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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers discuss what to expect from the Cardinals’ 2017 NFL draft class.
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Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley assess the Arizona Cardinals’ selection of Haason Reddick in Round 1 of the NFL draft and discuss the needs the team still has to address.
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Check out how Cardinals fans were feeling during the team’s 2017 NFL draft party.
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Cardinals insider Kent Somers reacts to the introductory press conference for Haason Reddick and what the Cardinals might do next.
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With plenty of defense options on the table and all the quarterbacks gone, the Cardinals elected to go linebacker and Kent and Bob break down the reasons why.
Patrick Breen/azcentral.com
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The Cardinals have made 18 picks in the first round of the NFL draft since 2000. Take a look at the standouts.
Wochit
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With the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft, can the Cardinals afford to repeat their strategy with their last two first-round picks?
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Shot Clock: azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers have the latest on the Cardinals draft and the reinstatement of Daryl Washington.
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The Cardinals are hosting draft parties Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at the Great Lawn outside of University of Phoenix Stadium.
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The Cardinals have the No. 13 pick in Thursday’s NFL draft. Several players are linked to the team in many mock drafts.
Wochit
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Jay Dieffenbach discuss possible Cardinals strategy in the NFL draft, views on picking a quarterback and more.
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Bob McManaman selects his top five defensive backs for the 2017 NFL draft.
Wochit
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Bob McManaman ranks the top special teams players in the upcoming draft.
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azcentral sports’ Bob McManaman chooses the top five linebacker prospects in the 2017 NFL draft. (Photos by USA Today)
Wochit
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Arizona Cardinals’ general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians have found some of their best players in the third round.
Wochit
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Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald and Chandler Jones discuss the importance of giving back and some bets amongst Cardinals players before the Larry Fitzgerald Celebrity Softball Game on Saturday at Salt River Fields. Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
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Cardinals GM Steve Keim has a tough task when it comes to finding quality talent and character to add to the team through the draft.
Wochit
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azcentral sports Cardinals insider Kent Somers talks with Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Fostee Rucker. || Video by Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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Cardinals defensive tackle Frostee Rucker discusses learning from last year’s expectations and adding Karlos Dansby and other veterans. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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Breaking down the top three games of the Cardinals’ 2017 season.
Wochit
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Shot Clock: azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss the Cardinals’ potential use (or overuse?) of running back David Johnson.
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Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill talks about golf and the NFL draft at Cardinals annula golf outing. Video: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians is ready for the 2017 NFL schedule to be announced.
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Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim talk about the upcoming NFL draft. || David Kadlubowski/azcentral.com
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley discuss Carmelo, a dancer, and the Cards’ quiet, classy young superstar.
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald discuss Fitzgerald’s charity softball tournament on Saturday.
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The Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald joined azcentral sports’ Kent Somers to discuss the team and the upcoming season.
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Scott Bordow sizes up the first day of strength and conditioning for the Arizona Cardinals at their training facility in Tempe. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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USA TODAY Sports’ Tom Pelissero recaps the NFL owners meeting and the proposed league rule changes.
USA TODAY Sports
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Bob McManaman and Kent Somers at the NFL owners meetings on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Bruce Arianas likes full-time officials, centralized replay and says there’s 1 QB in upcoming draft who’s plug-and-play. Video: Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Coaches of the National Football Conference take questions from the media in Phoenix on March 29, 2017. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Cardinals insider Kent Somers and other reporters talk with Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians at the NFC coaches breakfast on Wednesday at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. Video by Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Bob McManaman of azcentral sports talks to AFC coaches at the annual NFL owners meeting at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Bob McManaman and Kent Somers at the NFL owner’s meetings: Coaches of AFC teams meet the media at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Video: Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Cardinals coach Bruce Arians discusses free agency, quarterbacks and cornerbacks in the draft on Wednesday night. Kent Somers/azcentral sports
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Cardinals GM Steve Keim discusses this year’s rookie quarterback class ahead of the NFL draft on Wednesday night. Kent Somers/azcentral sports
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Shot Clock: Cards picks make instant impact?
Shot Clock: Tap brakes on Haason Reddick pick?
Sights and sounds from Cardinals draft party
Somers talks Reddick and possible 2nd and 3rd round picks
Kent Somers and Bob McManaman talk Cardinals draft of Haason Reddick
Cardinals’ top first round NFL draft picks since 2000
Can Cardinals afford to be patient with another first-round pick?
Cards face choices with draft, Daryl Washington
What to know about the Cardinals’ draft party
NFL mock drafts: Popular picks for Arizona Cardinals
Shot Clock: Cardinals trade up for QB?
Top 5 defensive backs of 2017 NFL draft
Top 5 special teams players of 2017 NFL draft
NFL draft’s top 5 linebacker prospects
Keim, Arians striking gold in draft’s third round
Larry Fitzgerald, Chandler Jones talk about Celebrity Softball Game
Cardinals looking for ‘football character’ in NFL draft
Kent Somers talks with Cardinals DT Frostee Rucker
Cardinals DT Frostee Rucker on expectations, adding Karlos Dansby
Top 3 games in Cardinals schedule
Cards playing dangerous game with RB Johnson?
