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Arizona Cardinals 2019 NFL Draft recap, meet the 11 draftees

The Cardinals draft was highlighted by Kyler Murray, Byron Murphy and three wide receivers.

NASHVILLE - The Arizona Cardinals added 11 new faces to the team this week after beginning the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday by picking Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and ending the draft Saturday by picking UCLA tight end Caleb Wilson.

RELATED: Josh Rosen traded to Miami Dolphins after Cardinals pick Kyler Murray

Position-wise, the Cardinals added one quarterback, one cornerback, two defensive ends, three wide receivers, one safety, one tight end and two offensive linemen. 

The team addressed needs like adding another piece in the secondary with starting potential in Byron Murphy. The team added a hungry, quick defensive end in Zach Allen to bolster the defensive line. The team also added three receivers to grow with quarterback Kyler Murray, one of which may have been one of the top steals of the draft. 

RELATED: Arizona Cardinals select Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray No. 1 in NFL Draft

While some were surprised the Cardinals did not draft offensive linemen in the second or third rounds after taking Murray and having the worst offensive line in football last season, the team did sign three free agent offensive linemen this offseason. The team used a 6th and 7th round pick on a center and a tackle. 

Here's a look at look at each Cardinals pick in the draft: 

Round 1 Pick 1: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

Credit: AP
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks to pass, during the first half of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

After the Cardinals hired head coach Kliff Kingsbury this offseason, who’s expected to bring a high-powered, air raid-style offense to the Cardinals, attention immediately shifted to Murray as a possible favorite for the Cardinals at No. 1 overall. This despite the fact the team traded up in the 2018 NFL Draft to select UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen in the first round.

He had the highest average yards per pass attempt in college football with 11.6 and his adjusted completion percentage was 78.9. He threw for more than 4,000 yards, had 42 passing touchdowns and just seven interceptions.

Murray will take over an offense that finished dead last in most offensive categories in 2018, a big change from his No. 1-ranked offense at Oklahoma last season, which led the NCAA in yards per game (570) and yards per play (8.60).

Round 2 Pick 33: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

Credit: AP
Washington defensive back Byron Murphy (1), breaks up a pass intended for Oregon wide receiver Dillon Mitchell (13), in the second quarter during an NCAA college football game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd)

At 33rd overall, the Cardinals picked former Saguaro High School superstar and University of Washington cornerback Byron Murphy. In Murphy's redshirt sophomore year last season, he earned First Team All-Pac 12 and Second Team AP All-American honors. 

Murphy recorded, 58 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, four interceptions and 13 pass deflections last season. He joins a Cardinals secondary that includes Patrick Peterson, D.J. Swearinger, Budda Baker and Robert Alford. 

Round 2 Pick 62: Andy Isabella, WR, UMass

Credit: AP
UMass wide receiver Andy Isabella runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

In the second round after trading away Josh Rosen for the Dolphins pick, the Cardinals gave Kyler Murray a weapon in Andy Isabella, a pick many were surprised of, mainly because of his lack of name recognition. 

Isabella played for UMass, where, to the shock of many, he led all FBS receivers yards last season with 1,696 yards and caught 13 touchdowns. He had the second most deep receiving yards of anyone in college football with 705. He also had the most yards per route run of any receiver in the draft.

Isabella was Pro Football Focus' highest rated wide receiver in the draft and was 30th overall on their draft board. Isabella garnered a lot of attention at the combine when he ran a 4.31 40-yard dash. 

Isabella should find him home in the slot of Arizona with chances to beat defenders on long routes setting up long throws from Kyler Murray. 

Round 3 Pick 65: Zach Allen, DE, Boston College

Credit: AP
Boston College defensive end Zach Allen (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Zach Allen is a 6-foot-4, 281-pound defensive end who is known for good instincts, initial quickness and strength and high football IQ. 

Allen led Boston College with 15 tackles-for-loss in 2018 and totaled 61 tackles on the year, 6.5 sacks, one interception, seven pass breakups and two blocked kicks.

