The Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Draft class is complete, with general manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury looking to take a big leap in the NFC West. The Cardinals did not initially have either a third or fourth-round pick in 2021. These picks were bargained in deals that landed the Cardinals DeAndre Hopkins and Rodney Hudson. The team’s fifth-round selection was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a fourth and sixth-rounder in 2021. Ultimately, the team made seven selections, which were as follows:
- First round, 16th overall: Zaven Collins, linebacker, Tulsa
- Second round, 49th overall: Rondale Moore, wide receiver, Purdue
- Fourth round, 136th overall: Marco Wilson, cornerback, Florida
- Sixth round, 210th overall: Victor Dimukeje, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Duke
- Sixth round, 223rd overall: Tay Gowan, Cornerback, UCF
- Seventh round, 243rd overall: James Wiggins, Safety, Cincinnati
- Seventh round, 247th overall: Michal Menet, Center, Penn State
Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Draft Grade: 8/10
Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Zaven Collins
He wasn’t the pick, or even the position, that most Cardinals fans wanted, but Arizona got an absolute stud in the first round in Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins. Collins went largely under the radar in an inside linebacker class dominated by Penn State’s Micah Parsons. The Oklahoma native was expected to be a late first-round selection. Many fans expected the team to target a cornerback in the first round after the loss of Patrick Peterson. However, the Cardinals’ front office selected their ‘Best Player Available’ in Collins.
It is clear why the Cardinals felt this way, especially given the individual season he just had. It is bizarre that he went largely unrecognized. With four sacks and four interceptions in just eight games in 2020, Collins owned the college football offseason. He scooped up both the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best collegiate defensive player. In addition, his performances also earned him the Lombardi Award, recognizing him as the nation’s best collegiate player, regardless of position.
Collins has an enormous 6’5″, 267lb frame that is effective around the line of scrimmage, but a 4.67 sec 40 time demonstrated his open-field ability. He offers a significant upgrade in terms of both athleticism and versatility from the Cardinals’ current ‘Mike’ linebacker Jordan Hicks, especially in pass coverage. Both Keim and Kingsbury were confident in suggesting that Collins will soon inherit this starting role.
Paired with last year’s top pick, Isaiah Simmons, Keim was excited about the potential of the two stars, likening the duo to a ‘pair of trees’ in the middle of the defense. There has been some concern about Arizona’s habit of drafting and then underutilizing hybrid style players, like Haason Reddick, although it seems that Collins’s role will be more clearly defined than some of his predecessors’.
The Head-Scratcher: James Wiggins
As athletic as James Wiggins is, it’s strange that the Cardinals draft yet another safety. Headlined by Budda Baker, the group already has both talent and depth. Jalen Thompson will likely be the starter at free safety, continuing to develop alongside Deionte Thompson. The offseason also saw the team re-sign veterans Charles Washington and Chris Banjo, as well as adding Shawn Williams from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Last season, special teams was a surprising bright spot for Arizona. Thus, the front office seems to have committed significant resources to bolster the unit. Investing a late-round pick in a special teamer, which is what Wiggins will be, is understandable, although it would’ve been nice to see that player add depth in some of the Cardinals’ more threadbare position groups.
The Surprise: Cornerback Talent Acquired Late
In the run-up to the draft, the Cardinals were linked with practically every cornerback in this year’s group. It is easy to understand why, given the current state of the Cardinals’ cornerback room. With Malcolm Butler only on a one-year deal and the state of Robert Alford not yet known, the Cardinals are in dire need of at least a number two corner for the upcoming season.
The Cardinals’ primary first-round options were Patrick Surtain II, Jaycee Horn, and Caleb Farley. Surtain and Horn were gone by 16, and the Cardinals were clearly too put off by Farley’s injury concerns to take him with their top pick
Marco Wilson was a late-round selection, the team trading up to get him in the fourth round. Although talented, a costly incident against LSU likely contributed to his draft stock falling. There are also some schematic issues, as Wilson’s tape doesn’t show consistent success in press-man coverage. On talent alone though, Wilson is a strong selection as late as the fourth.
Tay Gowan also exemplified the depth of the class. He was a rumored top-100 talent coming out of UCF, yet the Cardinals were able to grab him with their second sixth-round pick of the day.
The Steal: Marco Wilson
The Cardinals traded with the Ravens in order to recover their fourth-round pick in 2021. They went up for Marco Wilson, a cornerback out of Florida. Innocuously throwing a cleat in a game against LSU this past season likely caused Wilson’s slide, because it certainly wasn’t his talent.
A sharp and instinctive player, Wilson was arguably Florida’s best defensive player in 2020. He was one of only four corners in school history to start as a true freshman. As a tackler, he hits far and above his weight, although not always effectively. He has demonstrated elite athleticism, particularly during his pro day, running a 4.37 sec 40.
That being said, the fit is a strange one. Wilson’s tape does show exceptional talent. Unfortunately, his abilities have been showcased in a scheme that doesn’t reflect Vance Joseph’s aggressive system. Primarily seen in zone and off-man looks, Wilson was effective but didn’t show the core principles necessary to excel in Joseph’s preferred press-man style. However, with physical traits, versatility, and football IQ like his, Wilson offers an attractive template for the Cardinals’ coaches to mold into a potential NFL star.
Most Likely To Turn Heads During Training Camp: Rondale Moore
If for no other reason, Rondale Moore will be instantly recognizable for his size. The 5’9″ Purdue product is, however, an electrifying talent. He is a viable downfield target, with a stunning 4.33 sec 40-time. Yet college football’s most versatile player offers so much more than stretching the field. With Kingsbury’s innovative use of screens and other exotic offensive looks, getting the ball into Moore’s hands quickly will be the best way to utilize his game-breaking athletic ability. Owing to his versatility and speed, he also offers the team a much-needed option at kick/punt returner.
Eyes will be on Moore as he comes into training camp inextricably linked to Andy Isabella. Players of a similar archetype, it will be interesting to see how the selection of Moore affects Isabella, who has been underwhelming so far with the Cardinals. This pseudo-competition could be one to watch.
The Rest:
Duke’s Victor Dimukeje was the annual edge rusher in the Cardinals’ draft. Although he was a historically successful defensive end at Duke, he is making the shift to outside linebacker in the NFL. A team can never have enough pass rushers, but it is a stretch to say the pick was an explicit need.
Although Cardinal fans may not have got the marquee corner at the top of the draft, they did get some much-needed depth. Marco Wilson in particular was a great pick in the fourth round. Tay Gowan fits the profile for a corner in Vance Joseph’s defense. He did, however, only played in 12 college games during his time at UCF. Given the talent acquired, waiting till the later rounds for corners seems to have paid off.
As for the seventh-round picks, James Wiggins will be effective on the Cardinals’ solid special teams unit. The safety room is a little overcrowded, so special teams will undoubtedly be the extent of Wiggins’ role at first. Penn State’s Michal Menet steps into the role vacated by Mason Cole as the Cardinals’ next late-round center project. If he plays, it would mean disaster has struck Rodney Hudson; the Cardinals can’t afford to think like that.
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