2025 NFL Draft: Why Cardinals need star quality not quantity this time around

Cardinals can no longer afford to pass on star quality players

Over the past two drafts, Cardinals’ GM Monti Ossenfort has been hungry to trade down in order to acquire extra picks. In my opinion, that strategy has given the team added “quantity” at the expense of passing on star “quality.”

Watching The Eagles’ CB Cooper DeJean make a major impact on the team’s outstanding 40-22 rout of the Chiefs is a perfect example.

When the Cardinals were on the clock in the second round many of us here at ROTB were amazed that Cooper DeJean, mocked by some draft gurus as high as #9 in Round 1, was miraculously still on the board.

Yet for the second year in a row, Monti Ossenfort traded away his premier early 2nd round picks. Pick #34 in 2023. Pick #35 in 2024.

Quite frankly, I had never considered mocking Cooper DeJean to the Cardinals because I was expecting him to be off the board well before the Cardinals 2nd first round pick at #27. However, even though I had been mocking CB Mike Sainristil as my top choice for the Cardinals at pick #35, when I learned that Cooper DeJean was on the board, I was ecstatic. Go and take Cooper Dejean, man! I know that so many of you were as well.

Leave it to Cardinals to trade out of #35 and leave it to the Eagles to trade up at #40 to pluck him like a rose in full bloom.

2024 2nd Round CB Recap: (CBs with 500+ snaps)

* Pick #35 Cardinals trade out

* Pick #40 Eagles trade up to select Cooper DeJean (881 snaps — 82.0)

* Pick #41 Saints select Kool-Aid McKinstry (680 snaps, 66.1)

* Pick #42 Texans select Kamari Lassiter (906 snaps, 74.7)

* Pick #43 Cardinals select Max Melton (565 snaps, 55.5)

* Pick #50 Commanders select Mike Sainristil (1,158 snaps, 65.8)

* Pick #64 49ers select Renardo Green (675 snaps, 67.2)

On X yesterday, while 42 fans agreed with my thoughts about Cooper DeJean, several fans were pushing back:

Dude was 2023 unanimous All-American, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, while playing over 90% of his snaps at outside CB. Cooper DeJean was also Big Ten Punt Returner of the Year.

It’s amazing to me that just because a draft guru like Mel Kiper or Daniel Jeremiah suggests that Cooper DeJean could be a dynamo at slot CB, some folks take a suggestion like this as gospel.

It actually is the ultimate compliment to a CB draft prospect to suggest that he could be excellent covering the slot. That’s the most difficult cover for any defensive back. But what makes a player great at slot CB can also make him great on the perimeter, especially when that player is the complete package as a cover man and dawg=type tackler.

Then comes the argument that “we already have a slot CB in Garrett Williams.”

Not only would Cooper DeJean have been the team’s most talented, star-caliber outside CB, he could provide an incredible tandem with Garrett Williams in man-to-man coverage when teams are in the spread and there are 2 very good slot WRs to cover.

You’ve heard me argue this for years now —- having one good clot CB in today’s NFL is not nearly good enough.

That said, it should also be noted that when Monti traded out of #35 back to #43, in that interim DTs Ruke Orhohoro (#35 ATL), Johnny Newton (#36 WAS), T’Vondre Sweat (TEN) and Braden Fiske (#39 LAR) were coming off the boards like hotcakes.

To be clear —- I believe that Max Melton has the talent to be a highly competitive starting-caliber CB. I also think he has the feet and quickness to play well in the slot. It’s disappointing that he did not beat out Starling Thomas V or Sean Murphy-Bunting in year one. because when you draft a CB in round 2, you would expect him to be a plug and play starter. Yet, in my opinion, Cooper DeJean is a stronger player in all aspects of CB play than Max Melton, Starling Thomas V and Sean Murphy-Bunting.

2025 Draft Strategy

The Cardinals have 6 picks: 16, 47, 78, 118, 153, 249.

This year —- do not trade down.

Stay and take the best star-caliber player at each pick.

It’s one of the best years ever at defensive tackle.

There are very good edge players to choose from as well.

DT and ED should be the team’s top priorities, regardless of whether there are additions at those positions in free agency. If the Cardinals are going to catch up with deep, talented defensive fronts like the Eagles’ and Rams’ then to quote John Madden, “keep loading the wagon.”

The Cardinals last year made the mistake of thinking there were going to fine at DT with Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols and at CB with Sean Murphy-Bunting. This year they can hope that Jones, Nichols and Murphy-Bunting will be nice surprises this time around, but they shouldn’t count on it.

One of the positive aspects of Monti drafting for quantity the last two years is that the Cardinals already have sufficient depth and young talent at RB, TE, WR, S and CB.

What the top priorities are by position: LG, RT, DT, ED, ILB.

Some will keep insisting that WR should still be a priority. It isn’t. They’ve drafted Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tejhuan Palmer. They should be able to retain Greg Dortch (RFA). They have added good, intriguing depth options with Xavier Weaver, Andre Baccellia, Quez Watkins and Trishton Jackson (3 of those four are 4.36-4.40 speed WR options).

Some may keep insisting the Cardinals need to draft another CB. They don’t. They have drafted 5 and claimed one of waivers the last two years:

• Garrett Williams
• K’Trel Clark
• Starling Thomas V
• Max Melton
• Elijah Jones
• Jaden Davis

Time to maximize this talent.

Technically the Cardinals could already be set at QB with Kyler Murray, Clayton Tune and Anthony Brown. A Kyler Murray trade would behoove the Cardinals to sign a free agent and perhaps draft a QB they like. Regardless, at some point in this draft, they may want to draft a QB like Will Howard or Kyle McCord.

What the Cardinals can accomplish in free agency should add some clarity as to how deep and talented they are on the offensive line and defensive front 7.

This time around imagine the Cardinals taking the best, most talented player on the board at each pick.

How about this Bonanza of Buckeyes?

R1 – #16. Tyleik Williams, DT, 6-2, 290

or —- Jack Sawyer, ED, 6-4, 265

or —- Josh Simmons, T, 6-5, 310

R2 —- #47. Donovan Jackson, G, 6-4,320

or —– TJ Tuimoloau, ED, 6-4, 270

R3 —- #78. Will Howard, QB, 6-4, 242

R4 —- #113, Seth McLaughlin, C, 6-4, 304

R5 —- #153. Cody Simon. LB, 6-2, 235

R7 —- #249. Jordan Hancock, S, 6-1, 195

With draft options like these, Monti and Dave would be cooking up filet mignons with assists from PJJ, MHJ and Justin Frye!

In the meantime, maybe we get to vote in a poll like this for someone on our team, someday: