Blog Post Series: "Arizona Sports"
In the relatively near past, I took a strong liking towards Arizona Sports, therefore in this particular Free Choice Series, I will discuss my favorite team from MLB, NBA, NFL, respectively.
Inspiration for AZ Sports Series:
Ever since a young age, I have always been an aspiring sports writer as I have composed numerous professional analysis works compact with statistics, reviews, and previews. For these following free choice blog posts, I would like to put my talents on display.
*AZ Sports Series Change: AZ Coyotes changed to AZ Cardinals: Coyotes------->Cardinals
AZ Sports Series: Arizona Cardinals Draft Review
AZ Sports Series Timeline: (My Favorite Teams from MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, respectively)
Inspiration for AZ Sports Series:
Ever since a young age, I have always been an aspiring sports writer as I have composed numerous professional analysis works compact with statistics, reviews, and previews. For these following free choice blog posts, I would like to put my talents on display.
*AZ Sports Series Change: AZ Coyotes changed to AZ Cardinals: Coyotes------->Cardinals
AZ Sports Series: Arizona Cardinals Draft Review
- All Picks
- Best AZ Cardinals' Draft Pick
- 2015 AZ Cardinals: Rookie Expectations/Projections
AZ Sports Series Timeline: (My Favorite Teams from MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, respectively)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
- Phoenix Suns (NBA)
- Arizona Cardinals (NFL)
- Arizona Cardinals Contd. (NFL)
2015 NFL Draft: AZ Cardinals Draft Review
2015 AZ Cardinals Draft (All Picks)
- First Round (24th Overall Pick): D.J. Humphries (Florida/OT)
- Second Round (58th Overall Pick): Markus Golden (Missouri/LB)
- Third Round (86th Overall Pick): David Johnson (Northern Iowa/RB)
- Fourth Round (116th Overall Pick): Rodney Gunter (Delaware State/DE)
- Fifth Round (158th Overall Pick): Shaquille Riddick (WVU/DE)
- Fifth Round (159th Overall Pick): J.J. Nelson (UAB/WR)
- Seventh Round (256th Overall Pick): Mr. Irrelevant: Gerald Christian (Louisville/TE)
Best AZ Cardinals' Draft Pick
Best Pick:
With the 24th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select D.J. Humphries, Offensive Tackle from Florida.
With the 24th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select D.J. Humphries, Offensive Tackle from Florida.
Scouting Report:
D.J. was one of the top football prospects coming out of both high school and college. An athletic player for his height and weight with the best feet for a tackle in the entire draft. D.J. has some minor issues to fix, but 1 or 2 years down the road, we are potentially looking at a 10-year starter on either the left or right side.
Personal Take:
I personally feel this pick can be the steal of the draft since he profiles as the only true tackle in the first round. The value of tackles far outweigh the value of guards since mostly all tackles can play guard but not all guards can play tackle.
Tackles must be light on their feet so they can block the more athletic, finesse pass-rushers such as the Justin Houstons and Von Millers body-types, rather than the traditional power rushers.
Player fits Team Need:
D.J. will definitely play a major role in this super-bowl aspiring offense as the Super Bowl runs through the NFC West. Basically, NFC West Teams are prominently known for their colossal offensive and defensive lines, therefore G.M. Steve Keim has executed his promise of a monstrous offensive line as 2 of his last 3 first-round picks were offensive linemen.
Player Ceiling:
D.J's ceiling is definitely high as he profiles as a Franchise Left Tackle, where he can foreseeably be seen manning the left side of the line for the next 10 years. Fortunately, his floor is relatively high as he profiles as at least an average OL at his worst.
D.J. was one of the top football prospects coming out of both high school and college. An athletic player for his height and weight with the best feet for a tackle in the entire draft. D.J. has some minor issues to fix, but 1 or 2 years down the road, we are potentially looking at a 10-year starter on either the left or right side.
Personal Take:
I personally feel this pick can be the steal of the draft since he profiles as the only true tackle in the first round. The value of tackles far outweigh the value of guards since mostly all tackles can play guard but not all guards can play tackle.
Tackles must be light on their feet so they can block the more athletic, finesse pass-rushers such as the Justin Houstons and Von Millers body-types, rather than the traditional power rushers.
Player fits Team Need:
D.J. will definitely play a major role in this super-bowl aspiring offense as the Super Bowl runs through the NFC West. Basically, NFC West Teams are prominently known for their colossal offensive and defensive lines, therefore G.M. Steve Keim has executed his promise of a monstrous offensive line as 2 of his last 3 first-round picks were offensive linemen.
