arizona cardinals pff grades
1 next to him on the field, allowing him to work the middle of the field from the slot. Start every day with our most popular content waiting in your inbox. You have to imagine he will get an opportunity outside, even amid talk that he may move to guard. Edmonds saw 65 targets compared to just 97 carries in 2020. There is a chance that all six picks could contribute and make an impact on the team in 2020. What is Watt’s best role at this stage of his career? PFF's Big Board for the 2021 NFL Draft offers three-year player grades, combine measurables, position rankings, and in-depth player analysis for all of the top draft prospects. One might argue it’s the biggest concern on this team. Hyde is a guy who has had success as a runner in a committee these past two seasons in both Houston and Seattle. He can operate a full route tree and make people miss with the ball in his hands after the catch. The Arizona Cardinals roster was ranked No. He may be listed at 5-foot-9, but he isn’t small. For now, it’s been evident why Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was the No. Jackson has graded above the 80th percentile in the league in single coverage since 2017. also remains an unknown at right tackle after opting out of the 2020 season. His ability to move the line of scrimmage suits him well in the run game, where he picked up an 83.4 grade in 2019, but he’s extremely limited as a pass rusher at this point. Watt gets to join forces with one of the better pass-rushers in the NFL over the past decade in Jones on a team that has a chance to compete in 2021. Simmons didn’t have a major role in the defense, but he did show flashes of the kind of impact he could have in coverage — none bigger than the overtime interception against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7. Beachum produced a 69.0 PFF grade at right tackle for Arizona in his first year with the team after three seasons in New York. azcardinals.com Humphries allowed only one sack over that time and recorded an overall PFF grade above 90.0 while protecting for a quarterback who tends to hold … puts it, “Hebert’s blend of contact balance and speed is tailor-made for the NFL.” He’s not going to make a big impact in the passing game, but Edmonds has already shown he is a capable back when it comes to passing downs. 250+ three-page scouting profiles - advanced stats, 3-year grades, player comps, combine data and Senior Bowl grades - for the 2021 draft class. Herbert averaged a massive 4.7 rushing yards after contact per attempt with Virginia Tech in 2020. Moving away from the “narrative destinations,” there was still more talk about fits in Cleveland and Buffalo both schematically and financially. Kyle Shanahan did not make life easy on the rookie. Simmons didn’t have a major role in the defense, but he did show flashes of the kind of impact he could have in coverage — none bigger than the overtime interception against, Shelvin would be the route if Arizona wants to add another young piece to a positional group where they’ve recently selected guys like. According to Justin Melo, the Cardinals are one of many teams who have met with him virtually. As the. Murphy is the only player currently under contract who figures to factor into their long-term plans at the position. info. In a continued look at free agents the Arizona Cardinals could sign, we look at the recently released Emmanuel Sanders, who played last season for the New Orleans Saints. Linebacker Evan Weaver spent the year on the practice squad. , but I would expect him to line up as a defensive end in Arizona’s base 3-4 defense. The Cardinals could consider bringing him back as an experienced, well-respected player in the middle of their defensive line despite a somewhat down year in 2020 before going down with an injury in Week 10. notes, he could be seen as a guard by some teams — not something that should prohibit him from landing in Arizona. Haason Reddick Earns Highest PFF Grade In NFL On Sunday Outside linebacker had five sacks, three forced fumbles against Giants Dec 14, 2020 at 10:36 AM. Rumph is a more difficult projection but one who should hold some appeal where he’s going to come off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft. — make plays. Maxx Williams is the current high man on the depth chart at tight end, but he doesn’t offer much as a receiving threat. NFL free agent rankings with analysis, projected salaries, PFF grades and PFF WAR. should he officially announce his retirement this offseason, but this is a wide receiving corps that needs some additional juice even if he returns. He hasn’t played since the 2018 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. available following Cincinnati’s decision not to use the franchise tag on him. Edmonds saw 65 targets compared to just 97 carries in 2020. Meanwhile, Horn is one of the better fits defensively for Arizona in the first round of the draft. Last, Kelvin Beachum, is a free agent, as is starting right guard. On the one hand, you have a pending free agent who provided quality play for you at that spot in 2020. It would be one of the more impactful signings they could make along the offensive line, though. D.J. Now, we turn to how the Cardinals can best utilize Watt at this stage of his career. He plays bully ball with receivers. McLendon is another veteran alternative who has shown that he can hold up against the run at nose tackle throughout his career. info. