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NFL Draft results 2015: Arizona Cardinals take D.J. Humphries with No. 24 pick

By Josh Criswell

Dec 11, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; An Arizona Cardinals football helmet sits on the field prior to a game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; An Arizona Cardinals football helmet sits on the field prior to a game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals are in desperate need of a running back, but with Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley off the board already, would the team elect to bolster their defense or improve their offensive line? 

The Arizona Cardinals made the playoffs last season, despite instability at the quarterback position and an array of injuries. Running back and the defensive front are the two most obvious needs for the team, and a major improvement at either could be what puts them over the top as a legitimate contender in the league.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, both of the only first round-worthy running backs, Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon, were gone by the 15th pick in the draft, leaving defensive line or linebacker as the team need that Arizona absolutely had to address.

With the extremely athletic and talented linebacker Randy Gregory still available, the Cardinals had a no-brainer at pick No. 24. Despite red flags regarding a failed drug test for marijuana at the combine and notions that he does not have a high motor, the linebacker from Nebraska was easily the most talented player left, and filled a major need at the same time.

Instead they elected to draft in D.J. Humphries, the offensive tackle out of Florida. While Humphries is a great pick up for the Cardinals, and one that is capable of starting from Day 1, Arizona may have missed on a potentially transcendent player in Gregory.

That being said, you can never have enough talented offensive linemen that can help to contain the dominant defenses of the NFC West.

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