Re-Picking Cardinals’ 2019 Draft
It's been a minute since our latest redraft for the Arizona Cardinals under Steve Keim, and it feels fitting to have one with the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine kicking off this week.
The 2019 NFL Draft featured the Cardinals hosting the number one overall pick which they spent on Kyler Murray. Some love him and some do not, but he has turned into a good quarterback nonetheless. The rest of the draft had some highs and some lows. All in all, it wasn't a terrible draft, but it was far from a home run.
That's where I come in as Captain Hindsight to redraft this class for the Cardinals and turn them into a contender. And man was that easy to do for this class...
Let's go ahead and hop right into this one.
Previous classes:
Round 1:
Pick 1: Kyler Murray, Quarterback
With the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Cardinals rolled the dice on the undersized but uber-talented Murray to be the savior of the franchise and the quarterback it has lacked for the majority of its existence. Murray hasn't been elite, but he's absolutely been worth the investment.
Redo pick: No change
Some Cardinals fans wish Nick Bosa was the pick here, but you absolutely have to take the franchise quarterback every time. Bosa is undeniably the better player, but Murray is the best quarterback the franchise has ever drafted and is still worthy of that number-one pick.
Round 2:
Pick 33: Byron Murphy, Cornerback
Murphy has been a very quality cornerback when on the field and has developed into a solid defender. Murphy was playing the best ball of his career in 2022 before injuries limited him to nine games. He should be someone for the Cardinals to prioritize bringing back.
Redo pick: Elgton Jenkins, Interior Offensive Line, Green Bay Packers (originally pick 44)
While Murphy has been quality, Jenkins has become one of the best interior offensive linemen in the NFL. He rebounded from an ACL tear suffered in 2021 this year and has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice. The Cardinals would do anything to have him on their offensive line.
Pick 62: Andy Isabella, Wide Receiver
Call a spade a spade - Isabella is not only a bust for the Cardinals but one of the bigger busts of the 2019 NFL Draft entirely. Isabella was cut midseason in 2022 and contributed just 447 yards in four seasons in Arizona.
Redo pick: DK Metcalf, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks (originally pick 64)
This was the pick the Cardinals needed to make at the time and even more so now. Metcalf is a physical specimen that had no business dropping to the end of round two and took no time at all to become a top-end wide receiver in the pros. This should've been the pick back then, so I'll amend that mistake here.
Round 3:
Pick 65: Zach Allen, Interior Defensive Line
Similar to Murphy, Allen has aged like a fine wine in the pros and turned into a very quality starter on the defensive line. Allen had a career-best 5.5 sacks in 2022 and will look for an extension in Free Agency. The Cardinals should consider bringing him back.
Redo pick: Terry McLaurin, Wide Receiver, Washington Commanders (originally pick 76)
Yes, the Cardinals just took DK Metcalf, but the team drafted three wide receivers in the 2019 NFL Draft and they needed all the investments when looking back at the team. The man dubbed both F1 and Scary Terry would be a massive upgrade to this wide receiver room and would give Murray an unbelievable one-two punch.
Round 4:
Pick 103: Hakeem Butler, Wide Receiver
Butler, like Isabella, was a massive bust in the 2019 NFL Draft even as a fourth-round pick. Butler was widely beloved in the draft community for his size and contested catch ability, but it never translated to the pros. Butler never recorded a catch in his career and was cut by the Cardinals after one season.
Redo pick: Maxx Crosby, Edge, Las Vegas Raiders (originally pick 106)
Crosby has become one of the best stories in the NFL after overcoming addiction and blossoming into one of the league's top-tier pass rushers. Crosby hasn't missed a game in his career, has posted 37.5 sacks, and would instantly be the best pass rusher on the Cardinals.
Round 5:
Pick 139: Deionte Thompson, Safety
There were many who believed the Cardinals' selection of Thompson was a steal at the time, but the pick hasn't aged well. Thompson posted 54 tackles and zero interceptions in his time with the team before being cut last September.
Redo pick: Dre Greenlaw, Linebacker, San Francisco 49ers (originally pick 148)
Greenlaw has become one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL across from Fred Warner. Greenlaw flies to the football with ferocity and is a tone-setter on one of the best defenses in the NFL. Consider Greenlaw would've been drafted before Isaiah Simmons became a Cardinal and perhaps the trajectory of the team's future drafts may have changed.
Round 6:
Pick 174: KeeSean Johnson, Wide Receiver
A lot of fans generated hype for Johnson even as a sixth-round pick. He had just 36 receptions for 360 yards and a single touchdown in two seasons before being cut.
Redo pick: Gardner Minshew, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars (originally pick 178)
Drafting two quarterbacks in the same draft?! Blasphemy! That being said, Minshew has turned into a terrific backup quarterback and the Cardinals have needed that in the worst way in recent years. This is a great investment to protect the most important position in football.
Pick 179: Lamont Gaillard, Interior Offensive Line
Gaillard played 13 games in two seasons with the Cardinals and is no longer with the team. The expectations for a sixth-round pick shouldn't be high, but there were better picks to be made.
Redo pick: Trayveon Williams, Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals (originally pick 182)
Williams hasn't been a starting running back for the Bengals, but he has seen some time as a change-of-pace option and a return man for the team. The Cardinals would love the kind of depth that he can provide.
Round 7:
Pick 248: Joshua Miles, Offensive Tackle
The Cardinals had three seventh-round picks to throw darts at the board with and they started with Miles. The Cardinals managed to get 17 games out of him and can't complain about that when you consider the investment.
Redo pick: Patrick Mekari, Offensive Line (originally undrafted)
The Ravens found a jack of all trades with Mekari who has spent time at center and even tackle for the team. He may not be a top-end starter, but he has proven to be crucial depth for the team. Mekari would be a starter for the Cardinals and could be a steady presence throughout the offensive line.
Pick 249: Michael Dogbe, Interior Defensive Line
Dogbe was the second pick the Cardinals had in the seventh round. Dogbe saw little action in his first two seasons but has become an important contributor in the last two seasons.
Redo pick: No change
As I said, Dogbe has become a great rotational piece for the Cardinals' defense the last two seasons and there's no reason to change a good thing here.
Pick 254: Caleb Wilson, Tight End
Mr. Irrelevant and the Cardinals' final pick in the seventh round flamed out immediately, failing to make the team's roster.
Redo pick: Jakobi Meyers, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots (originally undrafted)
Remember when I mentioned earlier that the Cardinals spent three draft picks on the wide receiver spot? Well, they're doing it again and they get a steal here with Meyers at the end of the draft. It took three seasons for Meyers to find the endzone but has turned into a legitimate starting wide receiver for the Patriots with nearly 3,000 career receiving yards. He gets to be the third receiver on the Cardinals in this redraft and man... It's hard to beat that trio.
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