The 'Most Likely' Awards: 2024 Rookies
Wondering which rookie is most likely to displace an expensive free agent? Who's most likely to study the pass sets of Wasteland creatures? And who's most likely to use DaRon Bland as a verb?
What a wonderful time to be supporter of an NFL team. It’s all blue skies, snow-capped peaks and dangerous dreams in fan-land right now. Every player your favourite team drafted will be a superstar. Did you see how big/tall/fast/strong/smart he is? We’re all winning our divisions. All lifting the Lombardi. If your GM traded up, they outsmarted everyone. If your GM traded down, they were cleverly playing the odds. The whole off-season is a lovely big balloon of optimism, slowly inflating, growing and growing. I’m in no mood to burst it just yet. Wait, what’s Terry Fontenot doing to his balloon? Is that a knife?
With twelve draft picks and the addition of three undrafted free agents, there’s a whole lot of optimism joining this Cardinals roster. 15 new players to get to know. We’ve all got questions. What are their strengths? Their weaknesses? What makes them tick? But most importantly; What award would they have received at prom if they’d all been in the same class in high school?
What, just me?
Most Likely to name all the wide receivers taken ahead of him from memory
Whilst the obvious answer here is Marvin Harrison Jr, being that there were zero receivers taken before him the draft, let me tell you about our sixth round pick, Tejhaun Palmer. Whereas the league’s now highest paid wide receiver, Amon-Ra St Brown has only the 16 WRs taken before him in the 2021 draft (one of whom was Rondale Moore) to recite before training every day, Tejhaun would have to reel off 28 of them. And I think there’ll be a lot of teams who’ll regret making that number so large.
Tejhaun is very clearly a size/weight/speed projection as he didn’t breakout until his age 23 season in the AAC, which isn’t a great indicator. However, at nearly 6’2”, 210lbs and running a 4.45 in the forty, it’s a pretty solid projection. He has a huge catch radius. Clocked at 22.97mph in a game. He made Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’. His Relative Athletic Score ranked him 147th out of 3402 WRs taken since 1987. Yes, his route-running might need some work. Yes, it’s concerning he didn’t do a lot until he was much older than most of his competition. But there’s a chance. Just a chance. That a few years from now, when reporters ask what was the motivation that drove him on to his Pro-Bowl season, he just starts reeling off; MHJ, Nabers, Odunze, Robinson, Thomas Jr…
Most Likely to make Dynasty managers weak at the knees
I have to admit, I didn’t think running back would be a priority for the Cardinals in the draft this year. James Conner coming off a personal best season, signing Michael Carter after his release by the Jets. DeeJay Dallas. Emari Demarcado. But adding FSU’s Trey Benson to the mix in the third round, well that makes me feel all funny inside.
6ft tall, 216lbs, 4.39 forty yard dash time. Great patience and contact balance. A truly devastating ability to cut and go, resulting in three touchdowns of at least 80 yards last season. 6.1 yards per carry. Zero fumbles in college. The statistics are jaw-dropping. With the established cabal for backs in place in Arizona, it may take some time for Benson to see substantial playing time, so don’t expect to see him drafted at the top of your fantasy draft. But in dynasty, is there a better long-term prospect?
We love JC in Arizona, but at 29 and in the final year of his contract, the future is Benson. With such a tremendous pro to learn under and only 316 carries on his legs in college, the signs are shining bright that Trey will be blowing past the second-level of defences for many, many years to come.
Most Likely to displace an expensive free agent
When the likes of Joe Alt, Fashanu, Fautanu, Latham, Mims, Fuaga were taken ahead of the Cardinals selection at 27, I figured it was a real good thing we signed Jonah Williams from the Bengals in free agency to play at right tackle. And it is a good thing. Although 5th round pick Christian Jones might have something to say about playing at right tackle.
Christian isn’t an incredible athlete by NFL standards, but neither is Jonah.
In fact, they have remarkably similar athletic profiles. But it would make sense for Jonah to start the year at least. What with his many years of (mediocre) NFL experience. Well.
