2021 NFL Mock Draft: 49ers land Mac Jones, Kyle Pitts falls to Giants
By Randy Gurzi
RB. Alabama. Najee Harris. 32. Pick Analysis. 16. player. Scouting Report
There was a time late in the 2020 season where it appeared the Arizona Cardinals were going to be a playoff team. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out for them and they fell short in their attempt. However, they still had a lot of growth from the prior season and have now turned in a pretty good offseason.
Arizona added A.J. Green and J.J. Watt and while these signings would have been much more impressive five years ago, they are both veteran players who can contribute while offering some mentorship to their younger teammates.
Where they ended up weaker was at running back with Kenyan Drake leaving in free agency. To replace him, the Cardinals use the No. 16 pick on Najee Harris from Alabama, who can come in and start from day one.
Using a first-round pick on a running back has been a mixed bag in terms of success in recent years but Harris is a player who feels like a sure thing. Not only that, but using the No. 16 pick doesn’t feel as risky as when teams such as the Jaguars took Leonard Fournette at No. 4.
Harris would be a great help for Kyler Murray who is still growing as a quarterback in the NFL. Murray has had some moments of brilliance but he would benefit from being able to hand the ball off 20 times a game to a 230-pound back such as Harris who could move the chains on his own.