2016 NFL Mock Draft: Week 11 Update
By Jon Dove
30. Arizona Cardinals- Su’a Cravens, LB, USC
Deone Bucannon is excelling as an inside linebacker in the Arizona Cardinals nontraditional defensive attack. However, he’s still undersized for the position and should eventually be moved back to a safety spot.
USC’s Su’a Cravens is similar to Bucannon in that he’s a safety/linebacker hybrid. However, Cravens is a more powerful player and features a little more size. He theoretically would be a better fit for the role Arizona asks Bucannon to play.
The Cardinals are a team to watch as a potential landing spot for a young quarterback. Carson Palmer is 35 years old and on the back end of his career. Arizona needs to get a player in the mix they can develop as Palmer’s long-term replacement.
Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg looks like the ideal fit for head coach Bruce Arians. He has the size, arm strength and toughness he looks for in a quarterback.
Arizona might also look at the pass-rushing prospects as generating pressure has been an issue for several seasons. They’ve been able to get after the quarterback thanks to exotic blitzing packages but that doesn’t always work.
The defense could see an increase in effectiveness if they find someone capable generating pressure off the edge.
Next: No. 31 Carolina