good enough and that they need a DE to take snaps from 33 and 31 year old DE's Dockett and Rucker. The Cardinals selected Keithen Suydam who already registered a sack in a preseason win vs the Ravens. Suydam has a rare mix of strength, speed, and elite hit power (90 hit power). Suydam will force fumbles and hurt offensive players over the course of his career. He should be a day 1 starter but will have to be groomed before starting in the 3-4 run stopping packages.

In the 2nd round the Cardinals selected a MLB with 91 hit power but he lacks in speed. He also registered a qb tackle vs the Ravens. He will be a valuable special teams player. In the 3rd they might have nabbed their QB of the future if he is groomed properly. His 87 acceleration could give him scrambling ability to evade pass rushers. The rest of the draft provided offensive line back ups, making them the youngest overall line in the SFL. The key to the Cardinals season will be progressing young players like WR Michael Floyd, DE Suydamn, MLB Kevin Minter, OLB core of Acho/Moch/Okafor/Shaughnessy, the young offensive line, and CB Justin Bethel. If some of those players can turn into stars then the future is bright in Arizona.