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. of the world, but he also should be available a bit further down draft boards. Kirk figures to play a significant role in the offense again in 2021. Of course, experience has to start somewhere, but the Cardinals are likely best suited to keep him in a rotational role while bringing in another back to split the early-down carries. But we have all the confidence in the world in Chase and him being able to be the bell cow if that’s how this plays out.”. That rose to a 68.7 overall grade with a 78.7 grade in coverage against any other offense in the league. One of the more interesting ways to recap Simmons’ rookie season is to highlight the disparity in play in his two games against the. How big of a concern is the cornerback position as things stand right now? Edmonds is listed at a healthy 210 pounds for that height. Things aren’t quite going to be the same without Larry Fitzgerald should he officially announce his retirement this offseason, but this is a wide receiving corps that needs some additional juice even if he returns. The 5-tech in Arizona’s base defense is where Watt makes the most sense. The Arizona Cardinals have a gaping hole at cornerback this offseason before free agency and the NFL draft. Leki Fotu, the Cardinals’ first fourth-round pick has upside. There are reasons that it makes sense as a destination, though. There was plenty of talk about a potential return home to Green Bay or joining his brothers in Pittsburgh. Cardinals edge defender Haason Reddick turned in a career performance with four total sacks and should finish PFF’s grading review process with a 90.0-plus pass-rushing grade. The Cardinals should be looking to add athleticism and receiving ability at the position this offseason. Share this article 24 shares ... with both players recording pass-blocking grades north of 75.0. The second-year man out of Houston, Josh Jones, is a guy who PFF labeled, one of the best values of the 2020 NFL Draft, . Running back Eno Benjamin was never active. The current NFL roster for the Arizona Cardinals listed by position on Pro Football Focus. Kyle Shanahan did not make life easy on the rookie. Marcus Gilbert also remains an unknown at right tackle after opting out of the 2020 season. The fact that he never really improved on an impressive true freshman season with the Trojans back in 2018 is concerning, but St. Brown brings an NFL-ready skill set to the league with him nonetheless. McPhee has thrived as a rotational part of defensive fronts for years in Chicago and Baltimore. That said, they must still address holes at several of the offensive skill positions, along the offensive line and in the secondary. They have not re-signed free-agent center A.Q. The Cardinals didn't get many contributions from their rookie class. Reddick looks like he’ll end up elsewhere, meaning Arizona should be looking for some more depth at outside linebacker. free-agent status leave a question at nose tackle, and. whose status is unknown after opting out of the 2020 season. Simmons ended up playing primarily linebacker for Arizona, and he should only continue to improve with another offseason to grow more comfortable in his new defense. Arizona seems to like Chase Edmonds (69.3 PFF grade in 2020), but he did most of his damage as a receiver this past season. PFF’s Sam Monson wrote after Watt’s release about his desire to see what in more situations where teams allow him to rush from the interior. Veteran defensive backs Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick should also earn 75.0-plus PFF grades following their impressive performances. The former first-round pick sounds off on his future with the Arizona Cardinals. Robert Saleh and the San Francisco 49ers’ defense held the Arizona Cardinals to just 350 total yards (4.4 yards per play) and forced two turnovers to lead the team to a 20-12 win on the road.. Editor's note: All of PFF's grades and advanced stats from this game will be finalized and made available to ELITE subscribers within 24 hours of the final whistle. Their recent release of. The Arizona Cardinals enter free agency this week with a number of needs to fill. . Everett and Jordan both qualify as move tight ends who would add some more dynamism as receivers than anyone Arizona currently has on the roster. Cornerback is where Arizona should have its sights set big in both free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s been the prototype at that position in the NFL for a while now, but he’s