Cardinals president Michael Bidwill talks about golf, NFL draft
Bruce Arians wants to know date of London game
Keim on Cardinals’ NFL draft prep
Shot Clock: New face of Cardinals franchise?
Larry Fitzgerald holding 7th annual charity softball tournament
Larry Fitzgerald 1-on-1 with Kent Somers
Cardinals begin strength and conditioning program
Goodell says he’ll be in New England for opener
NFL meetings in Phoenix: On Bruce Arians, new rules, the draft
NFC coaches take questions at NFL owners meeting
Kent Somers talks with Bruce Arians at NFC coaches breakfast
Bob McManaman talks to AFC coaches
At the NFL owner’s meetings: AFC head coaches meet the media
Cardinals’ Arians talks free agency and draft
Cardinals GM Keim on draft’s QBs
The 2017 NFL draft is over and most national writers liked the Cardinals’ selections.
Does that mean they moved the team up in their power rankings?
The Heat Index takes a look at where Arizona is ranked in post-draft rankings of NFL teams, as well as what they are saying about the Cardinals.
The highest we found the team? No. 10.
The lowest? No. 24.
NFL DRAFT GRADES: Arizona Cardinals (mostly) shine with selections
It writes: “LB Haason Reddick and S Budda Baker help reload a defense hit by free agency defections. If QB Carson Palmer can string together a strong year at 37, this team could be dangerous.”
CBS Sports: Cardinals up two to No. 10
Pete Prisco writes: “They were top-10 in offense and defense last year, which tells you they had talent. They’ve added some nice players as well, but this will be about Carson Palmer staying on the field and playing well.”
Brad Gagnon writes: “By adding two potential big-time defenders in linebacker Haason Reddick and safety Budda Baker with their first two picks in the draft, the Cardinals at least stopped the bleeding. Just last month, they were gutted on that side of the ball in free agency, losing safeties Tony Jefferson and D.J. Swearinger as well as key front seven cogs Calais Campbell and Kevin Minter. That was far from ideal for an aging team that appeared to regress by following up a 13-win 2015 season with a seven-win 2016 campaign. Reddick and Baker should play large roles early, and they join a defense that still has plenty of talent with Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson and Chandler Jones. If all of those guys stay healthy and excel, and if Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald (combined age of 70) can have a bounce-back year together on offense, the Cards could be pretty good. But that’s a lot of “if.”
MORE: Check out the NFL’s highest paid players – regardless of position
Cameron DaSilva writes: “Bruce Arians and the Cardinals didn’t add a cornerback with any of their early picks, which was a bit surprising and could wind up costing them down the line. They did, however, add two ball hawks in Haason Reddick and Budda Baker. They’re going to be a lot of fun to watch on defense this season with both expected to start in Week 1. They still need offensive line and cornerback help, though.”
Peter Panacy writes: “The Arizona Cardinals manage to move up a spot in our NFL power rankings thanks to an excellent draft haul. Edge rusher Haason Reddick will help an already potent Cardinals pass rush. Pairing him with defensive stud Chandler Jones should be downright scary for NFC West teams. And the addition of safety Budda Baker was a nice pickup too. He’ll alleviate the loss of veteran safety Tony Jefferson, who departed via free agency. Wide receiver Chad Williams should alleviate the void left by Michael Floyd last season, and Williams could even be good enough to take over for veteran wideout Larry Fitzgerald. Those are some big shoes to fill though. Still, the Cardinals didn’t address their quarterbacking needs. In an ideal world, quarterback Patrick Mahomes would have fallen into their laps. He didn’t, and Arizona is just one Carson Palmer injury away from disaster.”
Kenneth Arthur writes: “If Carson Palmer is healthy and on his game, the Cardinals could quickly turn it back around. Reddick and safety Budda Baker in round two were both good picks, albeit ones that may not pay off immediately.”
MORE: Cardinals’ first-round NFL draft picks since 2000
nj.com: Cardinals No. 24
Joe Giglio writes: “Count me in as a fan of what the Cardinals did (Haason Reddick, Budda Baker) in the first two rounds. If Carson Palmer can bounce back, Arizona can be very good—but that’s a big if.”
Russell S. Baxter writes: “The Cardinals should be in for a bounce back season. But we’re also saying that without a great deal of confidence.”
Cover 32: Cardinals No. 19
Bobby Burack writes: “Drafting Haason Reddick and Budda Baker are two big play-making selections to a Cardinals team that took a huge step back last season. Never count out a Bruce Arians coached team, but this window here may have closed. They still have talent on defense and running back David Johnson is one the best at the position. The Cardinals are a top 20 team, but will not be much improved.”
BICKLEY: On paper, Arizona Cardinals ace wacky NFL draft
MORE: Are Cardinals rookies ready to contribute right away?
MORE: Cardinals have had success with undrafted quarterbacks
For more from The Heat Index, go to heatindex.azcentral.com.
Follow Jeremy Cluff on Twitter.
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