On the one hand, yes. Christian does have some characteristics you’d expect of a project. He was much more focused on another sport, in this case soccer, in his early years. But as a 6’3”, 216lb, freshman, he was moved into the football program where he only began playing on offense in his senior year. Watching him on film, he doesn’t use his feet as well as you’d expect with that background. Maybe a year on the sidelines learning how to use his big frame more effectively in space would be beneficial.
However, he is 24 years old, having had 6 years in college (and a masters in sports management). He started at right tackle for his final four seasons for the Longhorns, logging well over 3,000 snaps, significantly more than Jonah Williams has ever played on that side of the offensive line. And over his past few seasons he played, pretty well there, especially in pass pro.
Obviously, it would make sense for Jonah to start the year. But he has a couple of years of guaranteed money on his contract. Don’t be surprised if he earns much of that in a back-up role.
Most Likely to have an immaculately prepared Apocalypse Shelter
Darius Robinson is exactly what Monti looks for in a player. Intelligent (he has two degrees). A Leader (one former teammate said of DRob, “He’s the best leader I’ve ever been around. … We went as he went.”). Versatile (played mainly inside before switching to an outside 6-technique in 2023). Big (6’5”, 285lbs). Fast (4.95s in the 40 at that size is very impressive). Prepared (you did see his draft day interview, right?).
This is a man with a doomsday plan for sure. A full bunker stocked with years worth of canned goods, multiple back-up generators and all the scouting film he’s need to come out the other side ready for whoever his next opponent might be. Whatever foul beast lay in wait in the wasteland, DRob would know how deep they like to sit in pass sets.
Darius might not immediately jump off the page with his stats this season, but with a dearth of star talent across that defensive line, his ability to violently disrupt the run game from multiple positions, and to shrink the pocket with his bull rush, will be vitally important if the Cardinals are to have success this season. He’s a hardy, garden weed. Wherever he’s found, he’ll be doing his damndest to succeed. And won’t mind destroying your precious landscaping in the process.
Most Likely to play well above their height
Of the fifteen players the Cardinals added over draft weekend, six stand at 6’4” or taller. Six! Only four were shorter than 6’0”, and one of those is an undrafted long snapper. Of the ‘short’ kings, there are two that stand out, and stand tall, as tremendous prospects, who look to play well above their stature. And hopefully their positions in the draft.
Don’t be fooled, ‘Mad’ Max Melton is an outside corner. He has slot versatility, sure. But his best traits are his press-man skills on the outside where his blistering speed allow him to stay alongside whichever receiver he’s tasked with covering. He contests passes aggressively with his 32 inch arms. The only thing that would stop him becoming one of the most important cogs on special teams would be if he became too integral on defense. And I don’t think it’s too long into the season before Mad Max is assigned to the number one receiving option. Here with a breakdown of some film, we have our Max Melton correspondent, Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL). Take it away Baldy.
It’s amazing what addressing corner in the draft can do for an organisation. As pointed out by @WBJMItch on X, the Cardinals have now drafted as many corners in the last two drafts as they did from 2013-2022. The early returns on Garrett Williams are looking very positive, let’s see if Max can provide some of the same.
Whilst Max has a clear road to starting for the Cardinals, ‘Rabbit’ Taylor-Demerson may have to wait for a starting berth on defense. But that doesn’t mean we should be any less excited. He is undersized, that’s for sure. But he does happen to be the same height as a safety Cardinals fans know a thing or two about. Budda Baker. He doesn’t play like Budda, his lack of mass makes him more suited to a roving, deep safety role than the downhill all-world tackler that is Budda. On tape, the best way to describe Rabbit’s run defending would be that, he really tries. But he excels in coverage, with tremendous ball-hawking and blistering speed. Not too shabby for a converted running back who didn’t play a lick of defense until he arrived at Texas Tech.
Most Likely to feature in a cute buddy cop movie
One of the more heartwarming stories featured on Day 2 of the draft this year was the selection of two teammates from Florida State, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, by the Rams. Both had transferred in from lower-levels, and seeing them speak on the phone after finding out they’d be continuing to play together in the NFL was truly heartwarming. Unless you’re a Cardinals fan. The Rams can go to hell with their cute teammates reuniting story, we’ve got our own duo.
