Arizona Cardinals 2016 Draft

Contents FEATURES Current Highlights Rumors & Innuendo Depth Chart Roster Player Evaluations 2014 DRAFT ISSUE Draft Summary Page OTHER TOPICS History of the Cardinals About the Big Red Sheet Welcome From the Editor About the Editor Memory of a True Card Fan Order Cardinal Tickets Links to Cardinal Related Sites	Marquis Christian 5-11 195 S Midwestern St. Cards addressed the desire to beef up the deep secondary by selecting Christian with their first of two picks in the 5th round. Given the lack of pre-draft info (one guide had a one para write-up) this appears to be another one of those "Steve Keim Specials." According to Pro Football Draft Guide, he's an "undersized box safety who will have to prove he's up to the physicality of NFL play. Most likely he;ll only stick as a core special teamer. He doesn't move well enough to be able to cover." But the draft gurus on NFLN pointed out that Christian had gathered All American honors at his small college level of play. According to NFL.com: "he won the Cliff Harris Award as nation's top small-college defensive player in 2015....ran a 4.46 forty on pro day along with a 4.27 SS and 1-0 broad jump. STRENGTHS Ran a faster 40 than scouts expected at his pro day and there is an outside shot that he has another gear to access. Instinctive and a tape eater. Shows feel for the flow of the play. Reads quarterbacks fairly well and recognizes pattern development. Will restrict windows in zone coverage. Tough and has the stomach for box work. Loves to hit. Has ability to physically reroute and bang tight ends off the line of scrimmage. Will come downhill to stick his nose in as a run supporter. WEAKNESSES Could be limited in his scheme fit. Played some single-high safety in college, but tape shows a lack of range and desired play speed to be trusted as a center fielder at the next level. Average to below average man cover skill. Ball skills are just average. Doesn?t have the plus burst or break on the throws to impact enough catches. BOTTOM LINE While he might be somewhat limited to box safety duties, he's got the toughness and instincts for the position and has the ability to handle box responsibilities on an NFL level. His angular frame looks like it can handle even more muscle and he has the attention of teams who are looking for a player with his skill set. Christian has a good shot of hearing his name called on day three and of making an NFL team as a backup safety with kick coverage ability right out of the gate.
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