With nine picks in the 2013 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals are hoping that at least a few of these new players will make an instant impact on their team.
After a dreadful 5-11 season, it appears as though the team can only go up in the NFC West. So which three players should fans, and fantasy football players, get excited about the most?
Leading the way was guard Jonathan Cooper from North Carolina. As the number seven pick in the draft, the Cardinals obviously feel as though he can be a starter for years to come. He will more than likely start from day one on the left side of Arizona’s offensive line, which struggled a season ago. One player is not going to completely turn the team around, but Cooper is highly regarded around the NFL. If he can help the offense this season, that could turn into a couple more wins right there.
Despite being the third round pick of the Cardinals, Tyrann Mathieu is the second most intriguing rookie that will be hitting camp. This is a guy who has elite level talent, but off the field issues are obviously a concern. He has not played competitive football in a year, but he showed in workouts that he is still in fine condition. The defensive back could also start right away if he stays focused, because he has the natural skill and ability to make a difference.
Finally, Kevin Minter joins his former teammate at LSU, Mathieu, in Arizona to try and get the team back into playoff contention. Arizona needed depth at linebacker, and Minter can provide that. He was a key cog in college for a top rated defense, and if Arizona’s offense is going to struggle, they need to do more to limit a ton of offense against them.
