CARDINALS

Cardinals believe last four draft picks can contribute

Kent Somers
azcentral sports

Before Saturday, it appeared anyone taken by the Cardinals on the final day of the draft would have difficulty making the roster of a team that won 34 games over the last three seasons.

Jan 30, 2016: South squad defensive back Harlan Miller of SE Louisiana (1) in the second quarter of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

But the Cardinals’ thinking changed after they attached names, faces and talents to those four draft slots.

No team ever professes disappointment in their selections after the draft, and the Cardinals are no different. But General Manager Steve Keim and coach Bruce Arians seem genuinely pleased by what the team accomplished over the three days.

“I think the good news for us is today we added four quality young men who, not only do we feel have a chance to make our football team, but have a chance to make contributions in Year 1,” Keim said.

RELATED: Cardinals center Boehm knew his NFL dreams would come true

Outside of football scouts, draftniks and their families, not many people will know much about the four players drafted on Saturday: Missouri center Evan Boehm (fourth round), Midwestern State safety Marqui Christian (fifth), Harvard guard Cole Toner (fifth) and Southeastern Louisiana cornerback Harlan Miller (sixth).

“It speaks volumes of Steve and our staff when you take back-to-back guys from Midwestern State and Harvard,” Arians said. “They (Keim and his staff) cover everything, everybody. Our staff, our scouts do a great job of finding every single guy who is out there.”

Despite insisting they wouldn’t draft for need, the Cardinals attempted to address weaknesses in the draft, especially on Saturday.

Boehm will compete with A.Q. Shipley for the starting center’s job, held by Lyle Sendlein the past eight years.

Boehm was a starter from the minute he stepped foot on Missouri’s campus and never missed a game. No one else in school history has done that.

MORE: Download our Cardinals XTRA app iOS | Android

“They got a kid that will compete day-in and day-out,” Boehm said. “I’m going to give my all, all the time.”

The Cardinals bolstered their secondary with three other draft picks: Christian, Miller and cornerback Brandon Williams (third round).

It’s questionable how much any of the three will play on defense this season, but the potential for special-teams contributions is there. It’s still possible the team could re-sign cornerback Jerraud Powers, a starter the past three seasons.

Among the qualities the Cardinals looked for on day three of the draft was confidence, Keim said. They didn’t want to draft players who would be so in awe of stars such as cornerback Patrick Peterson and receiver Larry Fitzgerald that they were too intimidated to compete.

“Because they are going to hit adversity at some point,” Keim said. “Once they get through baggage claim they are going to have some issues here, whether it’s schematically or the big lights in the city. It’s how they face that that helps them succeed.”

BICKLEY: Cardinals hope risk nets reward

As they looked back over the three days, Keim said he and Arians were satisfied that the team “filled needs with players we are excited about. That’s not always the case when you walk away from the draft. Sometimes you’re a little concerned that maybe this guy is going to have a hard time making the team or you had him a little too high on your board.

“In this case, we’re extremely excited about all these players.”

Among the Cardinals' six selections are one defensive lineman, two cornerbacks, a safety, a center and a guard. They passed on taking a quarterback, and for the first time in four years under the Keim/Arians regime did not make a draft-day trade.

Keim said the team had trade offers at every point in which it drafted. “You have to weigh that versus the player and the grade you have on the board. Really, the compensation wasn’t worth it at the time.”

Here’s is a breakdown of each of the four players drafted on Saturday.

RELATED: Cardinals take center Boehm in fourth round

Evan Boehm (rhymes with “game”), center

How he fits: He will compete with A.Q. Shipley for the starting job.

Boehm:  “I think I’m pretty football intelligent. You look at the two guards next to me (Mike Iupati and Evan Mathis) and they’re pretty dang good. I can lean on those guys because they know what they’re doing and how to do it."

Arians: “He was the state wrestling champ, this guy’s as tough as nails. With everything that went on with that football team (Missouri) this year, he was a rock.”

Keim: “We’ve had guys miss three, four weeks with high ankle sprains and I don’t think he missed a down.”

MORE: Cardinals select safety Marqui Christian in fifth round

Marqui Christian, safety

How he fits: He joins a deep position with five experienced safeties on the roster: Tyrann Mathieu, Tyvon Branch, Tony Jefferson, Chris Clemons and D.J. Swearinger.

Christian: “I knew they were interested. I visited with them a handful of times before the draft. I visited with them prior to my pro day and then at my pro day. Then I flew out for a pre-draft visit. They showed a lot of interest, so during the whole process I was hoping that I would end up a Cardinal, and it was a blessing that I did.”

Keim: “Our area scouts, John Mancini, Chris Culmer, did a fantastic job, but the closer that came in late during the process was a guy named Adrian Wilson, who went to the NFLPA (all-star) game and came back with his jaw dropping. This kid had all the physical tools.”

RELATED: Cardinals select Harvard OL Toner in fifth round

Cole Toner, guard

How he fits: He is listed as a guard but the Cardinals think he can move out to right tackle and possibly get some time at center. The Cardinals could use a backup tackle on both sides.

Toner: “My dad’s two sisters live out there (the Valley) and I have a bunch of cousins out there. So I’ve been there every year of my life more than one time. I couldn’t have picked a better place to go. This is incredible.”

Keim: “He caught our eye at the Senior Bowl and did some nice things down there. He still is a little raw, but we’re convinced he still has all the physical tools and the passion to continue to grow and get better.”

MORE: Cardinals take CB Miller in sixth round

Harlan Miller, cornerback

How he fits: The Cardinals need depth at cornerback and help on special teams. Miller can return punts so he’ll get a look there.

Miller: “The (Cardinals) secondary and the defense as a whole is just fun to watch. You see those guys shadowing their man, everybody making plays.”

Keim: “Another small-school guy who stepped up under the bright lights in Mobile (site of the Senior Bowl). He has some natural anticipation that your can’t teach. He’s another guy who is extremely passionate about the game.”

Player bios

Evan Boehm

Selected: Fourth round (128th overall)

Age: 22

Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Height/weight: 6-2, 302

College: Missouri

Poisition: Center

Marqui Christian

Selected: Fifth round (167th overall)

Age: 21

Hometown: Spring, Texas

Height/weight: 5-11, 196

College: Midwestern State (Texas)

Position: Safety

Cole Toner

Selected: Fifth round (170th overall)

Age: 22

Hometown: Greenwood, Ind.

College: Harvard

Height/weight: 6-5, 306

Position: Guard

Harlan Miller

Selected: Sixth round (205th overall)

Age: 21

Hometown: Kentwood, La.

College: Southeastern Louisiana

Height/weight: 6-foot, 182

Position: Cornerback

Next up

The Cardinals have targeted about 15 rookie free agents and hope to sign several of them by Monday. That group likely will include a long snapper or two. There isn't one on the roster.

Rookie minicamp is scheduled Friday through Sunday. Included in that group will be a handful of rookies attending on a tryout basis.