Arizona Cardinals Must Improve Pass Rush in 2015 NFL Draft

By Dan Schmelzer | Apr 3, 2015

The Arizona Cardinals do not have many holes on their roster heading into the 2015 NFL Draft. At 9-1, they had the best record in the NFL last season, before important injuries across the roster ruined their Super Bowl aspirations.

With a bulk of their roster intact from last season, the Cardinals are expected to be a dangerous team in the 2015 season, with few holes on the roster. Sure, they need to find a running back to team with Andre Ellington, but with this draft class having great running back depth, that should be relatively easy.

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Inside linebacker is also a position of need, and they could certainly stand to add some talent at the cornerback position after losing Antonio Cromartie to free agency. That being said, nothing compares to the Cardinals€™ need to add impact pass rush prospects in the upcoming draft.

Allowing only 18.7 points per game (fifth lowest total in the NFL), the Cardinals defense was great last season. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles instilled an aggressive style of defense that used the Cardinals’ speed and athleticism very well.

Obviously, Bowles had a lot of success with the Cardinals’€™ defense, and he has now moved on to be the head coach of the New York Jets. The Cardinals promoted outside linebackers coach James Bettcher to defensive coordinator, and while Bettcher is expected to run the same system as Bowles, it is certainly fair to question whether the Cardinals will have the same kind of success as they did under Bowles.

Jan 21, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets new head coach Todd Bowles speaks during a press conference at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports

One way to help smooth the transition is by adding potential impact pass rushers in the draft. Despite their overall defensive success, the Cardinals struggled to get consistent pressure on the quarterback last season. Their 35 total sacks had the tied for the ninth lowest total in the entire league.

Alex Okafor led the way with eight sacks on the season for Arizona, with Calias Campbell not far behind with seven. Campbell is a strong pass rusher from the defensive end position in the Cardinals’€™ 3-4, and Okafor is a solid pass rusher from the outside linebacker position, but in such a pass-happy league, the Cardinals certainly could add some more options.

Free agent addition LaMarr Woodley could be helpful in certain situations, but he is past the prime of his career, and will be a situation rusher at best. According to Darren Urban of NFL.com, the Cardinals will try Kareem Martin at outside linebacker next season. While Martin has some upside as a pass rusher (head coach Bruce Arians even compared him to Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers), he is a very raw player who struggled as a rookie in 2014.

The Cardinals should really look to improve their pass rush situation in the 2015 draft, perhaps as early as the first round. The Cardinals hold the 24^th overall pick, and while the top of the draft is loaded with potential impact pass rushers, the end of the first round may be a little tougher.

That being said, if somebody like Shane Ray, Randy Gregory (who failed a drug test at the combine) or the ultra-athletic, but super raw Alvin Dupree falls to the Cardinals in the first round, they should immediately pull the trigger. Even pass rushers like Eli Harold, Nate Orchard and Owa Odighizuwa could also be in play for the Cardinals in the first round.

Jan 21, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa of UCLA (54) runs through defense drills during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

If the Cardinals pass on the position in the first round, and Harold, Orchard or Odighizuwa happens to slip to them in the second round, expect that player to be the pick. Danielle Hunter, Hau’€™oli Kikaha and Lorenzo Mauldin would also be strong pass rush options for the Cardinals in the second or perhaps even third round.

While the pass rushing talent is exciting for the first few rounds, the drop off after that is fairly extreme. Zach Hodges from Harvard is a pass rush sleeper prospect who I find interesting. The Cardinals should target Hodges in the later rounds of the draft, but besides him, there does not seem to be much.

If the Cardinals expect to improve their pass rush through the draft, they must find somebody early. I fully expect them to put a premium on the position, and strongly target potentially impact pass rush prospects early in the draft, a move that could help them tremendously.

Next: Arizona Cardinals: 5 NFL Draft Sleepers to Target

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