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The Arizona Cardinals used their seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, pick No. 225 overall, to select Nevada safety Kitan Crawford. It rounded out their seven-player draft class that included six defensive players.
Crawford played four seasons in the SEC for Texas and then transferred to Nevada for his final season, where he became a starter.
He is one of the most athletic safeties in the draft class.
What grade do the Cardinals deserve for this selection?
In the seventh round, it is hard to be upset with any pick. Seventh-round picks rarely have a major impact.
For the Cardinals, getting a safety, a position where they don't have an excess in depth, with elite athletic traits, always makes sense. It makes even more sense because late-round picks almost always have to be contributors on special teams, and Crawford has experience in spades. He logged more than 1,000 special teams snaps in his college career, had 17 special teams tackles and blocked both a punt and a field goal.
Basically, Crawford will have to compete with guys like Joey Blount and Jammie Robinson for the spot on the roster as safety depth and special teams play, which means he has a shot at being an impact player even as a rookie.
However, as he wasn't able to start at a major college program, his ceiling is probably exactly that. Every team needs players like that, but you can't get the highest grade when there isn't a real shot at being a future starter.
Grade: A-minus
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL draft grades: Arizona Cardinals praised for S Kitan Crawford
Continue reading...
Crawford played four seasons in the SEC for Texas and then transferred to Nevada for his final season, where he became a starter.
He is one of the most athletic safeties in the draft class.
What grade do the Cardinals deserve for this selection?
Arizona Cardinals draft grades: Nevada S Kitan Crawford
In the seventh round, it is hard to be upset with any pick. Seventh-round picks rarely have a major impact.
For the Cardinals, getting a safety, a position where they don't have an excess in depth, with elite athletic traits, always makes sense. It makes even more sense because late-round picks almost always have to be contributors on special teams, and Crawford has experience in spades. He logged more than 1,000 special teams snaps in his college career, had 17 special teams tackles and blocked both a punt and a field goal.
Basically, Crawford will have to compete with guys like Joey Blount and Jammie Robinson for the spot on the roster as safety depth and special teams play, which means he has a shot at being an impact player even as a rookie.
However, as he wasn't able to start at a major college program, his ceiling is probably exactly that. Every team needs players like that, but you can't get the highest grade when there isn't a real shot at being a future starter.
Grade: A-minus
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL draft grades: Arizona Cardinals praised for S Kitan Crawford
Continue reading...
