It is Senior Bowl week and the Super Bowl is coming up. That means the NFL draft is more in focus. The Arizona Cardinals have the third overall pick in the draft and have a number of needs.
PFF has a new mock draft. Who do the Cardinals get with the third overall pick?
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Arizona Cardinals, No. 3 overall: Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
The Cardinals’ defense severely underwhelmed this season despite possessing a decent amount of talent. Josh Sweat was the only edge defender on the roster to earn at least a 70.0 pass-rush grade, and the linebacker unit ranked 23rd in the NFL in PFF grade. Reese could help at either position after posting an 86.5 run-defense grade and tallying 27 pressures in his final season at Ohio State.
Reese has versatility. He can rush the edge and play off the ball. What would be his role in the Cardinals’ defense with potentially a new scheme?
The Cardinals have poured resources into the defense in the draft and free agency over the last two offseasons. It hasn’t paid off yet. We know the Cardinals like Ohio State players.
Also on the board is Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey, who also would be an impact player, although the Cardinals have not drafted anyone outside of the Big Ten or SEC in the first or second rounds of the last three drafts.
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Reese is definitely a guy to watch in predraft analysis.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals land Ohio State LB Arvell Reese