Player Ceiling:
D.J's ceiling is definitely high as he profiles as a Franchise Left Tackle, where he can foreseeably be seen manning the left side of the line for the next 10 years. Fortunately, his floor is relatively high as he profiles as at least an average OL at his worst.
Projected Offensive Line: (Top 5 Offensive Line in the NFL)
(LT) Jared Veldheer, (LG) Mike Iupati, (C) A.Q. Shipley, (RG) Jonathan Cooper, (RT) D.J. Humphries
2015 AZ Cardinals: Rookie Expectations/Projections
D.J. Humphries (Florida/OT)
Expectations: Day 1 Right Tackle starter replacing Bobby Massie.
Projections: Franchise Left Tackle
Markus Golden (Missouri/LB)
Expectations: Rotational pass rusher predominantly on first and second downs, because player relies heavily on effort.
Projections: A good situational pass rusher for the AZ Cardinals for the next few years.
David Johnson (Northern Iowa/RB)
Expectations: Big, powerful, shifty, and sure handed running back complement to the lighting quick Andre Ellington.
Projections: A future bell cow at the running back position, attending multiple pro bowls.
Rodney Gunter (Delaware State/DE)
Expectations: Similar to Golden, rotational pass rusher predominantly on second and third downs, as his talent plays on 3rd downs.
Projections: A good situational pass rusher and finisher for the AZ Cardinals for the next few years.
Shaquille Riddick (WVU/DE)
Expectations: A hybrid player with positional flexibility that can play a DE in a 4-3 scheme and a LB in a 3-4 scheme. He can definitely rush the QB and stop the run.
Projections: A borderline starter with both polished pass-rushing ability and run stopping acumen.
J.J. Nelson (UAB/WR)
Expectations: A lighting in a bottle returner with low 4.20s speed, who can create major production with both the kick returning and punt returning duties, which this team has definitely struggled in the last few years. He can also be the 4th receiver on the roster, with stretching the defense vertically ability. He fits in the John Brown mold, if he gets both stronger and more polished in his route-running.
Projections: A potentially deadly kick game threat with game breaking speed. John Brown and J.J. can both run vertical routes down the field, opening the field underneath for the likes of the checkdown, David Johnson/Andre Ellington, or the slot receiver, Larry Fitzgerald.
Mr. Irrelevant/Gerald Christian (Louisville/TE)
Expectations: Little to no expectations for the last pick in the draft besides making the 53-man roster or the practice squad. A depth peace at the TE position.
Projections: No more than a depth piece or a practice squad member.
Expectations: Day 1 Right Tackle starter replacing Bobby Massie.
Projections: Franchise Left Tackle
Markus Golden (Missouri/LB)
Expectations: Rotational pass rusher predominantly on first and second downs, because player relies heavily on effort.
Projections: A good situational pass rusher for the AZ Cardinals for the next few years.
David Johnson (Northern Iowa/RB)
Expectations: Big, powerful, shifty, and sure handed running back complement to the lighting quick Andre Ellington.
Projections: A future bell cow at the running back position, attending multiple pro bowls.
Rodney Gunter (Delaware State/DE)
Expectations: Similar to Golden, rotational pass rusher predominantly on second and third downs, as his talent plays on 3rd downs.
Projections: A good situational pass rusher and finisher for the AZ Cardinals for the next few years.
Shaquille Riddick (WVU/DE)
Expectations: A hybrid player with positional flexibility that can play a DE in a 4-3 scheme and a LB in a 3-4 scheme. He can definitely rush the QB and stop the run.
Projections: A borderline starter with both polished pass-rushing ability and run stopping acumen.
J.J. Nelson (UAB/WR)
Expectations: A lighting in a bottle returner with low 4.20s speed, who can create major production with both the kick returning and punt returning duties, which this team has definitely struggled in the last few years. He can also be the 4th receiver on the roster, with stretching the defense vertically ability. He fits in the John Brown mold, if he gets both stronger and more polished in his route-running.
Projections: A potentially deadly kick game threat with game breaking speed. John Brown and J.J. can both run vertical routes down the field, opening the field underneath for the likes of the checkdown, David Johnson/Andre Ellington, or the slot receiver, Larry Fitzgerald.
Mr. Irrelevant/Gerald Christian (Louisville/TE)
Expectations: Little to no expectations for the last pick in the draft besides making the 53-man roster or the practice squad. A depth peace at the TE position.
Projections: No more than a depth piece or a practice squad member.