The NFL draft will be held from April 28-30 in Chicago. The Cardinals have addressed many of their biggest needs through the Chandler Jones trade and free agency but will aim to add more impact pieces. We'll take a look at each position group over the next few weeks as the draft beckons.
Draft primer: Defensive line
Cardinals under contract:DT Calais Campbell; DT Frostee Rucker; NT Corey Peters; DT Rodney Gunter; DT Josh Mauro; DT Ed Stinson; DT Red Bryant; NT Xavier Williams; DT Olsen Pierre
Need: Medium
Images of the defensive line prospects projected to be chosen in the draft
Ohio State DE Joey Bosa: Projected top-5 pick
Oregon DE DeForest Buckner: Projected top-10 pick
Clemson DE Kevin Dodd: Projected first-round pick
Clemson DE Shaq Lawson: Projected first-rounder
Oklahoma State DE Emmanuel Ogbah: Projected second-rounder
Penn State DE Carl Nassib: Projected second-rounder
Florida DE Jonathan Bullard: Projected second-rounder
BYU DE Bronson Kaufusi: Projected third-rounder
Oklahoma DE Charles Tapper: Projected third-rounder
Utah DE Jason Fanaika: Projected fourth-rounder
Illinois DE Jihad Ward: Projected fourth-rounder
Grand Valley State DE Matt Judon: Projected fourth-rounder
Appalachian State DE Ronald Blair: Projected fourth-rounder
Penn State DE Anthony Zettel: Projected fifth-rounder
Alabama DE D.J. Pettway: Projected sixth-rounder
Michigan State DE Lawrence Thomas: Projected sixth-rounder
Vanderbilt DE Stephen Weatherly: Projected sixth-rounder
Notre Dame DE Romeo Okwara: Projected sixth-rounder
Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins: Projected top-15 pick
Alabama DT A'Shawn Robinson: Projected first-rounder
Mississippi State DT Robert Nkemdiche: Projected first-rounder
Alabama DT Jarran Reed: Projected first-rounder
Baylor DT Andrew Billings: Projected second-rounder
Mississippi State DT Chris Jones: Projected second-rounder
UCLA DE Kenny Clark: Projected second-rounder
Louisiana Tech DE Vernon Butler: Projected second-rounder
Penn State DE Austin Johnson: Projected second-rounder
Ohio State DE Adolphus Washington: Projected third-rounder
South Carolina State DE Javon Hargraves: Projected third-rounder
Notre Dame DE Sheldon Day: Projected third-rounder
Texas DE Hassan Ridgeway: Projected fourth-rounder
Nebraska DE Maliek Collins: Projected fourth-rounder
Clemson DT D.J. Reader: Projected fifth-rounder
Michigan DT Willie Henry: Projected fifth-rounder
Georgia Tech DT Adam Gotsis: Projected sixth-rounder
USC DT Antwaun Woods: Projected sixth-rounder
Temple DT Matt Ioannidis: Projected sixth-rounder
Florida State DT Nile Lawrence-Stample: Projected sixth-rounder
Stanford DT Aziz Shittu: Projected seventh-rounder
Maryland DT Quinton Jefferson: Projected seventh-rounder
Analysis: The Cardinals return their defensive line core from a year ago and get Corey Peters back after he missed 2015 with an Achilles injury. There are some age concerns with the group, as Calais Campbell, Frostee Rucker and Red Bryant will all be 30 or older this season (fellow veteran Cory Redding was released on Monday). There are some promising young players on the roster – highlighted by Rodney Gunter, who started at nose tackle as a rookie last season – but only Campbell has proven to be a dynamic pass-rushing threat among the defensive linemen.
With the age issue and the lack of a big-time disruptor beyond Campbell (who heads into the last year of his contract in 2016) the Cardinals figure to eye the defensive ends closely. The draft is also strong on interior linemen, so all of the defensive line positions could be in play when the team is on the clock in the first round.
Ohio State's Joey Bosa, Oregon's DeForest Buckner and Clemson's Shaq Lawson are the highest-rated defensive ends but all figure to be gone by the time the Cardinals choose at No. 29. Oklahoma State's Emmanuel Ogbah, Clemson's Kevin Dodd and Florida's Jonathan Bullard are among the players who could be considered at No. 29.
Louisville's Sheldon Rankins, the Alabama duo of A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed and Baylor's Andrew Billings are among the projected first-round picks at defensive tackle. The most intriguing name may be Mississippi's Robert Nkemdiche, a talented player who could drop into the Cardinals' range due to off-field concerns. There are also plenty of options across the defensive line when the Cardinals choose in the middle and late rounds.
The Cardinals' defensive line has consistently done an impressive job against the run since coach Bruce Arians arrived. The pass rush could stand to improve, and while the addition of outside linebacker Chandler Jones was a big one, selecting a promising defensive lineman in a draft deep at the position could also help the cause.
