You should be as they have more defined pieces than the front which is completely revamped. You know what you are getting out of SMB, STV, G Will, Budda and Jalen. You hope to see a year 2 leap from Melton and DTD. Will Johnson was a 2nd rounder and E Jones was a 3rd who may or may not contribute but were top 100 talents.
The D front is a lot of unknowns. Stills is a good rotational player and Collins is good vs the run. I think you can count on CC and Dalvin to bring a vet steadiness and consistency to the group. Sweat should be a 10-12 sack guy. You might be able to make a case for more but I will just say he is an above average edge player but not a dominant one. Jones and Nichols are unknowns because of meh play last year and injuries. Robinson and Ojulari and Nolen and Burch are also unknowns. I have a bit more hope for Robinson and Nolen (personally) to be at least average contributors but it's an "i know better" than actual proof. Who knows with Burch and Ojulari. I liked the Burch pick but immediate contributions from 3rd rounders is the exception vs the rule IMO. Best argument for this group is the number of potentially league average or better players that the Cardinals can rotate and throw at opposing offenses could wear them out.
I am admittedly bullish on both. I like to volume of players and I like the mix of youth talent and vet consistency. I also feel like Rallis has seemed to max what talent he has had so I am curious to see what he can do with more vs less.
my shining light on Burch is that Maxx Crosby was a 4th rounder,...and even being 25 pounds heavier, Burch has nearly an identical athletic profile to Crosby but with longer arms....combined with the observation that most of Burch's college production seemed to stem from motor and strength without a lot of technique.... so if he is coachable he "should" turn into a pretty productive player...Probably not a Maxx...but if he can develop into a solid 8-9 sack rotation guy its a pretty successful pick.
learning to use his quickness with double moves should benefit him greatly...and should not take years to see results from.
gotta say I was not thrilled with our 2nd or 3rd round picks when we made them...but they have both grown on me since draft day.
while I see Burch as primarily a big OLB his size gives him the flexibility to move all along the defensive front...when Rallis likes to use that 4 man line for passing situations...Sweat, Tomlinson, Burch, Robinson...could be a lineup that brings a lot of heat quickly