shown in the last several years that he’s capable of bumping further outside the tackle and still grading out as one of the best defensive linemen in the league. There are solid building blocks in place on this roster —this team, Things aren’t quite going to be the same without. Beachum could also return at the right price in free agency after a solid 2020 campaign. Oct 25, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) and head coach Kliff Kingsbury look on against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at State Farm Stadium. about his desire to see what in more situations where teams allow him to rush from the interior. DB K'Waun Williams: He received a 90.5 overall grade. The Los Angeles Rams leaned on their defense and special teams to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 18-7, sending Sean McVay back to the postseason for the third time in four seasons. The Arizona Cardinals' pass rush saw itselff in the bottom half of the league this season, while the team's secondary also took a hit in PFF's rankings. compared to his games against every other offense he faced. Tackle: Brady Christensen, Kelvin Beachum. Jordan, meanwhile, has legitimate speed and make-you-miss ability for a tight end. The Cardinals have that top option in Hopkins. Everett is coming off a down 2020 season, but he flashed what he could do as a receiver in a shared role with Tyler Higbee during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. Shelvin would be the route if Arizona wants to add another young piece to a positional group where they’ve recently selected guys like Zach Allen, Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence. Offensive line is also an area where we will likely see some shuffling heading into 2021. Linsley has earned PFF grades of at least 75.0 in five of his seven NFL seasons and is coming off a position-high 86.4 overall grade in 2020. Kirk figures to play a significant role in the offense again in 2021. Regardless of where it comes from, expect Watt to show that he still has plenty of quality play left to give in his first year in the desert. It wouldn’t be the most exciting of signings, but it wouldn’t carry a lot of risk. arizona-cardinals. Herbert averaged a massive 4.7 rushing yards after contact per attempt with Virginia Tech in 2020. Edge defender: Pernell McPhee, Chris Rumph II. Murray drew 12 starts at right tackle for Arizona back in 2019 (62.9 overall grade), but he played primarily right guard for the team this past season. Four of the Cardinals’ six pick are mentioned and … He’ll eat double teams and let the guys making the big bucks — Jones, Watt, Phillips, etc. Edge is another spot where I don’t see the Cardinals investing heavily since signing Watt several weeks ago. The 5-tech in Arizona’s base defense is where Watt makes the most sense. PFF's Ben Linsey and ESPN's Bill Barnwell graded the Cardinals' signing. JuJu was at his best with a legitimate No. The Cardinals could likely bring him back on a reasonable deal if they wanted to. in the NFL for a while now, but he’s shown in the last several years that he’s capable of bumping further outside the tackle and still grading out as one of the best defensive linemen in the league. The Cardinals have that top option in Hopkins. However, three players are currently on the roster who could all compete to fill the vacant spot if the team lets Beachum walk. The Cardinals came out of nowhere to sign Watt, but it’s not difficult to see why they coveted him. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio. The right tackle position holds some intrigue for the Cardinals heading into next season. Then, there is. The Arizona Cardinals get the highest possible grade from Pro Football Focus. You'll now receive the top Cards Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. , Kliff Kingsbury said in a recent press conference that Edmonds could take over as the full-time starter at running back. NFL and PFF player stats for Arizona Cardinals T Kelvin Beachum on Pro Football Focus. Even at 35 years old, it still looks like there is some gas left in the tank. In the rollercoaster that was the Seahawks at the Cardinals, both teams found themselves in a shootout where only one could reign victorious. Peters has been with the team for the past five seasons, serving as a reliable run defender at nose tackle over much of that span. Williams has earned a higher run-blocking grade than receiving grade in every season of his six-year career thus far. leaves Murphy as the only player at the position with any kind of meaningful experience. Where exactly he would fit into a defense was the biggest concern surrounding his game coming out of Clemson. Over the last few weeks, we have reviewed each position group, their performance in … Jackson is PFF’s. The first area of note is the impact that Murray was able to have as a runner in 2020 compared to 2019. The latest NFL news for the Arizona Cardinals with game schedules, projected box scores and PFF