Grade: A
Best pick: Josh Rosen (QB, UCLA)
Questionable pick: Korey Cunningham (OT, Cincinnati)
Sleeper pick: Chase Edmonds (RB, Fordham)
It was clear heading into the 2018 Draft that the Arizona Cardinals were on the hunt for a franchise quarterback and they found one in UCLA’s Josh Rosen. Rosen, by my account and several others, is the most pro-ready quarterback in the class and could very well wind up as the best when all is said and done. Rosen appears extremely motivated to prove his draft worth in post-draft interviews, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he’s the Cards’ starting quarterback over Sam Bradford by the middle of next season.
Picking up Arizona native Christian Kirk in the second round should provide a valuable weapon out of the slot for Rosen, in addition to being dangerous in the return game. Kirk is one of the most dangerous players after the catch in this entire class and it wouldn’t surprise me if he took multiple kickoffs or punts to the house in his rookie season. If this is Larry Fitzgerald’s final season, the Cards will need to address the receiver position again in 2019 but for now, Kirk is a nice piece for the next several seasons.
It’s hard to nitpick a seventh round pick but I’m not sure whether the Cardinals have done enough to address the offensive line woes they’ve had in recent seasons. Korey Cunningham is a purely developmental prospect but the Cards will need to stay healthy up front to avoid regressing from their 2017 season.