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Arizona Cardinals: 7-round mock draft

By Charles Rahrig V

Nov 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet on the sidelines before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet on the sidelines before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 15, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal linebacker Blake Martinez (4) during the NCAA football game against the UCLA Bruins at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal linebacker Blake Martinez (4) during the NCAA football game against the UCLA Bruins at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 6: ILB Blake Martinez

After acquiring Matt Barkley from the Philadelphia Eagles for a seventh-round pick, it meant that for now the sixth-round pick for the Arizona Cardinals would be their last pick in 2016. While compensatory picks or trades can change that, it won’t be known until they’re handed out. In the sixth round, the Cardinals should look to continue to add to what they have been trying to keep improving upon, and that’s their front seven. One area that could be addressed for the Cardinals is the inside linebacker position. Kevin Minter has finally stepped up in 2015, and Deone Bucannon fills in nicely as inside option, but the Cardinals could use more depth on the inside.

The team signed Sean Weatherspoon as a free agent in the off-season, and he’s only now finally getting playing time out on the field, which doesn’t bode well for re-signing him. Part of that is because of the play of the players in front of him, but the Cardinals could perhaps fill that depth with a cheaper option in a raw draft pick. That option should be Stanford linebacker Blake Martinez. Martinez has been a force on the inside during his time in Stanford, and if he can go to the right situation, he might be able to grow as an NFL player, despite only having a low-round grade. In Arizona, he would have time to learn and his smarts could make him a vital pick.

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