USAT: Cards Wire audio clip

USAT: Cards Wire

Feb 17, 2022

The Arizona Cardinals have a number of positions that need addressing but with their first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, ideally they can land a player at a premium position. - In the latest mock draft from ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, they do exactly that. They select a pass rusher with the 23rd pick in the first round. - They take Florida State pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II. - Arizona’s roster has impact players headed toward free agency all over the place, but one of the biggest is edge rusher Chandler Jones. Coupled with the fact that soon-to-be 33-year-old J.J. Watt is coming off a shoulder surgery, this pass rush — which produced 41 sacks last season, tied for 13th most — could take a step back in 2022. Johnson had 12 sacks and 45 pressures at Florida State in 2021 and then put on a show at the Senior Bowl. Even if the Cardinals lose Jones this March, Johnson could join Markus Golden and Watt to form a solid pass-rush group. - It’s noteworthy that the team’s top-two running backs — James Conner and Chase Edmonds — are also free agents. That said, I don’t see a running back worth even considering in Round 1 this year. Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller is my top-rated back, way back at No. 55 on my board. We’ve seen only two first rounds without a running back (2013 and 2014), but this is shaping up to be one of those years. - Johnson was dominant in the Senior Bowl. That will have caught the eyes of the Cardinals’ evaluators. He has the size and the length. He has the strength and production. - The Cardinals have not had a young, promising pass rusher since they drafted Golden in the second round in 2015. - Premier pass rushers are premium players. It is certainly a position worth taking in the first round, especially after using first-round picks on inside linebackers the last two years. - The question is whether Johnson would last all the way to the 23rd pick. If he is, he looks like a great fit. - - List - - 8 big questions facing the Cardinals this offseason - - - - - - - Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify. - Latest show: - - - Previous shows: - - - and - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Cards Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Cards Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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