The NFL Combine has barely begun and its already creating waves.
Cam Newton's status with the Panthers. The Bears (public) undying faith in Mitchell Trubisky. Dave Gettleman doing Dave Gettleman things. Jerry Juedy explaining why he wears a Star of David on his necklace. Its been fun.
And of course the Cardinals.
Steve Keim once again appears to have put at least as much time in his outfit as he has his draft board. Steve, just throw on a hoodie next year, if only for me.
And Kliff Kingsbury continuing to impress. Instead of taking a victory lap after likely being the most gossiped about dude in the NFL a year ago, he continues to say boring things and double down on what made him a relative success last season.
Tomorrow, the real stuff begins. The on field workouts. In prime time this year. The eighth overall pick this year is going to be crucial for the Cardinals to nail. Whoever hears their name get called from the Cardinals will join Kyler Murray in the expectation of leading this team to greater heights.
Who should that pick be? Here is my pre-combine Top 5 lists of players the Cardinals should target at #8 overall:
5.CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma - Even I can't deny the allure of drafting Lamb. The Cardinals offense desperately needs an outside play maker to maximize Kyler's skill set and these two already have chemistry. But, you win in the NFL building from the inside out, not the outside in. The only way this can happen is if the Cardinals check some big boxes in free agency on the offensive and defensive lines. Otherwise this is a luxury pick for a team that still needs the basics.
4. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina - Kinlaw feels like a Keim-kind of draft pick. Exceptionally talented physically but still flying under the radar enough that he gets to feel like the smartest guy in the room. I can't really argue with him, if thats the case. This dude is a freak and might be the biggest home run swing the Cardinals could take at #8. At 6'6 and 300+ pounds, Kinlaw could give the Cardinals defensive line the presence its been sorely missing.
3.Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn - Brown gets the nod over Kinlaw because to me it matters that you produce consistently in the SEC and thats exactly what Brown did. He's not going to overwhelm you with his sack total, he had just four last year, but he's a difference maker in several areas.
2.Mekhi Bechton, OT, Louisville - He's a Game of Thrones character. And one that they couldn't kill off easily. He's 6'7, 364 pounds. I kind of want the Cardinals to draft him just to stand next to Kyler Murray and look like the movie poster from Twins. Of his 33 starts at Louisville, 12 came at RT in his freshman and sophomore season. He's Kyler Murray's bodyguard, insurance for DJ Humphries and the kind of player that the Cardinals should jump all over if they have a chance.
1.Tristan Whirfs, OT, Iowa - I love Tristan Whirfs. He's played outside, he can play inside, he can maul, he can dance, he can do it all. He'd be perfectly molded by Sean Kugler and the kind of player that could ride shotgun with Kyler Murray for the rest of their careers. If he's on the board at #8 overall, he's the player that I would choose over anyone else.
Other receiving votes:
Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama - Like him, just not as much as Whirfs/Bechton.
Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson - If Steve Keim hadn't blown so many draft picks, they could afford to take a freak athlete like Simmons at a position of need but he's not a lineman or Kyler's buddy so he's out of my top 5.