Arizona Cardinals get UDFA gem in WR Corey Willis

The Arizona Cardinals made a very solid move after the 2018 NFL Draft, signing UDFA WR Corey Willis out of Central Michigan…

The Arizona Cardinals made one of the most shrewd moves in the 2018 NFL Draft, trading up five spots with the Oakland Raiders to get quarterback Josh Rosen from UCLA.

It was a critical move for the Cardinals, whose quarterback position has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency throughout the past four or five years.

Getting Rosen gives them a great young option going forward, but that young quarterback is going to need some targets in the passing game. I loved the Cardinals’ selection of Christian Kirk out of Texas A&M, but another player that could surprise is Central Michigan’s Corey Willis.

Willis was an undrafted free agent due to being somewhat undersized and a little slower than preferred (ran a 4.55 at CMU pro day), but he will never be forgotten for his incredible play against Oklahoma State:

Despite not having great size or speed, Willis had a knack for making big plays in college.

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He racked up 23 touchdowns over the past three seasons, including nine touchdowns in both 2016 and 2017.

He finished his career at Central Michigan with an average of 15 yards per reception, proving he’s got the ability to make plays deep downfield as well as after the catch.

Even though his 4.55 is a disappointing number, Willis posted a 33-inch vertical jump and a 6.85-second three-cone drill. For a wide receiver who is 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, those are very good numbers.

His explosiveness and quickness can help him get separation where his speed (or lack thereof) cannot.

The Cardinals didn’t really do much at the wide receiver position this offseason. They spent a second-round pick on Christian Kirk, and they got Chad Williams in the third-round last year, but they don’t have anything set in stone beyond those three guys.

I think Willis could be a surprise candidate to make the team.

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