General Manager Steve Keim did an impressive job filling needs to begin the league year, as there are no longer any glaring holes in the starting lineup. He will aim to supplement the roster in the draft, beginning with the No. 8 overall selection. The Cardinals are without their second-rounder because of the DeAndre Hopkins trade, but did pick up an additional fourth in the deal. This is the final draft primer heading into Thursday's first round.
Draft primer: Linebacker
Players under contract: OLB Chandler Jones; ILB Jordan Hicks;ILB De'Vondre Campbell; OLB Devon Kennard; OLB Haason Reddick; ILB Tanner Vallejo; ILB Dennis Gardeck; OLB Kylie Fitts; ILB Ezekiel Turner; OLB Vontarrius Dora; ILB Keishawn Bierria.
Need: Medium
The Cardinals' situation: The position was bolstered in free agency, as Devon Kennard was signed to be the edge-rushing complement to Chandler Jones, while De'Vondre Campbell was added next to Jordan Hicks on the inside. There is still hope that Haason Reddick can unlock his premium physical gifts at outside linebacker, while Tanner Vallejo, Dennis Gardeck and Ezekiel Turner are backup inside linebackers and standout special teamers.
The draft class: Chase Young is the best edge rusher in the class, but he will be long gone by the time the Cardinals pick at No. 8. There aren't any other outside linebackers projected to be in the mix when the Cardinals are on the clock, so it would likely take a trade down or a later-round pick to add a piece. Clemson's Isaiah Simmons is fast enough to play safety, but at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, seems likely to be categorized as an inside linebacker in the NFL. Even though off-ball linebackers are not as coveted as players at other positions, Simmons' versatility is expected to land him in the top 10.
The conclusion: Simmons seems to be the only legitimate linebacker candidate at No. 8, if he is still on the board. If the Cardinals trade down, then edge rushers like K'Lavon Chaisson, Yetur Gross-Matos and A.J. Epenesa could be more in play. The Cardinals don't have much youth at linebacker, so it wouldn't be a surprise for them to draft one as a future option.
Images of some of the top inside and outside linebacker prospects in the 2020 draft
![LSU OLB K'Lavon Chaisson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/eiesscofu831gmmhtsqi.jpg)
LSU OLB K'Lavon Chaisson
![Ohio State OLB Chase Young](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nyyxlhb0bplu3eirudpw.jpg)
Ohio State OLB Chase Young
![Clemson ILB Isaiah Simmons](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ahqzqruql00ain08qe4z.jpg)
Clemson ILB Isaiah Simmons
![Wisconsin ILB Zack Baun](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xxdjbxk61qvxjxdwwm8w.jpg)
Wisconsin ILB Zack Baun
![Penn State OLB Yetur Gross-Matos](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/orznqyjxrj5uxt6ieq86.jpg)
Penn State OLB Yetur Gross-Matos
![Oklahoma ILB Kenneth Murray](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ct9ru68eoykostwxjf8k.jpg)
Oklahoma ILB Kenneth Murray
![LSU ILB Patrick Queen](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/rtqqee3d2xorw8unufaj.jpg)
LSU ILB Patrick Queen
![Iowa OLB A.J. Epenesa](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/l8ah24igi1oxbyeoep25.jpg)
Iowa OLB A.J. Epenesa
![Ohio State ILB Malik Harrison](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/wi91awdpreh4lpk5lga9.jpg)
Ohio State ILB Malik Harrison
![Tennessee OLB Darrell Taylor](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dpxzm5nvxp83hw0ap4hm.jpg)
Tennessee OLB Darrell Taylor
![Boise State OLB Curtis Weaver](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/wnww1ksomqzrytrcwnja.jpg)
Boise State OLB Curtis Weaver
![Utah OLB Bradlee Anae](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/qdlwaufguoj452ejxhut.jpg)
Utah OLB Bradlee Anae
![Notre Dame OLB Julian Okwara](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/fybyzzbya0cfnlu6fash.jpg)
Notre Dame OLB Julian Okwara
![Alabama OLB Terrell Lewis](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/klzdz8ydrgb80jex99no.jpg)
Alabama OLB Terrell Lewis
![Notre Dame OLB Khalid Kareem](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/immequedostbcs0tedkg.jpg)
Notre Dame OLB Khalid Kareem
![Florida OLB Jonathan Greenard](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dx04uwke2okhumzq8cph.jpg)
Florida OLB Jonathan Greenard
![Michigan OLB Josh Uche](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/uncao8e4m1mqj2qbogq0.jpg)
Michigan OLB Josh Uche
![Alabama OLB Anfernee Jennings](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/yt0u2b4ucvvjgl8u7pyv.jpg)
Alabama OLB Anfernee Jennings
![Charlotte OLB Alex Highsmith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/mtjvow4hxqpfduo5gpai.jpg)
Charlotte OLB Alex Highsmith
![Michigan State OLB Kenny Willekes](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nepxibsl8cfbb4m7isfv.jpg)
Michigan State OLB Kenny Willekes
![Miami OLB Jonathan Garvin](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/lqpbrfmvfx3r71qojazo.jpg)
Miami OLB Jonathan Garvin
![Auburn OLB Nick Coe](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/vsmq4gjkrbetkqagytzb.jpg)
Auburn OLB Nick Coe
![Florida OLB Jabari Zuniga](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/inbndfrmdkwxon58grvn.jpg)
Florida OLB Jabari Zuniga
![Syracuse OLB Alton Robinson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/kp07lelcybu9cwaeycq6.jpg)
Syracuse OLB Alton Robinson
![LSU ILB Michael Divinity](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/x8fkgksbhwfh32vhfvig.jpg)
LSU ILB Michael Divinity
![Michigan ILB Khaleke Hudson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ay4krmt74pweamub9ooy.jpg)
Michigan ILB Khaleke Hudson
![Colorado ILB Davion Taylor](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ckupbzkwfmrmpjhtbycs.jpg)
Colorado ILB Davion Taylor
![Mississippi State ILB Willie Gay Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/zbocuybzageclt8adg46.jpg)
Mississippi State ILB Willie Gay Jr.
![Purdue ILB Markus Bailey](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/rkjvkxcmjht95ha4t0cw.jpg)
Purdue ILB Markus Bailey
![Wyoming ILB Logan Wilson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/tash8jkdm8zyl6uve1tu.jpg)
Wyoming ILB Logan Wilson
![Michigan State ILB Joe Bachie](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/mirnbd7l331rwljqoskg.jpg)
Michigan State ILB Joe Bachie
![Texas Tech ILB Jordyn Brooks](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dage3uwaiqmtcsc9ranq.jpg)
Texas Tech ILB Jordyn Brooks
![Oregon ILB Troy Dye](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/qyxufyiuoxhygyyordnl.jpg)
Oregon ILB Troy Dye
![LSU ILB Jacob Phillips](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/g1hrcvcpe6bfr5ewvk8g.jpg)
LSU ILB Jacob Phillips
![Appalachian State ILB Akeem Davis-Gaither](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/mgh9cgewul0yzasbxxsa.jpg)
Appalachian State ILB Akeem Davis-Gaither