In the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, Steve Keim, why don't you sit the next couple of plays out.
I've decided instead of just offering my unsolicited advice to Keim, I'm just going to take over the Cardinals war room. I've got a TV, an internet connection and a landline so that pretty much qualifies me to run a NFL's teams draft in 2020.
Here is what I believe would be a dream draft for the 2020 Arizona Cardinals.
First round, 18th overall:
- Trade down with the Miami Dolphins who offer the 18th overall pick and a prime pick in the second round at #39 overall.
- The Dolphins move up to draft their franchise tackle, something the Cardinals definitely need.
- With the 18th overall pick, the Arizona Cardinals select Louisville T Mekhi Becton, who saw his draft stock slip after a diluted positive test at the NFL Combine.
2nd round, 39th overall:
- The Cardinals shore up their other line by jumping on DT Ross Blacklock at #39.
3rd round, 72nd overall:
- The Cardinals add an explosive outside threat to their burgeoning offense by selecing KJ Hamler out of Penn State.
- Compared to DeSean Jackson, Hamler averaged nearly 17 yards per catch while at Penn State.
- Consider this pick a do-over for last year's selection of Andy Isabella
The Cardinals then trade one of their 4th round picks (114th overall), a 6th, a 7th and a 2021 3rd round pick to the New England Patriots for the 87th overall pick.
3rd round, 87th overall:
- The Cardinals add a promising OLB from Florida in Jonathan Greenard.
- With prototypical size and 9.5 sacks last season, Greenard becomes a pass rushing compliment to Devon Kennard and Chandler Jones
4th round, 131st overall:
- With the pick they stole from the Houston Texans in the DeAndre Hopkins trade, the Arizona Cardinals add some depth to their secondary by drafting CB Dane Jackson, Pittsburgh.
Purposefully, thats the end of the Cardinals draft. With no in person contact allowed through the offseason, a smaller, focused draft class would serve the Cardinals well over a large, scatter shot one.
From 2015-2017, the Cardinals have two players remaining on their roster from their draft classes: DJ Humphries and Budda Baker.
2018 and 2019 look to be similarly shallow but produced Kyler Murray which immediately helps gloss over the other misses.
With a star QB on a rookie contract, this is one draft class the Cardinals absolutely, positively cannot afford to screw up.
After drafting Jackson, I'll gladly hand the war room back over to Steve Keim who gets to experience something he hasn't had in quite some time: a competent draft class.