Grading the Cardinals, Falcons trade: Arizona gets a cornerback and another top 100 pick
The Arizona Cardinals joined the trade party at the top of the second round by trading back with the Atlanta Falcons. It was one of six trades that took place in the first 10 selections of the round. A run on wide receivers and defensive tackles didn't phase the Cards. They selected Marvin Harrison Jr. and […]
The Arizona Cardinals joined the trade party at the top of the second round by trading back with the Atlanta Falcons. It was one of six trades that took place in the first 10 selections of the round.
A run on wide receivers and defensive tackles didn't phase the Cards. They selected Marvin Harrison Jr. and Darius Robinson the night before to play those respective positions. The guy they wanted came after a couple more at his position came off the board first, and they got an extra third round pick in the process.
Grading the Cardinals-Falcons trade
Cardinals Grade: A-
The Atlanta Falcons sent Arizona the picks #43 and #79 for picks #35 and #186. The Cardinals moved down eight spots so the Falcons could finally take a defensive player in Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro.
While it was a net wash in terms of how many picks were lost and gained, the Cardinals only moved back eight spots in the top half of the second round while getting an extra Day 2 pick in return. That's a win for a team needing high-end talent.
With the 43rd pick, the Cardinals selected Rutgers cornerback Max Melton. A four-year starter, Melton is one of the fastest cornerbacks in this class. He ran under a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, and racked up 30 passes defensed in his career.
Melton is ranked as the 54th overall prospect in this draft class, and the eighth overall corner, by A to Z Sports NFL Draft analyst James Foster. Here are his top attributes:
- Explosive plant & drive
- Light feet to shuffle & square up the release
- Stays in phase out of press transitions
- Mirrors & stays on top of outside releases
- Closing burst to undercut passing lanes from off coverage
To get a starting-caliber cornerback eight spots after their original pick and recoup an extra pick in the next round is a clear win for the Cardinals. Let's see how they attack the rest of the draft.
Cardinals wisely stay put to select Marvin Harrison Jr. as the first non-quarterback in the NFL Draft
Arizona gets its alpha receiver to start the 2024 NFL Draft.
