2013 NFL Draft Grades: Arizona Cardinals
By Josh Hill
The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now it’s time for some reflection. While some teams traded around to get who they want, others stood pat to see who would slide to them — and if there’s one thing to remember about this draft it’s players that slid around the rounds. But now that the draft is behind us, the all important grading phase has begun, so lets take a look at how the Seattle Seahawks did in this year’s NFL Draft.
Draft Picks
- (7) Jonathan Cooper, g, North Carolina
- (45) Kevin Minter, lb, LSU
- (69) Tyrann Mathieu, db, LSU
- (103) Alex Okafor, lb, Texas
- (116) Earl Watford, g, James Madison
- (140) Stepfan Taylor, rb, Stanford
- (174) Ryan Swope, wr, Texas A&M
- (187) Andre Ellington, rb, Clemson
- (219) D.C. Jefferson, te, Rutgers.
Best Pick: Tyrann Mathieu, FS/LSU
Had he not gotten into drugs and been kicked off Les Miles’ squad down at LSU, Mathieu could have been gone by the start of the second day. But because og his troubled past and the very relevant question marks surrounding him moving forward, teams took it easy when it came to hurrying to get him. But he’s got the ideal support system for him in Arizona which means he should be able to stay on the right path.
Worst Pick: D.C. Jefferson, TE/Rutgers
I love his name, hate his game. Jefferson is going to be a real project to develop him into a decent tight end at the NFL level, but the Cardinals may end up finding a way to use him. He’s a seventh round pick, so be nice but Jefferson isn’t a guy you need to pencil into your fantasy football team this year.
Analysis: The Cardinals addressed a need for an offensive line upgrade with the selections of Jonathan Cooper and Earl Watford but also fortified their defense with the selections of Kevin Minter, Tyrann Mathieu and Alex Okafor. The Cardinals needed to get better all over their roster and the did exactly that this weekend.
2013 Draft Grade: A-