Early Cardinals 2021 NFL draft profile: EDGE Chris Rumph II
We are entering week three of the NFL season and the Arizona Cardinals have made a strong start with a lot of momentum, despite a loss to the Detroit Lions. The offense is living up to every bit of the hype thus far. The defense has shown plenty of promise, especially their linebacker core, which made an immense improvement from last season.
As every game passes, that means we are one week closer to the 2021 NFL Draft. The Cardinals addressed their run defense in this year’s draft by selecting former Utah defensive tackle Leki Fotu in the fourth round. Now, this upcoming draft would be the perfect opportunity for them to address the pass rush early. One player that would be a nice boost to the Cardinals’ edge rushing core is Duke standout Chris Rumph II.
Chris Rumph II has really put himself on the map his past two seasons as a Blue Devil. Last season, he had 47 total tackles and 6.5 sacks. Through the first two weeks, Rumph already has 12 total tackles and a sack. He stands 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds and plays with a lot of power off the ball. Rumph is a versatile talent that can win anywhere on the defensive line. This is a player that even though he is undersized for an edge rusher, you don’t want to mess with him. He will come out of nowhere on blitzes and make you think twice. Rumph also possesses a tremendous amount of speed. Not only is he explosive off the ball, but Rumph also plays violent with his hands. He is a player that has potential first-round talent written all over him. Especially if Rumph keeps his momentum going and has a breakout season, look for him to soar his way up the draft boards come April.
As impressive as Rumph is with his hands, he still needs to polish up his technique. There are plenty of times where he will try to win with spin moves rather than his technique and athleticism. As dynamic and aggressive as he plays, he should not have too much of a problem improving in this area. Rumph is also only 6-foot-3, which is not the average size of your typical NFL edge rusher. When it comes to the edge rusher position, size matters quite a bit. However, there have been players in the NFL that have excelled with their size, such as former Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil (5-foot-11) and even James Harrison (6-foot-0), both who went on to win multiple Pro Bowls and even an All-Pro from Harrison. Even in this year’s draft, former Wisconsin Badger edge rusher Zach Baun has elite speed that can make coaches and analysts overlook the case of him being undersized. As for Rumph, he has the talent to also win games with his power and versatility. To summarize, having elite size at the edge rusher position matters, but you can also have all the tangibles to be great if you do not possess that. Overall, Chris Rumph II certainly has room to grow, and his size does pose a level of concern. However, he is more than talented to make people overlook that case.
Chris Rumph II would be an instant playmaker for the Arizona Cardinals’ pass rush. He has some skills to work on, and what better player to learn from than one of the best at his position in Chandler Jones. Rumph is undersized, but with the tape and season he has this year, he could soar his way up the draft boards quickly.
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