Cardinals' 2024 NFL Draft Class primer: Big impact playmakers heat up the desert
The Arizona Cardinals decision to stick with Kyler Murray and use their No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Marvin Harrison Jr. may end up paying big dividends.
As a team who was in position to give up on the former first-round pick and go with one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft, the Cardinals decided to stay patient and surround Murray with talent on offense while getting younger and deeper on defense.
With two first round picks, a second rounder and four third-round picks, the Cardinals stockpiled on Day 1 and Day 2 draft picks that will make the team fun to watch in 2024. Coming off a 4-13 season, Arizona could be one of those teams going from last to competing for a wild card spot this upcoming season. The talent is there and if these rookies showcase their promise, it will be an intriguing season for this NFC West squad.
Arizona Cardinals big impact rookie playmakers
Marvin Harrison Jr - WR Ohio State (Round 1, Pick 4): Harrison Jr. will be the real deal in Year 1. Selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the former Ohio State stud is primed to make an instant impact in the Cardinals’ offense.
As the first receiver off the board, Harrison Jr. has been impressing teammates and coaches through training camp and the preseason more due to his work ethic and performance in practice. The son of Marvin Harrison Sr., the Cardinals exciting rookie didn’t get to display his talent in preseason, playing just three snaps, but he’s poised for a big season catching the ball from Murray.
Although he has been quiet in the preseason as far as in-game action, Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting is very impressed with what he has seen from MHJ.
"I see what everybody else sees,” Murphy-Bunting told reporters, via ESPN. “Obviously, we all see it the same way, but he's just very talented. He can do so many different things for our team and we're gonna put him in situations and ask him to do a lot more for our team. He's a guy that can just make any play that's really given to him or thrown to him. Very athletic, very smart, very savvy, as well, with his route craft, and, just, the sky's the limit."
Sky will be the limit for Harrison Jr. in the Cardinals’ offense as he will be part of quite a trio of offensive weapons in Arizona alongside Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride.
Trey Benson - RB Florida State (Round 3, Pick 66): Selected with the No. 66 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Trey Benson will excite fans with his speed, burst and versatility out of the backfield. He will be a nice compliment to James Conner in creating a dynamic one-two punch in the Cardinals backfield.
Although just a rookie, Benson has shown his impact through training camp and in the preseason rushed for 64 yards on 17 carries giving the fans of Arizona a glimpse of the talent he brings out of Florida State. In all, Benson will compete with playing time with Emari Demercado and DeeJay Dallas, but with how he flashed in his preseason opportunities, expect this third-round pick to play a great role in the Cardinals’ offense with the more touches he gets during the regular season.
Cardinals rookie defenders ready to step up
Max Melton - CB Rutgers (Round 2, Pick 43): The Cardinals drafted a versatile cornerback in Max Melton in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. With his ability to play outside corner, in the slot as well as excel in zone coverage, this rookie will add physicality as well as depth to the Cardinals’ secondary in the 2024 NFL season.
In impressing the coaches off and off the field through training camp and the preseason, Melton is listed as a Day 1 starter in the initial team depth chart and if he doesn’t start, his competitive nature will earn him a starting role very quickly. Speaking of that competitive nature, the rookie feels he is the CB2 behind Murphy-Bunting and he has the confidence to show it.
“They want a dawg,” he said, “and I feel like they got one in the draft in me. I’m just going to try and exploit that on the field. I’m a dawg. I know what I’m doing. I’m fast, quick, I can hit. I’m at corner, but I can hit. And I think they really like that, so I can’t wait to showcase that on the field come game day.”
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson– S Texas Tech (Round 4, Pick 104): An instinctive safety drafted out of Texas Tech, this fourth-round pick will see action playing behind Jalen Thompson at strong safety. Like Melton, he is instinctive and enters the NFL with a lot of confidence. As far as talent, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson has impressed in training camp and the preseason with his closing speed when defending the passing game and his run-stopping ability.
As a young defender, his versatility will be challenged in a Cardinals defensive secondary where he should learn a lot from veteran safety Budda Baker. He could also be a replacement for Baker given that the star safety is entering the final year of his four-year, $59 million contract. If Taylor-Demerson has a strong rookie season, it will be easier for the Cardinals to move on from Baker.
Rookies who will contribute at some point in the 2024 NFL season
Darius Robinson - DL Missouri (Round 1, Pick 27): The Cardinals second first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will begin the season on injured reserve due to a calf injury, but once Darius Robinson returns to action, he will flash as a pass rusher and give the Cardinals something to be excited about mid-to-late season.
Once Robinson returns, he will give the Cardinals’ defensive line a boost playing behind Dante Stills, but his true impact may not come until 2025 as he’ll battle with that calf injury throughout his rookie season. If that doesn’t end up being a lingering issue. Robinson has impressed enough in training camp to show he can be a disruptive player on defense.
Tip Reiman – TE Illinois (Round 3, Pick 82): Trey McBride has the tight end position locked down, but third-round pick Tip Reiman will be an intriguing factor in the Cardinals’ offense.
At 6-foot-5, 271 pounds, Reiman is a Y tight end who will be more of a blocking tight end with the capability of catching the ball. With his huge hands, Reiman will stand out as more of a red zone threat who will thrive as a blocker in the run game where he’ll get a few balls thrown his way in play action.
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In all, this will be one of the Cardinals stronger draft classes as they should get contributions from other rookies guard Isaiah Adams and tackle Christian Jones once he returns from IR.