Draft grade roundup: How the experts view the Arizona Cardinals 2019 NFL Draft - Revenge of the Birds

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the books, undrafted free agent signings not withstanding, we are beginning the terror of immediate grading.

So, let’s see what these grades hold for the Arizona Cardinals.

Pro Football Focus: Excellent
What they said:

Arizona seemingly drafted with Pro Football Focus’ 2019 NFL Draft Guide in hand for Days 1 and 2, starting with PFF’s No. 1 overall player Kyler Murray... PFF’s top cornerback and No. 6 overall player, Byron Murphy is a steal at pick No. 33 for the Cards... Another PFF favorite, Massachusetts wide receiver Andy Isabella earned the highest overall grade we’ve ever given a receiver in the PFF College era

Doug Farrar: B+
What he said:

First overall pick Kyler Murray was one of the best deep throwers in the NCAA last season, and new receivers Hakeem Butler and Andy Isabella were great deep receivers in college. Getting marginal pick value for Josh Rosen debits this draft a bit, but this offense is going to be something... Getting Washington cornerback Byron Murphy with the first pick in the second round, though, may be the steal of Arizona’s draft and one of the steals of the draft overall.

Washington Post: B-
What they said:

There’s no problem with being enamored with Kyler Murray, the Heisman Trophy-winning QB, and taking him with the first pick. Maybe he’ll be a star; perhaps he won’t. He’s worth taking that shot. But using top-10 picks on QBs in two straight drafts is no way to build a roster. The Cardinals got only a low second-round pick in this draft and a fifth-rounder next year for Josh Rosen a year after surrendering quite a bit to move up to select him 10th. That’s not exactly resourceful. Being able to get Byron Murphy, perhaps the draft’s best CB, to lead off the second round was good value.

Chad Reuter: A
What they said:

Coaching in the NFL is difficult enough without passing up a quarterback you believe in. Josh Rosen might succeed in Miami, and I hope he does, but taking Murray first overall was the right move for Kingsbury and the Cardinals... Murphy has great ball skills and instincts, and he and Patrick Peterson will make a strong starting cornerback duo on the outside. Moving Rosen for a late second-round pick was fantastic, given the circumstances. Using that pick on Isabella will be questioned in some war rooms, especially with 2018 second-rounder Christian Kirk already playing a similar role on the team. Getting Allen in the third was fantastic -- he’s a Calais Campbell-type bargain who gives his all on every down.

MMQB: A (or B, including the letter grade deduction for the Josh Rosen trade)
What they said:

Otherwise the rest of Arizona’s draft was sterling. WR Andy Isabella has vertical speed plus the explosive shiftiness to prosper from the slot in what we imagine will be a predominantly quick-strike offense under Kliff Kingsbury. Hakeem Butler is a monster-sized target whom some saw as a late first-round prospect. Adding these two to what had been a desperately lacking receiving corps does wonders for the offense... On defense, the Byron Murphy pick addresses the No. 2 corner spot that has long been problematic opposite Patrick Peterson, and it buttresses the slot corner position, which now goes to recently acquired ex-Falcon Robert Alford... The front seven was amplified by Zach Allen, who is similar to another recently acquired ex-Falcon, Brooks Reed. It was also a pleasant surprise to see free safety Deionte Thompson still on the board in Round 6.

Another round of good feedback for the Arizona Cardinals on their early returns for the 2019 NFL Draft.

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https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2019/4/28/18521085/draft-grade-roundup-how-the-experts-view-the-arizona-cardinals-2019-nfl-draft-pff-nfl-and-more

2019-04-28 13:00:00Z
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