grades. He just doesn’t have near the athleticism or ability to move in space that some other prospects are going to have. PFF's grading of Kyler Murray is certainly at odds with conventional wisdom Murray torched Washington on the ground in Week 2 but was only given a 66.2 rushing grade for that performance. Please check your email for a confirmation. Projected cap space (Over the Cap): $21,428,869 (13th in the NFL), Picks in 2021 NFL Draft: 16, 49, 79, 160, 242. In-depth analysis and PFF metrics for NFL quarterbacks from the 2020 season. Then, there is Marcus Gilbert, whose status is unknown after opting out of the 2020 season. Against San Francisco, Simmons earned just a 27.7 PFF grade in 39 defensive snaps. “As far as Chase goes, you’ve seen when he’s had his opportunity, he’s played at a starting running back level,” Kingsbury said. Their recent release of Robert Alford and the free-agent status of Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick leaves Murphy as the only player at the position with any kind of meaningful experience. Listed at 6-foot-2 and nearly 350 pounds, Shelvin is a hard man to move at the line of scrimmage. Offensive line is also an area where we will likely see some shuffling heading into 2021. Technically, there is a lot to like about his game. … Of course, draft grades now are based on a balance of talent, value and need. Jordan, meanwhile, has legitimate speed and make-you-miss ability for a tight end. He’s. Using both the PFF grades … In his matchup this past season against Auburn and Seth Williams, Horn allowed two receptions while intercepting two passes and breaking up another five. Technically, there is a lot to like about his game. (69.3 PFF grade in 2020), but he did most of his damage as a receiver this past season. Four of the cornerbacks who played last season are all going to be free agents and might not return, including Patrick Peterson. Meanwhile, Horn is one of the better fits defensively for Arizona in the first round of the draft. A year later, we can look at the Arizona Cardinals' draft class and wonder if they made the right selections. JuJu was at his best with a legitimate No. Edmonds has carried the ball at least 10 times in a game just three times in his three-year career — Week 7 of the 2019 season (27 carries for 126 yards), Week 9 of the 2020 season (25 carries for 70 yards) and Week 15 of the 2020 season (11 carries for 47 yards). He will probably end up playing primarily at linebacker in the NFL and figures to become one of the top coverage players and athletes at the position. The NFL draft has concluded and now, even though it seems way too early to do so, grades are being given. The major storyline on this side of the ball is the addition of Watt to pair with Jones along the defensive front. Things haven’t quite broken that way since, but he still projects as a reliable CB1 outside. The second-year man out of Houston, Josh Jones, is a guy who PFF labeled one of the best values of the 2020 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports. Humphries is locked in as the starter at left tackle, and you would think the team would give Jones a chance to win the starting right tackle job this offseason. That rose to a 68.7 overall grade with a 78.7 grade in coverage against any other offense in the league. The Arizona Cardinals got off to a hot start to the 2020 season — riding high at 6-3 following their “Hail Murray” win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 10 — but they lost five of their final seven games to close the season and missed the playoffs. Humphries Earns Top Offensive PFF Grade In NFL On Sunday Cardinals' left tackle dominates against the Jets Oct 12, 2020 at 10:37 AM. Sign up for the Cards Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Notable offensive PFF grades … 1 next to him on the field, allowing him to work the middle of the field from the slot. That aggressiveness may need to get reeled in a bit at the next level, but you have to like the way he plays the game if you’re a man-heavy defense. STORY OF THE GAME. That would give the team two tackles under 30 years old to build around moving forward. Cornerback is the glaring area of need for Arizona, though. Shelvin is bigger than all of those guys. Things haven’t quite broken that way since, but he still projects as a reliable CB1 outside. If the Cardinals aren’t bringing Drake back, I don’t expect they’ll go chasing any big names at the running back position. “We all understand that he’s unfortunately been nicked up a couple of times, which we want to keep him on the field. In other words, they should be looking to add someone who complements what Williams already brings to the table. Christensen is an intriguing offensive line prospect in a deep class who could be available a bit later in the process but still offer quality starting play early. This position is more about depth than anything for Arizona. are candidates to compete for those two jobs already on the roster. From