Cardinals
Regular contributors
1st round (No.1 overall): Kyler Murray, QB, 14 games (909 offensive snaps).
2nd round (No. 33 overall): Byron Murphy, CB, 14 games (967 defensive snaps, 17 on special teams).
2nd round (No. 63 overall): Andy Isabella, WR, 13 games (146 offensive snaps, 63 on special teams).
Supplemental draft: Jalen Thompson, S, 13 games (388 defensive snaps, 46 on special teams).
5th round (No. 139 overall): Deionte Thompson, S, 11 games (252 defensive snaps, 143 on special teams).
Without question, Murray has made the biggest impact of all the rookies. As the starting quarterback from the moment he got drafted, he was the player who had far and away the most eyes on him and he hasn’t disappointed despite a handful of rough outings.
He’s already set franchise rookie records for passing yards (3,279), touchdowns (17), completions (312), attempts (482) and games with multiple touchdowns (7). His 504 rushing yards are the most ever by a Cardinals’ quarterback and he became the first NFL player with 20 or more completions in each of his first six career games.
His accuracy and running ability have made him a dangerous player to defend and the more he plays and studies the game, the better he’s going to get. His mistakes have been limited in scope. Between weeks 4-10, for example, he set an NFL rookie record with 211 consecutive pass attempts without an interception.
The offense has made strides under Murray and he was very direct when asked where he’s seen the most improvement.
“For starters, me – just operation, seeing the field, getting the ball to the guys that make plays, a more physical run game,” he said. “I think we’re better in every aspect from the start of the season until now.”
Murphy has had plenty of moments, too, and they started right off the bat when he was forced into the starting lineup in Week 1 when Patrick Peterson began servicing his six-game suspension and Robert Alford suffered a fractured leg in training camp. Murphy leads the team in passes defensed (8) and is presently fourth in total tackles (61).
Once seen as the future bookend opposite Peterson, Murphy's use by the Cardinals has changed. He’s been used almost exclusively recently as slot corner, and it isn’t because the Cardinals have been thin at outside corner. Kingsbury is already talking about keeping Murphy in the slot next season as well.
As for Isabella, it’s clear he still has a ton to learn if he’s ever going to show any real value as a second-round pick. There’s a reason why Kingsbury rarely played him during the first half of the season and why he’s only caught nine passes to date. The 5-foot-9 Isabella has legitimate 4.3 speed, however, and that will be his ticket to more playing time in the future if he is able to better wrap his head around the playbook and learn the art of route concepts.
Right now, he looks like a bust and makes a lot of critics believe the Cardinals should have drafted D.K. Metcalf, who went two picks later to the Seahawks, whom Arizona meets this Sunday in Seattle. The 6-foot-4 Metcalf has 52 receptions for 819 yards and six touchdowns.
There were perceptions at the scouting combine that Metcalf’s talents were limited to his muscularity and physique. That theory has been completely debunked, according to Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who calls Metcalf “the real deal.”
Jalen and Deionte Thompson each look like decent pickups by the Cardinals. Jalen moved in the starting strong safety role at midseason and has responded by collecting the sixth-most tackles on the team (40). Deionte is filling more of a backup role over the past month and a half.
Semi-regular contributors
3rd round (No. 65 overall): Zach Allen, DE, 4 games (144 defensive snaps, 20 on special teams; on injured reserve).
6th round (No. 174 overall): KeeSean Johnson, WR, 10 games (371 offensive snaps, 0 on special teams).
7th round (No. 248 overall): Josh Miles, OL, 7 games (3 offensive snaps, 25 on special teams).
7th round: (No. 249 overall): Michael Dogbe, DE, 6 games (64 defensive snaps, 9 on special teams).
Allen had all the credentials coming out of Boston College and the Cardinals love his versatility, as he can play anywhere along the defensive front as well as possibly moving to outside linebacker in the future. That could be key if Reddick doesn’t pan out there in his new trial period at the position.
He started the first four games at defensive end until suffering neck and shoulder issues that landed him on injured reserve, but he proved in his short stint as a rookie that he can be a regular contributor on a defensive front that has gone through a major overhaul this year.
Johnson was touted for his route-running ability, but he’s fallen off the radar after making some impressions early in the season. Like Isabella, he still has a lot to learn but it doesn’t appear he’ll get many more opportunities during these final two weeks.