If for some peculiar reason, you were under the impression that the Cardinals would be moving away from Drew Petzing’s very successful, diverse and powerful running game, then let the selections of Isaiah Adams and Tip Reiman be a glaring reminder; the success of this Cardinals offense in 2024 will again be determined in the trenches and in no small part by these two former Fighting Illini teammates.
Isaiah again showcases the versatility desired by this Cardinals front office, having played significant snaps at 3 different spots on the offensive line in Illinois. But he’s a guard at the NFL level. A big, long, mauling guard at that. It seems he’ll be in a camp battle with Trystan Colon, Jon Gaines III and Elijah Wilkinson for the LG spot. And I think he’s in with a real shot of winning it.
In Tip Reiman, the Cardinals somehow managed to draft a tight end whose name sounds almost as Austrian as our actual Austrian tight end, Bernhard Seikovits. And what a ridiculous athlete he is. He was criminally underused in the Illinois passing game, but in the run game, he was put to work. Absolutely pancaking dudes both inline and out in space. This guy scored a 9.92 Relative Athletic Score, that’s the 10th best of any tight end to be drafted since 1987. The 10th best. Since 1987. That’s ludicrous. I had assumed the Cardinals would pick up an old-timer blocking tight end to do a job this year but in Tip, the position now looks to be a strength. And with how Elijah Higgins was used out of the back field as a lead blocker last year…oh baby, imagine an athlete like Tip being deployed there. Goosebumps. Actual goosebumps.
Speaking of goosebumps, ponder on this. 2nd & 7, away at SoFi Stadium. Ball into the belly of Conner. Reiman comes across the formation and levels the end man on the line of scrimmage in Jared Verse. Meanwhile, Adams is blocking down. He walks Braden Fiske for yard after yard, maintaining his grasp as he finishes him, into the dirt. JC picks up 18 yards. 1st & goal.
I need to take a breather.
Most Likely to DaRon Bland
If ‘to DaRon Bland’ was a verb, it’s dictionary definition would be,
To be a later draft pick, on a team with a more heralded teammate at your position. Impress in a spot role in your rookie season before lighting the league on fire as the interception leader in year two, taking a record number of interceptions to the house.
Now I’m not saying that Elijah Jones will DaRon Bland in his first couple of years on the Cardinals. But I’m not saying he won’t either.
Max Melton may have been the first corner the Cardinals picked in the 2024 draft, but let’s not sleep on the 3rd round pick out of Boston College. He’s another superstar athlete, high school sprinting champion type. But he’s also nearly 6’2”.
In a recent press conference, Defensive Coordinator Nick Rallis spoke glowingly of Elijah’s work ethic and preparation. His ability to play, “on the highway”, and finish on the ball with his long arms. I can get on board with that. Especially if he happens to DaRon Bland all over the league.
Most Likely to have a 17 year, Hall of Fame Career and disappear into retirement without a peep
What, you thought I’d do a whole dive into the rookie class without mentioning Marvin Harrison Jr? That’d be very silly of you.
Most likely to win OROY? To win OPOY? To have multiple All-Pro selections? To lead the league in receiving yards? Or touchdowns? And touchdowns?
Most likely to end up in Canton? To be the highest paid player at his position? To beat Puka Nacua’s rookie receiving record? To beat Calvin Johnson’s single season record? Jerry Rice’s all-time record?
Take your pick. The recent news that MHJ hasn’t yet signed his NFLPA preliminary licensing agreement seems to have overshadowed the most important news of the off-season. Marvin Harrison Jr is a Cardinal. Marvin Harrison Jr will be catching passes from Kyler Murray this year. Yes, you might have to wait a while to be able to buy his jersey. I don’t care. My balloon is fit to burst.
Apologies to Xavier Thomas and Jaden Davis who missed out on awards this year, and the three undrafted free agents in Xavier Weaver, Myles Murphy and Joe Shimko. There’s always the Sophomore Awards next year. Most likely to subscribe to Curated Cardinal is you, if you made it this far. In all seriousness, it would mean a lot if you did. Only together can we DaRon Bland all over the league.
I write every week about the Arizona Cardinals.