An ACL tear for Kyler Murray toward the end of the 2022 season had the Arizona Cardinals starting QB on the mend for the first nine games last year. Murray returned to a 1-8 team and won his first game back, but it was too little too late for first-year coach Jonathan Gannon as the Cardinals finished a consecutive season at 4-12.
With Murray fully healed and a little more acclimated with Gannon at the helm, Arizona had a bevy of capital ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft after a decent haul in 2023 netted several potential starters. Let’s break down the Arizona Cardinals’ 2024 draft picks.
Arizona Cardinals Draft Picks by Round in 2024
- Round 1, Pick 4
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR | Ohio State - Round 1, Pick 27 (from HOU)
Darius Robinson, EDGE | Missouri - Round 2, Pick 43 (from ATL)
Max Melton, CB | Rutgers
- Round 3, Pick 66
Trey Benson, RB | Florida State - Round 3, Pick 71 (from TEN)
Isaiah Adams, G | Illinois - Round 3, Pick 82 (from IND)
Tip Reiman, TE | Illinois - Round 3, Pick 90 (from HOU)
Elijah Jones, CB | Boston College - Round 4, Pick 104
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S | Texas Tech - Round 5, Pick 138
Xavier Thomas, EDGE | Clemson - Round 5, Pick 162 (from HOU)
Christian Jones, OT | Texas - Round 6, Pick 191 (from IND)
Tejhaun Palmer, WR | UAB - Round 7, Pick 226 (from NYG)
Jaden Davis, CB | Miami (FL)
Who Did the Cardinals Draft in 2024?
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Round 1, Pick 4
Harrison is a unicorn of a route savant at over 6’3″ who can also dominate against undersized defensive backs in contested situations, as well as use his speed to generate chunk plays on schemed touches. He’s a truly elite three-level threat and a high-gravity target, if there ever was one.
One of the best WR prospects in recent memory is heading to the desert❗️#BirdGang | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/9cZH2haVx1
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 26, 2024
Right out of the gate in the NFL, Harrison projects as a high-impact, attention-drawing X receiver, who also has the versatility to play the movement-Z spot. And he has the combined physical talent and near-flawless intangibles to support an All-Pro ceiling.
Darius Robinson, EDGE, Round 1, Pick 27
One of the major holes remaining on Arizona’s defense was the team’s lack of a legitimate pass-rushing threat. The Cardinals addressed that need by selecting Missouri edge defender Darius Robinson with the No. 27 overall selection.
Robinson has the versatility to play all over Arizona’s defensive front and should flourish in Jonathan Gannon’s defensive scheme. Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings discussed Robinson’s skillset in his scouting report.
KEEP READING: Cardinals 2024 NFL Draft Grades
“Robinson was an interior defensive lineman earlier in his collegiate career, but some of his most impressive reps in 2023 came on the edge,” Cummings said.
“At 6’5″, 291 pounds, with 35″ levers for arms, Robinson is a lab-built power generator. He leverages his explosiveness and length into displacement energy incredibly well by loading his base.”
Max Melton, CB, Round 2, Pick 43
If Melton can keep striving toward an ideal balance between patience and aggressiveness, he has the elite physical tools, competitive zeal, and playmaking prowess to be an impact starter with exciting role versatility at the CB position.
Max Melton, a productive playmaker with @RFootball, brings an NFL bloodline and elite physical tools. #CHOP | #BIRDGANG pic.twitter.com/nSVI9Kzy9V
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 27, 2024
The Cardinals invested heavily on the offensive side of the ball with their first pick but have landed two assets on the other side of the ball since in their effort to build a solid foundation.
Trey Benson, RB, Round 3, Pick 66
Benson’s physical profile is that of a NFL bellcow and he looks the part of an every down back in short order. He averaged over 6.0 yards per carry and 11.0 yards per catch during his collegiate career, scoring once every 13.2 carries in the process.
Will he learn to commit to his reads and improve his vision with time? That will be determined in the future, but he checks many boxes that instant impact backs do and this situation figures to give him that opportunity as James Conner ages.
Isaiah Adams, G, Round 3, Pick 71
Isaiah Adams grinded his way from Canada to JUCO to Illinois. He mauled defenders at left guard in 2022, but his limitations were exposed at right tackle last season. Nevertheless, he has tools NFL teams can develop. The Cardinals will look to grow his game and potentially tailor it toward what Benson does well at the RB position.
Tip Reiman, TE, Round 3, Pick 82
Reiman was a track athlete in high school and has as impressive of an athletic score as any tight end in this year’s class. His 10.5” hands rank in the same neighborhood as Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham, two all-time greats who maximized their size.
The Cardinals draft a pair of former @IlliniFootball teammates. 👀
🏈OG Isaiah Adams
🏈TE Tip Reiman#Illini | #BIRDGANG pic.twitter.com/XQqUG3bu5k— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 27, 2024
His ability to block figures to be an asset from the get-go with his contributions to the pass game unlikely to be too impactful with Trey McBride locked into that role on this team.
Elijah Jones, CB, Round 3, Pick 90
Though Elijah Jones may have a shorter prime than other CBs at 25 years old, he can be a capable starter right out of the gate in zone and press-man-heavy schemes, and if he can keep improving his off-man technique, he has quality starter potential.
This is going to be a young roster, giving Jones the potential to learn on the job as a rookie.
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Round 4, Pick 104
Press-man coverage does present challenges for Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who lacks great length and play strength, and there are still a few minute technical inconsistencies to iron out. But as a versatile field safety with single-high, two-high, and slot capabilities, Taylor-Demerson has impact-starter upside for a team in need of a boost on that side of the ball.
Xavier Thomas, EDGE, Round 5, Pick 138
A former five-star recruit, Thomas put together a solid, yet unspectacular six years at Clemson. He often battled through nagging injuries and played several seasons at less than 100%. That being said, he flashed elite explosive traits as a pass rusher and has a strong lower body. He likely projects as a rotational edge rusher at the professional level, making him a solid at at this point in the draft.
Christian Jones, OT, Round 5, Pick 162
It might be better for Christian Jones to make a move inside to guard, where his footwork and redirection can be mitigated some. His power and anchor would help lock down powerful rushers on the inside, and his work in the run game can help pave the way in any scheme.
The team adding a piece like this in the same draft in which they select a running back whom they hope is a bellcow with time makes plenty of sense as the two should develop together.
Tejhaun Palmer, WR, Round 6, Pick 191
Palmer is a compact 6’1, 210 pounds and flashes excellent straight-line athleticism. A sixth-year senior, Palmer broke out in his final year at UAB, scoring seven touchdowns and averaging 18.3 yards a catch. His inability to create consistent separation and route running limit his potential at the next level, but in the right system, he could excel as a RAC monster alongside the downfield options already on this roster.
Jaden Davis, CB, Round 7, Pick 226
Davis is a versatile prospect that is skilled but undersized. Due to having to overcome some physical limitations, his IQ is a major strength and could allow him overachieve his current expectations. He’s likely a role player, but with some added size and improvement, he can be more than that.