there, the grades are normalized to better account for game situation and are finally converted to a 0-100 scale. In the third round, tackle Josh Jones was a highly-rated player by PFF. However, his 2020 season didn’t provide all that much reason for excitement, and it will be difficult for Arizona to trust options behind him on the depth chart, such as KeeSean Johnson and Andy Isabella, for significant contributions. Jackson has graded above the 80th percentile in the league in single coverage since 2017. Arizona Cardinals Home: The official source of the latest Cardinals headlines, news, videos, photos, tickets, rosters and game day information. Shelvin is bigger than all of those guys. ARIZONA CARDINALS EDGE J.J. Watt: Two years, $28 million deal ($23 million guaranteed) Grade: Above Average. Cardinals' O-line ranked in top half of NFL by PFF. He’s unlikely to be a true edge defender in the NFL at his size, but he showed at Duke that he knows how to win as a pass-rusher. One such prospect is Northwestern corner Greg Newsome II. He’ll eat double teams and let the guys making the big bucks — Jones, Watt, Phillips, etc. The Cardinals will be counting on that upward trajectory to continue into his third season out of Oklahoma. The Cardinals could also be in the market for a starting running back and tight end with Kenyan Drake and Dan Arnold hitting free agency. PFF’s Sam Monson wrote after Watt’s release. He recently tested exceptionally well at his pro day and showed the ability to compete at a high level against some of the better prospects in the country at the Senior Bowl. Arizona … PFF’s Seth Galina recently listed Smith-Schuster as an ideal fit for Arizona in free agency, and I tend to agree with that assessment. Tackle Josh Jones played very few snaps all season. Murray also looked much more comfortable as a passer from a clean pocket in his second season. In the lead-up to the start of free agency on March 17 and the opening day of the 2021 NFL Draft on April 29, we'll be taking a position-by-position look at all 32 NFL teams with a focus on the starting spots that have question marks heading into next season. The selection of Isaiah Simmons in the first round was praised. The Cardinals could also be in the market for a starting running back and tight end with Kenyan Drake and Dan Arnold hitting free agency. If it doesn’t work out, then that’s when you kick Jones inside to guard and try somebody else outside at right tackle. The trade for Hopkins paid immediate dividends on offense, but the Cardinals lacked secondary and tertiary options in the passing game. There are solid building blocks in place on this roster —this team can have success in 2021. Still, there are more positives to take away from that than negatives. It’s not as if Murray wasn’t capable of creating headaches for defenses with his legs as a rookie, but he didn’t utilize that ability as often or as effectively as he did this past season. Humphries (88.3) The former first-round pick had a slow start to his career, but played well enough in 2019 to garner a three-year, $43.8 million contract extension. Edmonds wasn’t often the featured running back in Arizona’s offense last season with Drake in the fold, but Edmonds was one of just 22 backs across the NFL to play at least 500 offensive snaps. Did teams pick up talented players without reaching and do they fit what they need now or moving forward? The Cardinals kept a majority of continuity in their position room. He’s coming off a year in which he helped contribute to Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl run following a midseason trade to the team. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Bird Droppings: Arizona Cardinals make future moves, PFF grades out the Cardinals season, and more By Seth Cox @SCoxFB Jan 6, 2021, 3:00am MST / new Jackson is PFF’s top free-agent cornerback available following Cincinnati’s decision not to use the franchise tag on him. Rankings of Arizona Cardinals players on Pro Football Focus leave a lot to be desired. Cornerback is where Arizona should have its sights set big in both free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft. Few teams ran more Cover 1 than the Cardinals did in 2020, and Horn has the kind of press-man coverage mentality that you want out of your cornerback. The 32-year-old is coming off a 2020 season in which he earned pass-rushing and run-defense grades of at least 70.0 on over 500 defensive snaps. This becomes even more of a concern when noting that Arizona is one of the most man-heavy coverage teams in the NFL. Defensive linemen Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence missed time with injuries and got some playing time. There’s a good chance he continues to improve in the NFL. Linebacker Isaiah Simmons played a limited role. He hasn’t played since the 2018 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Watt isn't the peerless force of his early-career days, but he is still very much one of the best defensive linemen in the league. Josh Jones and swing tackle/guard Justin Murray are candidates to compete for those two jobs already on the roster. