Arizona Cardinals: 5 2015 NFL Draft Sleepers to Target

Jeremy Langford, RB, Michigan State

Nov 22, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Jeremy Langford (33) shrugs off the tackle of Rutgers Scarlet Knights linebacker

(25) during the1st half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

While Ellington was a sneaky good pick in the sixth round by the Cardinals in 2013, he proved that he could not carry the entire load for the team last season. Ellington has showed great speed, athleticism and elusiveness in his short NFL career, but durability has been an issue.

At 5-foot-10, 199 pounds, Ellington simply needs a capable back to help him carry the load of the Cardinals’ rushing attack. The Cardinals have been mentioned as suitors for Adrian Peterson, and first round backs like Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon are certainly possible.

However, the Cardinals could find more value in the later rounds of the draft, and Jeremy Langford feels like a perfect prospect for the team.

Langford was an extremely consistent running back during his two years as a starter at Michigan State. He is a workhorse back with a very hard-nosed power running style. Langford showed great balance in college, and really improved his ball carrier vision and decision making during his senior season.

While Langford shows some power with his low-level style of running, he shows some nice speed as well. He is not overly shifty, but he is quick and does have some elusiveness as a ball carrier.

Langford really impressed scouts at the combine with his 4.42 40-yard dash, which was the best time for the running back position. He is commonly thought of as more of a power back, but Langford showed that he has quick feet and plenty of straight line speed.

He also shines in pass protection, which is something that young running backs usually severely lack. Langford was not used much as a receiver out of the backfield, but he did show solid hands when given the opportunity, and did well in the screen game.

More than anything, Langford has all the skills to be a good, balanced back in the NFL. He proved his ability to handle a full workload in college, and while that could be looked at as a negative, the Cardinals need somebody who they can count on to carry the rock.

If they don’t trade for Peterson, and pass on the position in the first round, Langford could be a huge value for Arizona in the second or third round of the draft.

Next: A Smart and Aggressive Linebacker