RADIO
Brandon Murchison's NFL Draft team previews begin with the Arizona Cardinals, a team that will be looking to rebuild this roster in 2019. What impact will the rookies drafted have on the fantasy values of this team?
There is a reason why the Cardinals hold the top pick heading into the draft. This team was terribly inept on both sides of the ball. Worst in points scored on offense (14.1 PPG) and 25th in points allowed on defense (26.6 PPG). The team looked devoid of talent for most of the season and eventually led to the firing of Steve Wilkes.
Now heading into a new direction with Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals will attempt to fit this team to his style of coaching. His "Air Raid" style of offense is one that is becoming more utilized in the NFL. Using quick-hitting passes to get players into open space while softening the defense for attempts at throws down the field. This could likely resurrect the value of David Johnson with this offense favoring passes out of the backfield at a high rate.
The roster needs a massive overhaul, something that this front office will aim to do during the draft. I look for them to specifically go for best player available for much of this draft. It will give Kingsbury and company a nice starting point as they try and bring this team up from the abyss of the NFL. It will not happen overnight, but with smart player decisions and coaching, they could get things turned around quickly in the NFC West.
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Projected Top Picks
First Round- Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma (1st overall)
Second Round- Jerry Tillery, DT Notre Dame (33rd)
Third Round- Vosean Joseph, LB Florida (65th)
Remaining Picks:
Round 4- 103
Round 5- 139
Round 6- 174 and 179
Round 7- 248, 249, and 254
All expectations are that the Cardinals will be making a selection at quarterback yet again in the first round. This time making Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray the top overall pick. He checks all the boxes in terms of what you see on the stat sheet. But, some are questioning his size and whether he is truly ready for the NFL after only one year starting in college. He sports a very live arm and can hit deeper passes with accuracy. But his strong suit to his game is utilizing his athletic ability to extend plays for big gains. Which will be tough considering the makeup of this Cardinals roster.
There will be growing pains in his rookie season, but Murray will be groomed for success under Kingsbury and the offense he will be installing. Scoring will be up for the team in 2019, making some pieces a little more intriguing for fantasy (Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk). Murray will be viewed as a top pick in dynasty formats but could be poised for a late-season surge for seasonal owners as well that may want to pluck him off of the waiver wire.
With the next two selections, the Cardinals focus on the defensive side of the ball. Jerry Tillery could come in and be an immediate impact as a run stuffer. He also has the athletic ability to be able to get after the QB if facing single coverage on the line. Vosean Joseph will be a prospect for the Cardinals, but his speed and quickness will be a welcomed site. He shows a lot of promise but also has a lot of negative tape on him as well. If he buys into the system, his athletic ability will make him a valuable piece in the team's rotation at linebacker. Neither of these players added, however, will help to make the Cardinals defense one to own in fantasy. They will be on the field too much, wearing down easily while they allow points in bunches.
