Cardinals' Rookie Class Ranked Among Most Productive
ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals called upon a vast majority of their 2023 rookie class to carry the load this past season.
Perhaps more so than people initially thought.
Some notable numbers from Cards Wire's Jess Root:
- "They had 14 rookies on the active roster over the last two weeks of the season, the most they have had at end of the season since 2002."
- "Arizona’s rookie played more than any other team’s rookies. They played a combined 4,654 offensive and defensive snaps, the most in the NFL. They were the only team whose rookies had at least 2,000 offensive snaps and at least 2,000 defensive snaps."
- "Their 2,351 rookie defensive snaps led the NFL. Their 2,303 rookie offensive snaps were fifth in the league."
- "The Cardinals had 64 combined rookie starts, the most in the NFL by nine. The Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams had the second-most rookie starts with 55."
- "Eleven different rookies started games for Arizona, also the most in the league. Tennessee was second with 10."
The Cardinals saw nearly everyone (except Jon Gaines, who missed the entire season due to injury) contribute in some form or fashion - but how productive were they?
ESPN recently went through and graded each NFL team's rookie class based on productivity - Arizona ranked No. 9 in the league.
Full breakdown from author Aaron Schatz.
"Much like the Packers, the Cardinals had many rookies playing important roles but no rookie with more than 20 Total Points. The Cardinals' top pick was also their top rookie in Total Points, with Paris Johnson Jr. starting the entire season at right tackle. However, Johnson was only 63rd out of 69 qualifying tackles in pass block win rate (81.6%) and was average in run block win rate.
"Third-round wide receiver Michael Wilson played less but had better advanced metrics. Wilson had 38 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns and ranked 13th among qualifying wide receivers in DVOA. Then we get to the Cardinals' secondary, where the Cardinals started three rookie cornerbacks together in Week 12. Third-round pick Garrett Williams was coming off a college ACL tear he suffered at Syracuse and missed the first six weeks of the season, but he was a starter in most of the games since joining the lineup and had an impressive minus-20% DVOA allowed in coverage.
"Sixth-round pick Kei'Trel Clark was a starter early in the season, playing in Williams' stead, and had an average DVOA in coverage. Undrafted cornerback Starling Thomas V started games in the second half of the season but with a poor 37% DVOA in coverage.
"But, wait ... we're not done! Second-round edge rusher BJ Ojulari had four sacks and 40 combined tackles while playing roughly 20% of defensive snaps in the first half of the season and half the defensive snaps from Week 10 on. Sixth-round defensive tackle Dante Stills started eight games and had 3.5 sacks and 47 combined tackles. Fifth-round quarterback Clayton Tune had to start against Cleveland back in Week 9. Plus, the Cardinals also had contributions from backup running back Emari Demercado (undrafted) and tight end Elijah Higgins (originally a Dolphins draft pick in the sixth round)."
Looking at Ossenfort's rookie class from last season, it's encouraging moving forward with both ample cap space and 13 total picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
If the Cardinals can replicate their strong outing from last offseason, it's fair to expect another productive rookie class in 2024.
