NFL Draft 2016: Arizona Cardinals Day 2 selections

Looking at the Arizona Cardinals selections on Day 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft.

As a team with no real glaring holes on its roster, the Arizona Cardinals had the rare luxury of drafting for talent late in the first round on Thursday night, even if that talent came with some caution flags. Robert Nkemdiche fit that description to a tee, as the defensive end from Ole Miss has undeniable top end skill but also had some off-field issues that made other teams hesitant about him.

The thinking is that the Cardinals are the perfect team for Nkemdiche, as Arizona has had success with ensuring players with similar concerns coming out of college — specifically defensive back Tyrann Mathieu — have a strong support system in place and turn into valuable contributors.

The Cardinals will now turn their attention to Day 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft, albeit without a pick in Round 2. The team used that selection to trade for linebacker Chandler Jones of the New England Patriots, a player who very well could add more value than the typical Day 2 rookie right off the bat.

Unless the Cards work a trade, they won’t be involved on Friday night until near the very end. Their third-round pick is near the bottom, 92nd overall. Once again, the team is considered to be solid or better in every unit, so there’s no consensus on what direction it might go in that spot. It is interesting to note, though, that quarterback Carson Palmer isn’t getting any younger, making Arizona a prime candidate to seek a developmental QB at some point.

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