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Arizona Cardinals should target Leonard Floyd in NFL Draft

By Luis Tirado Jr.

Oct 4, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) reacts with linebacker Amarlo Herrera (52) after a sack against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Vanderbilt 44-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) reacts with linebacker Amarlo Herrera (52) after a sack against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Vanderbilt 44-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals need help bad when it comes to their pass rush as it makes sense for them to address it via the 2016 NFL Draft. Linebacker Leonard Floyd is the perfect player to set their sights on.

Make no mistake about it, the Cardinals need to add a top-notch pass rusher that not only can get to the quarterback in a hurry but bring fear when going up against the opposition. Truth of the matter is the Cardinals were just a few defensive pieces away from making it to Super Bowl 50.

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The saying is true when it comes to “defense wins championships” as it’s evident with the latest Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Their premier defense easily contained one of the top offenses of last season in the Carolina Panthers straight to victory in the big game.

In an article written by Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com, here is what general manager Steve Keim had to say about adding more to the Cardinals’ pass rush:

"“We need to find guys with speed and athleticism who can win on the edge,” Keim said. “Things we didn’t do enough of this past year.”"

In my most recent mock draft, the Cardinals find a hidden gem that surprisingly drops to No. 29 in Floyd. Out of Georgia, he’s the perfect player to fit the mold they’re looking for at linebacker. Considering his impressive college stats, he would be able to make an immediate impact the moment he steps onto the field.

At Georgia, Floyd totaled 182 tackles, 17.0 sacks and five forced fumbles. At 6’4″ and 231 pounds, he’s undoubtedly a tackling machine ready to make the transition into the NFL and prove his worth.

The better teams of the NFL know that in order to build a roster worthy of being a contender, it all starts with the draft. While the Cardinals will more than likely address their needs at defensive secondary and special teams via free agency, the draft is where they can bolster their pass rush nicely with someone like Floyd and possibly another defensive end to develop over time.

Nov 7, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) works against Kentucky Wildcats offensive tackle Jordan Swindle (70) during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Kentucky 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) works against Kentucky Wildcats offensive tackle Jordan Swindle (70) during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Kentucky 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Floyd’s speed and ability to wreak havoc make him worth investing in. He’s got a great motor and is smart when given blitzing assignments as he knows how to find the right gaps and exploit weaknesses against opposing offensive linemen.

Many analysts feel Floyd might not last that deep in the first round of the draft but if it’s anything to mention, sometimes even the experts get it wrong. Plenty of mock drafts are merely bold predictions as nobody could ever truly know what will go down come draft weekend. That’s why Floyd dropping to when the Cardinals are on the clock could be a reality since he’s not perfect.

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Some of Floyd’s flaws is that he he could bulk up a bit to add more strength to his arsenal. He’ll need some work when it comes to adjusting to the Cardinals’ defensive playbook but with head coach Bruce Arians and his style of handling rookies with his brilliant defensive coaches, Floyd will be developed nicely into a future cornerstone on defense.

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