NFL executives give Arizona Cardinals rare praise after 2024 NFL Draft

For once, the Arizona Cardinals appear to be garnering respect from the rest of the NFL world. 

With the 2024 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, The Athletic published NFL executives' opinions on 16 NFC teams on Thursday. In that, the Cardinals, for its seven of the first 90 selections, landed major props from un-named NFL executives in Mike Sando's article. 

The complete list of selections in the 2024 NFL Draft includes Marvin Harrison Jr. (round one, pick No. 4, Darius Robinson (round one, pick No. 27), Max Melton (round two, pick No. 43), Trey Benson (round three, pick No. 66), Isaiah Adams (round three, pick No. 71), Tip Reiman (round three, pick No. 82), Elijah Jones (round three, pick No. 90), Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (round four, pick No. 104), Xavier Thomas (round five, pick No. 138), Christian Jones (round five, pick No. 162), Tejhaun Palmer (round six, pick No. 191), and Jaden Davis (round seven, pick No. 266). 

To the numerous selections, NFL executives were happy the Cardinals selected as many NFL-level players as the franchise could. 

“That is well-played because they need as many NFL-quality players as they can get,” one executive told The Athletic.

The selection of Harrison Jr. gives Arizona an elite wide receiver to pair with quarterback Kyler Murray, who hasn't necessarily had a pass-catcher as talented as the Ohio State product during his career. 

NFL executives were also high on the Cardinals not over-thinking the No. 4 pick in the draft, electing to select the best wide receiver on several draft boards. 

“If (Harrison) turns out to be less than what you hoped, no one is going to say you tried to outsmart yourself,” one executive told The Athletic. “If you bust going away from the consensus best player at a position, people will say, ‘You dumbass, everyone knew Marvin Harrison was going to be great.'”  

For once, it appears the Cardinals are getting some love from the rest of the NFL. It is a nice change of tune.