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2020 NFL Draft: Grading the draft class from all 32 teams

By Jeremy Wohlfart

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers reacts to a touchdown against Clemson Tigers during the third quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers reacts to a touchdown against Clemson Tigers during the third quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Clemson Tigers
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson Tigers (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

. . ARIZONA CARDINALS. A.

Team needs

The Arizona Cardinals were last by several games in the NFC West, but progression was evident behind the rookie coach and quarterback duo of Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray.

They needed more receiver help but solved that before the draft by swindling the Houston Texans of DeAndre Hopkins. So their needs were more centered around finding blocking for Murray and fixing a defense that was getting shredded by tight ends.

2020 NFL Draft class

  • No. 8: Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker, Clemson
  • No. 72: Josh Jones, Tackle, Houston
  • No. 114: Leki Fotu, Defensive Tackle, Utah
  • No. 131: Rashard Lawrence, Defensive Tackle, LSU
  • No. 202: Evan Weaver, Linebacker, California
  • No. 222: Eno Benjamin, Running Back, Arizona State

Draft review

Arizona is greatly strengthened by its picks in the NFL Draft. The Cardinals found some steals, addressed their biggest need on offense and defense both, and even found an additional weapon for Murray.

Isaiah Simmons was a steal, as he was a top-three pick based on talent alone. Arizona was helpless against tight ends last year, and Simmons instantly upgrades their ability to defend against them while being a hard-hitting defender.

I had mocked Jones to the Miami Dolphins at No. 18 (right idea, wrong tackle), so he was an absolute steal at No. 72. Jones will be an insurance policy immediately as the backup tackle before competing to start down the line.

Arizona addressed some big needs at good value and still found Murray a weapon late. This is an easy A-grade.