Round 4 Pick 103: Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State

Credit: AP
Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler (18) makes a catch over Washington State safety Jalen Thompson (34) during the the second half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

One of the biggest steals in the entire draft was Arizona snatching up Iowa State receiver Hakeem Butler, a guy who was on round one mock drafts at the close of the college season. 

Butler's size at 6'5 could make him a matchup problem in the NFL right away. Reasons he dropped in the draft include concerns about dropped passes. 

Butler was top 10 in college footbal last year in yards with 1,318 and in yards per reception at 22.0. He caught nine touchdowns and 60 passes total, leading Iowa State in both categories and leading him to a second team All-Big 12 selection. 

According to Butler, new Cardinals head coach and former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury told Butler last season he was "in love" with his game. 

There's no doubt that Kyler Murray will be happy with the pick considering Butler's abilities to go up and grab balls along with his big play ability and strength in breaking tackles. Butler had the most deep receiving yards in college football last year according to PFF. 

Round 5 Pick 139: Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Deionte Thompson (14) during the Southeastern Conference Championship NCAA college football game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 in Atlanta. (Ric Tapia via AP)

It's not hard to love a prospect that played for Nick Saban and a great defense and Cardinals fans should like this pick. Thompson had an incredible year in 2018, earning First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC honors. 

The safety had 79 stops in 15 games started, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, six pass breakups and four forced fumbles. 

Thompson will join a solid secondary in Arizona and have the chance to learn from Patrick Peterson, D.J. Swearinger and Budda Baker.

Round 6 Pick 174: Keesean Johnson, WR, Fresno State

Credit: AP
Fresno State wide receiver KeeSean Johnson (3) goes up for a reception in front of Boise State cornerback Avery Williams (26) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

For the third time in the draft, the Cardinals selected a wide receiver, clearly planning to give Kyler Murray every possible weapon they can and an opportunity for young receivers to grow with Murray. 

Johnson is 6'1, 200 pounds and caught 95 passes for 1,340 yards last season, both top 10 nationally. He also caught eight touchdown passes and earned second-team All-Mountain West honors. 

Round 6 Pick 179: Lamont Gaillard, C, Georgia

Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Georgia Bulldogs center Lamont Gaillard (53) during an NCAA football game against the LSU Tigers on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 in Baton Rogue, LA. (Ric Tapia via AP)

In the 6th Round, the Cardinals finally drafted an offensive lineman, following two days of fans clamoring for the team to get Murray some protection.

The team selected center Lamont Gaillard of Georgia, a three year starter who garned First Team All-SEC honors as a senior.

The Georgia team captain stands at 6'3 and 305 pounds. 

Round 7 Pick 248: Joshua Miles, T, Morgan State

Credit: AP
Morgan State offensive lineman Joshua Miles runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

With the team's first seventh round pick, the Cardinals went back to back on the offensive line, drafting another former team captain in tackle Joshua Miles out of Morgan State.

Miles is 6'5, 314 pounds and started 11 games at left tackle in 2018, earning Third Team All-MidEastern Athletic Conference honors. 

Round 7 Pick 249: Michael Dogbe, DE, Temple

Credit: AP
Temple's defensive tackle Michael Dogbe (9) celebrates with teammates following their 24-17 win in overtime against Cincinnati in an NCAA college football against Cincinnati, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

The Cardinals drafted a defensive end for the second time in the draft with the round 7 selection of Michael Dogbe out of Temple.

The 6'3, 284-pound lineman was First Team All-American Athletic Conference last season after he totaled 72 stops and led Temple with 12.5 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks and three force fumbles. 

Round 7 Pick 254: Caleb Wilson, TE, UCLA

With the final pick, aka the "Mr. Irrelevant" pick in the NFL Draft, the Cardinals addressed another need by taking tight end Caleb Wilson out of UCLA. 

Wilson was First Team All-Pac 12 last year and led all tight ends in the FBS in receptions (60) and receiving yards (965) and was second in total targets (97). He's a pass-catching receiving tight end and yet another potential weapon for Kyler Murray.

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