Thursday, May 16, 2024

Arizona Cardinals 2024 NFL power rankings post-draft roundup

Throughout the 2024 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a post-NFL Draft roundup for the Arizona Cardinals in our consensus 2024 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 29

Most improved: Defensive line

The Cardinals signed three defensive linemen -- Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and Khyiris Tonga -- in free agency, adding 294 games of experience and 26.5 sacks among the three of them to provide more depth for a rotation that's expected to look like hockey lines.

Arizona also drafted Darius Robinson out of Missouri in the first round and edge rusher Xavier Thomas out of Clemson, both of whom can play inside and out. Adding all of the new faces to a defensive line room that already includes the likes of L.J. Collier, whom the Cardinals re-signed this offseason, second-year lineman Dante Stills and veteran Roy Lopez means Arizona's defensive front got much-needed improvement. -- Josh Weinfuss

NFL.com -- Rank: 26

I just really appreciate how Monti Ossenfort runs his drafts. For all the failed former Bill Belichick acolytes, Ossenfort might be blazing a pretty interesting trail out in the desert. The Cardinals landed arguably the best receiver in the draft in Marvin Harrison Jr., a solid foundational piece in pass rusher Darius Robinson, one of my favorite Day 2 corners (Max Melton) and a big-play back (Trey Benson) all before Friday night was halfway through. Throw in a few fun mid-to-late selections (TE Tip Reiman, safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, edge Xavier Thomas) and the sixth-round lifeline for OT Christian Jones, and the Cardinals had themselves a hell of a weekend. If the NFC West wasn't so tough, I might have them a little higher. As it is, they're in the sleeper on-deck circle.

MORE: 2024 NFL Strength of Schedule

CBS Sports -- Rank: 23

They've had two good drafts in a row as they build under general manager Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon. They could push to be a playoff team this season.

USA Today -- Rank: 22

Still ample work to do here on both sides of the ball. But the Cards are clearly on the way up, and first-round WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to be among the Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunners ... assuming the line holds up in front of QB Kyler Murray.

The Athletic -- Rank: 29

This was the draft Arizona had been waiting for. The Cardinals had seven of the first 90 picks. Teams generally hope to get at least starting-quality players out of that type of draft capital. If Arizona did that, its turnaround could begin now.

Fox Sports -- Rank: 22

Rome wasn't built in a day. Marvin Harrison Jr. should immediately make Arizona's passing attack much more viable, and I like the addition of Jonah Williams to stabilize the offensive line. But this is still a team counting on a lot of young draft picks. Better, but not ready yet.

More Arizona Cardinals pages:

Check out more of our content:

Check out our mock draft databases:

Keep track of our site's updates: (1) follow us on Twitter, (2) like us on Facebook and/or (3) subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by at
Labels: ,