The Cardinals are hopeful that the 2023 draft class will offer greater value than the 2022 group.
After the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft, it is crucial to evaluate how the latest group of football prospects stacks up against previous classes and the impact they could have on the sports betting landscape in Arizona.
The Cardinals used the draft to strengthen their team by choosing nine players across six rounds to fill different positions.
Two out of the nine players were defensive backs, and prospects were selected from eight different position groups by the franchise.
During the 2023 draft, the Cardinals selected lineman Paris Johnson as their top pick at number six after participating in a three-team trade that landed linebacker Will Anderson from Houston and running back Jahmyr Gibbs from Detroit.
Despite the draft, the Cardinals’ Super Bowl odds on Arizona sports betting apps remain the lowest in the league at +20000, indicating no improvement.
The 2023 NFL Draft Class of the Cardinals.
- With the 6th overall pick in the first round, the team selected Paris Johnson, an offensive lineman.
- Defensive end BJ Ojulari was selected with the 41st overall pick in the second round.
- Garrett Williams (DB) was chosen in the 3rd round with the 72nd overall pick.
- Michael Wilson was chosen as a wide receiver in the 3rd round, with the 94th overall pick.
- The team drafted Jon Gaines, an offensive lineman, in the 4th round with the 122nd overall pick.
- Clayton Tune was selected as the team’s quarterback in the 5th round of the draft with the 139th overall pick.
- Owen Pappoe, a linebacker, was selected by the team in the 5th round with the 168th overall pick.
- In the 6th round of the draft, Kei’Trei Clark was chosen as the 180th overall pick to play as a defensive back.
- Dante Stills was chosen as a defensive tackle by the team in the 6th round with the 213th overall pick.
Reflecting on the 2022 Class of Cardinals
In the 2022 draft, Arizona selected a total of eight players, starting with Trey McBride, the ex-Colorado State tight end, who was chosen as the 55th overall pick.
Visit yengols.com for the best Arizona sportsbook promo codes and see how the Cardinals’ 2022 class fared with Pro Football Reference’s Weighted Career Approximate Value (wAV) analysis.
Arizona’s 2022 class surpassed expectations by climbing two spots in the rankings from 31st to 29th, despite their initial draft night ranking.
Arizona is poised to make the most of its 2023 draft picks by obtaining a first-round pick and an extra player.
The Cardinals had their most successful picks last year in McBride, third-round defensive end Myjai Sanders, and seventh-round defensive back Christian Matthew, all of whom achieved a wAV of 2 according to PFR’s measurement.
If Johnson, second-round pick BJ Ojulari, and third-round selections Garrett Williams and Michael Wilson can match the production of Arizona’s top four picks from 2021, who have a combined wAV of 29 (averaging 7.25 wAV per pick), the Cardinals could see a substantial increase in their talent level after a lackluster draft in 2022.
Ranking the 2022 NFL Draft Class Again
Cardinals’ 2022 Draft Class Shows Low Productivity
Arizona drafted eight players in 2022, but the Cardinals ranked fourth-lowest in wAV compared to other teams.
The Cardinals ranked higher than the L.A. Rams (8 wAV), Philadelphia (7 wAV), and Miami (3 wAV) in the final standings.
Nevertheless, it is easier to overlook a less successful draft when you have reached the Super Bowl, as is the case with the Eagles, who remain a top contender to win it all this season, as indicated by BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona.
After the 2022 draft, the NFL Network ranked the Cardinals’ class as the second lowest in the league, placing them above New England and below the Washington Commanders, who were ranked 30th.
In terms of on-field performance, the Patriots’ 2022 wAV was tied for 11th with Tennessee and Chicago when compared to other teams. Similarly, the Commanders’ draft class tied with Las Vegas and Minnesota for the 24th highest wAV at 11.
What caused the lack of production in the 2022 Rookie Cardinals?
Arizona’s low draft ranking in 2022 was mostly attributed to the lack of a standout player who shined during games.
According to Pro Football Reference, seven draft picks outperformed the entire Arizona class in terms of season production. Notable players include Sauce Gardner with a 14 wAV, Marcus Jones and Tariq Woolen with 10 wAV each, and Drake London, Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, and Cordell Volson with 9 wAV each.
McBride, Sanders, and Matthew were the standout players from the Cardinals’ 2022 draft, contributing a total of six out of Arizona’s 9 points in wAV.
The Seahawks, who were ranked as the top team by wAV in 2022, managed to earn at least two wAV points from their first six picks. Cornerback Tariq Woolen, chosen in the fifth round, particularly shined with 10 wAV in 2022, while first-round offensive lineman Charles Cross and third-round offensive lineman Abraham Lucas were not far behind with 9 wAV each.
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For more than seven years, Peterson Christopher has been reporting on sports and sports betting in Arizona. He currently holds the position of lead writer at yengols.com, and has previously contributed to ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News.
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