Arizona Cardinals NFL draft picks: 2017 round-by-round results, grades
Coming off a disappointing 7-8-1 campaign, the Cardinals are at a crossroads heading into the 2017 season. Here's the full list of picks the Cardinals hold in the 2017 draft, which will be updated as each selection is made. Our draft analyst Chris Burke is breaking down every selection below.
Round 1, Pick 13 (No. 13 overall)
Haason Reddick, LB, Temple: Of course. Thanks to their uses of guys like Tyrann Mathieu and Deonne Bucannon, the Cardinals have been as creative as any team in the league at finding spots for talented players. Now, they’ll do it again with Reddick, the college DE-turned-NFL linebacker (probably). The Cardinals’ linebacking corps now includes Reddick, Bucannon and Chandler Jones, meaning that that it will be as dynamic and athletic as just about any group in the league. There are some concerns about Reddick’s transition, but this is a good fit. Were the Cardinals caught off guard, though, by the early QB run? They certainly could have considered a quarterback or TE O.J. Howard here, to ensure their future on that side of the ball. GRADE: A–
Round 2, Pick 4 (No. 36, via trade with Chicago)
Budda Baker, S, Washington: Love the player. Curious about the aggressive move up the board to get him, given the cost—Arizona shipped picks 45, 119, 197 and a 2018 fourth-rounder to Chicago for this selection and 221. It seemed on the surface like a leap up for a QB, but the Cardinals seem content to keep putting that off. Baker and Tyrann Mathieu together at safety provides even more versatility to a defense loaded with it. GRADE: B+
Round 3, Pick 34 (No. 98)
Chad Williams, WR, Grambling: Williams is not going to replace Larry Fitzgerald, ever. He could learn quite a bit from the potential future Hall of Famer, though. Williams uses his body well in positioning and with the ball in his hands, and he has just enough speed to take the top off a defense. Keep an eye on him in 2018 or ‘19. GRADE: B
Round 4, Pick 8 (No. 115 via Panthers) Dorian Johnson, G, Pittsburgh
Round 5, Pick 13 (No. 157) Will Holden, T, Vanderbilt University
Round 5, Pick 36 (No. 179) T.J. Logan, RB, North Carolina
Round 6, Pick 24 (No. 208) Johnathan Ford, S, Auburn