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. It is quite likely the Cardinals both sign a cornerback or two in free agency and draft one. Watt has played primarily outside the tackles these past few years for the. He has the highest pass-blocking grade among all centers since 2015, according to PFF. Everett ranked as a top-10 tight end in PFF grade both years. Murray drew 12 starts at right tackle for Arizona back in 2019 (62.9 overall grade), but he played primarily right guard for the team this past season. However, his 2020 season didn’t provide all that much reason for excitement, and it will be difficult for Arizona to trust options behind him on the depth chart, such as, The Cardinals could also be in the market for a starting running back and tight end with. , Horn allowed two receptions while intercepting two passes and breaking up another five. Everett ranked as a top-10 tight end in PFF grade both years. 1 grade on the Cardinals: Left tackle D.J. He’s a guy who the Cardinals can certainly move around the formation, capable of causing disruption both outside and between the tackles. The major storyline on this side of the ball is the addition of Watt to pair with Jones along the defensive front. Sign Up. Even with the Watt addition, Arizona still could use a few more pieces up front. The Cardinals also got great value with their third- and fourth-round selections, according to PFF's rankings, as Boston College defensive end Zach Allen and wide receiver Hakeem Butler were both rated in the top-42 on PFF's board. Few teams ran more Cover 1 than the Cardinals did in 2020, and Horn has the kind of press-man coverage mentality that you want out of your cornerback. The Los Angeles Rams are back on top of the NFC West after a 38-28 win over the Arizona Cardinals.. Editor's note: All of PFF's grades and advanced stats from this game will be finalized and made available to ELITE subscribers within 24 hours of the final whistle.. Story of the Game. One of the more interesting ways to recap Simmons’ rookie season is to highlight the disparity in play in his two games against the San Francisco 49ers compared to his games against every other offense he faced. Unlock NFL Player Grades, Fantasy & NFL Draft, Unlock Premium Stats, PFF Greenline & DFS, got off to a hot start to the 2020 season — riding high at 6-3 following their “Hail Murray” win over the, in Week 10 — but they lost five of their final seven games to close the season and missed the playoffs. Corey Peters’ and Domata Peko’s free-agent status leave a question at nose tackle, and Haason Reddick also enters free agency after a career year on the edge for the Cardinals in 2020. Even with the Watt addition, Arizona still could use a few more pieces up front. He looked like he may be on a path toward becoming one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL in his first season of action back in 2017. Humphries was a bargain in the first year of that deal in 2020, as he finished with the best PFF grade on the team and the fifth-highest mark among offensive tackles. Edmonds saw 65 targets compared to just 97 carries in 2020. is the current high man on the depth chart at tight end, but he doesn’t offer much as a receiving threat. He plays bully ball with receivers. The Arizona Cardinals finished the 2020 season at 8-8 and just missed out on the playoffs, but whether that’s a success or not is a matter of perspective. Smith-Schuster would add some nice after-the-catch ability and toughness to their receiving corps should Arizona be willing to pay what is necessary to bring him in this offseason. To prepare for that, they are doing their homework on cornerback prospects. — make plays. Running back: Carlos Hyde, Khalil Herbert. Rumph earned a 92.7 pass-rushing grade back in 2019. He ended this past year with a receiving grade of 77.1 compared to a rushing grade of 62.6. Watt has played primarily outside the tackles these past few years for the Houston Texans, but I would expect him to line up as a defensive end in Arizona’s base 3-4 defense. 24 in the NFL by Pro Football Focus despite acquisitions in free agency and the draft. The optimal outcome for Arizona would be if Jones wins the job and succeeds there. Learn More He has come away from both campaigns with rushing grades of at least 72.0. For the potential draft target, we’ll stick to USC products with St. Brown. When projecting him for a larger rushing role, the biggest concern may simply be inexperience as anything more than a change-of-pace runner. No. The Cardinals are going home after skidding to 2-5 in their last seven games. He really elevated his game this past season, though, with an overall grade of 93.4 that ranked second to Penei Sewell among all qualifying FBS offensive tackles. Wide receiver: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Amon-Ra St. Brown.