With The First Pick
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Cardinals: 5 possibilities with 16th pick in 2021 NFL Draft

By Jelani Goodridge-Reid

Nov 15, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury talks with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury talks with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cardinals target Gregory Rousseau. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

3. EDGE

The Cardinals’ defense was impressive being 10th in pass defense, and their pass rush finished in the top five in terms of sacks and sack yards lost. Their Achilles heel was their total rush defense ranking 22nd in the league. With that being said, linebackers or interior linemen might be something fans would like to spend this pick on due to their inability to stop the run. Meanwhile, as the Cardinals were among the more aggressive defenses when it came to blitz percentage, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph wouldn’t mind getting more speed on the outside.

Haason Reddick, who had a standout year putting up a career-high 12.5 sacks along with 61 total tackles, will be one of the team’s major priorities come free agency. On the other side, star Chandler Jones will be a free agent in 2022. Even if they manage to keep Reddick and Jones, it wouldn’t hurt them to add depth to their rush.

There will be options in the first round including Miami’s Gregory Rousseau who would fit well in their unit. Rousseau, 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds, opted out of the 2020 season yet, the last time he was on the field in 2019, he gathered 15.5 sacks (only trailing Chase Young in FBS that year) and 19.5 tackles for loss. This unique athlete who earned the 2019 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year is capable of producing at an impressive rate.

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