Why Today's So-Called Positional Value is a Hoax

                                     photo: courtesy of ESPN

By Walter Mitchell

In recent years, numerous fans and draftniks have been insisting that positions such a running back, guard, center, nose tackle, inside linebacker, slot cornerback and safety are not 1st round "value" positions.

What I have been trying to explain for several years now is how Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes proved by virtue of their combined 10 Super Bowl rings, is that winning the middle of the football field with a passing game that features tight ends, slot WRs and RBs on circle routes is the modern-day key to NFL success.

As a result, order to contend for championships, defenses need to be very strong up the middle, particularly in boasting a stud interior defensive lineman to go with highly versatile and athletic inside linebackers, slot CBs and safeties.

For example, let's take a look at the last three Super Bowl winners on defense. 

2023 Kansas City Chiefs

DI - Chris Jones --- 84.1

ILB - Nick Bolton --- 70.6

SCB - Trent McDuffie --- 82.9

S - Bryan Cook --- 65.3

2024 Philadelphia Eagles

DI - Jalen Carter --- 74.1

ILB - Zach Baun --- 90.1

SCB - Cooper DeJean --- 82.7

S - C.J. Gardner-Johnson --- 75.1

2025 Seattle Seahawks

DI - Leonard Williams --- 75.3

ILB - Tyrice Knight --- 76.2

SCB - Nick Emmanwori --- 71.0

S - Julian Love --- 82.2

Note: of the Cardinals returning players on defense this year, only DI Walter Nolen (in 6 games) had a grade higher than the 65.0 average NFL grade for starters last season. 

The Cardinals gave up 230.8 yards passing in 2025.

2023 Chiefs --- 176.5 --- #4 in NFL

2024 Eagles --- 174.3 --- #1 in NFL

2025 Seahawks --- 193.9 --- #10 in NFL


2025 Arizona Cardinals

DI - Walter Nolen III

ILB - ?

SCB - ?

S - Dadrion Taylor-Demerson


Let's Fix This:

#3 --- Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio St. --- most athletic defender in draft

#34 --- Keionte Scott, SCB, Miami FL --- best slot CB in draft

#65 --- Landon Robinson, DI, Navy --- has Aaaron Donald traits

#104 --- Skyler Bell, WR, UConn --- slot baller

# 143 --- Travis Burke, T, Memphis --- big, brawling RT

#183 --- Levi Heidenreich, RB/FB, Navy --- Swiss-army RB 4.4 speed

# 217 --- Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami FL --- clutch cover FS

Trade Proposal:

Cardinals send Zaven Collins to the Vikings for Jonathan Greenard

Trading for edge rusher Jonathan Greenard could be such a boon for the Cardinals. Vikings want to move him because he wants a new contract in the $20M a year range. His 2026 base salary is $18M. 

Greenard is 28, coming off a 3-sack season despite a stellar pass rush win rate of 23%. Opposing QBs were getting the ball out quick versus the Vikings' pass rush. 38 career sacks in 77 starts. 

Cardinals signed Josh Sweat at age 28, 4 years $76M with $41M guaranteed. Sign Jonathan Greenard for similar deal and the Cardinals have a formidable pair of bookend edge rusher for the next few years. Having that in place before next year's QB bonanza in the 2027 NFL Draft would be especially smart.


2026 Arizona Cardinals

DI - Walter Nolen III

ILB - Sonny Styles

SCB - Keionte Scott

S - Dadrion Taylor-Demerson


Strengthening the middle of the defense could give the Cardinals a chance to be competitive, sooner rather than later.



Kurt Warner
@kurt13warner
It’s so funny to hear everyone talk about the risk of certain guys/positions in Top 10… everyone is a risk until they aren’t, until they become a pro-bowler or superstar & once they do no one cares where u drafted them! 95% of these guys have to get better than they were in college to be special… and no one knows which ones that will be, so they are all risks! I’ve never understood anything but taking the best player available or the best at position of need based on the only metric you have: College tape!!


Comments

  1. RedrunApril 23, 2026 at 7:27 AM

    I can get on board with this, I just say take a NT (McDonald or Hunter) with pick #34 trade back into rnd 2 pick 50 or earlier with picks 65 and future pick to land Scott (or Ponds). Having a good NT free's our ILB to make plays.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kyle LedbetterApril 23, 2026 at 8:30 AM

    If indeed the Jets are planning to draft David Bailey, and it isn’t just the odds moving because of Insider Trading from Gambling Companies to drive bets tonight, then I think the Cardinals should probably go ahead and take Arvell Reese.

    If Reese is the #2 pick, I’m rooting for Styles at #3, although I’m not holding my breath because the Cardinals haven’t had him in for visits and such over the pre-draft process

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellApril 23, 2026 at 8:42 AM

      Wow, Kyle, I thought you were Sonny Styles all the way. The reason why I would take Sonny over Arvell is Matt Patricia's endorsement as Sonny being a surefire "face of the franchise." That's a high a compliment as there is coming from a guy who wears multiple Super Bowl rings. Plus, i believe that Sonny Styles is the most complete and athletic defensive player in the draft and there is no confusion about where he belongs on the field.

      Delete
  3. Flash87April 23, 2026 at 9:59 AM

    This would be a solid plan or at least one approach that would have results. Still cant shake feeling Monti is going to trade down with his entire plan wrapped around drafting Simpson passing by impact players because he has mismanaged QB room.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Since 61April 23, 2026 at 12:03 PM

    The Chiefs and Eagles were quietly locking up the middle of the field and cashing Super Bowl checks. Turns out winning football games requires, you know, stopping the passing game — wild concept. Sonny Styles at #3 practically writes itself at this point.

    ReplyDelete

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