Monti's Draft Picks Who Should Be 2026 Starters and Key Role Players


By Walter Mitchell

Starting Caliber:

LT Paris Johnson Jr.



RG Jon Gaines II



TE Tip Reiman (12/13 personnel)



WR Michael Wilson



WR Marvin Harrison Jr.



DT Walter Nolen III



DE Darius Robinson (Coach Kwiatkowski Special)



LB Cody Simon



CB Elijah Jones



CB Will Johnson



FS Dadrion Taylor-Demerson



Key Role and/or Special Teams Players

G Isaiah Adams

C/G Hayden Conner

DE Dante Sills

LB Owen Pappoe

OLB Jodan Burch

CB Max Melton

CB Denzel Burke

S/CB Garrett Williams

S Kitan Crawford

Time to Prove It

RB Trey Benson

T Christian Jones

WR Tejhaun Palmer

OLB B.J. Ojulari

CB Kei'trel Clark

CB Jaden Davis

Opinion:

Impressive but largely underdeveloped talent ---> stronger coaching needed.



Comments

  1. RedrunApril 3, 2026 at 6:55 AM

    "Impressive but largely underdeveloped talent ---> stronger coaching needed."

    The mantra of most Cardinals teams of old and new alike...

    Some of your key role players (e.g. O Pappoe, G Williams, I Adams, M Melton) might be considered as prove-it years. All have flashed why they belong.

    While most (if not all) of the starting caliber players could be considered as under-performing and needing more consistency to their game. You're still higher on E Jones then N Rallis believes (rightly or wrongly), so I think E Jones needs to prove it and leave no doubt about his role.

    I would say most of your prove it players are 'cut/trade candidates'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellApril 3, 2026 at 8:31 AM

      Nick Rallis' personnel use is awful. He kowtows to veterans who are ill-suited for their roles (Mack Wilson Sr.as a MIKE, Kyzir White as a MIKE, Sean Murphy-Bunting as a slot CB, Garrett Williams as a man-to-man slot CB, etc. and he plays mind games with younger players. Ask Max Melton. He generates consistent confidence in no one.

      Delete
    2. RedrunApril 3, 2026 at 8:57 AM

      Nick Rallis is Awful...in every aspect. He has consistently gotten less from players than more. His defenses every year have cratered the last half of season, I forget overall D ranking numbers but for his three years as DC he has not finished in top half of NFL teams - and in fact finished in lower 1/4 I believe every year. Why he was retained seems like an epic FO failure as the owner, GM, and FO staff made it impossible to attract anyone better. I feel that is same reason MB stuck with MO. MB IMO is still the #1 obstacle of this team ever finding any modicum of success.

      Delete
  2. Simpleman 2026April 3, 2026 at 2:25 PM

    You get what you pay for

    ReplyDelete
  3. sneakyjobuApril 3, 2026 at 3:25 PM

    It will certainly be intriguing to watch Walter Nolen and Drob develop on the D-line and watch to see what Rallis's and Teryl Austin's plan is to shore up the linebacker and secondary play. Lafleur knows first hand how easy it was to pick apart the wide open zones in last years Gannon/Rallis defense. I am thinking that Teryl Austin will be more the passing game coordinator on defense.

    Sort of off topic but something that has been on my mind thinking about watching Jacoby play in 25-26. I thought his feet in the pocket were too slow. Now, it wasn't his fault that when he got to the back step of his drop and he already had defenders in his face(Seattle game), but with the emphasis on bootlegs and waggles in a Mcvay/Shanny hybrid offense you would think added quickness in his pocket movement would help him maximize his play in Mike's system. Stafford is not fast by any means, but he moves fluidly and swiftly within the pocket and bounces off well on bootlegs. I think Lafleur should have Jacoby lighten up a bit and really emphasize him this offseason developing quick, mobile feet, and adding a little speed. You could make an argument that he has a better power throwing arm than anyone in the draft. Just watching Ty Simpson film, and Jacoby's second level throws have more juice on them than Ty Simposn, Ty's arm is probably a 7/10 but he processes the field well and is mobile. Alot of casual fans don't realize that Jacoby can become one of the best down field throwers in the league because he waits for windows to open like a receiver crossing behind a safety or zone defender and isn't afraid to get hit. Everyone is saying wait until next years draft to get a QB, but Lafleur is going to want a prototypical NFL pocket QB which might not be in next years draft.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Flash87April 4, 2026 at 5:30 AM

    I remember Will Johnson looking sharp and impactful during training camp and first few games. The longer he was in the Rallis system his skills just diminished. By the end of the year he looked disinterested in playing. Why we retained Rallis is beyond me. 40 plus point blow outs and getting smashed by Seahawks in less than five minutes was more than enough to fire him. I think LaFleur has engineered around keeping him. We have more than capable defensive assistants that can step in take the reigns. Our player development has been an abject failure. We have to almost uninstall 3-4 years of bad coaching.

    ReplyDelete

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