A passion to play, love for the game ‘important factors’ on Arizona Cardinals’ draft board

TEMPE, Ariz. — Leading up to the NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals insisted they had no areas of need.

They did, though, have areas to address, and they did so with their two draft picks on Friday.

First was the pass rush specialist: 6-2, 260-pound outside linebacker Markus Golden out of Missouri. He was taken in the second round at 58th overall.

Then came a running back, one with size, in Northern Iowa’s David Johnson, who measured 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds. He arrived in the third round at No. 86 overall.

But aside from their individual skill sets and how they fit in to what the Cardinals want to do on offense and defense, it’s how their character and personality — and that includes first-round draft pick D.J. Humphries — fit with the players already on the roster.

“The one thing that stands out about these two picks is these two guys really are the epitome to me of passion, love for the game, the kind of character that we want in our locker room,” general manager Steve Keim said. “Both of them (were) team captains. Both of them (bring) tremendous intangibles. Both guys are hard workers. Both of them play at the highest level. They compete.”

Keim has often said when teams miss on a prospect, they miss more on the person than the player.

It’s why the Cardinals put a premium on drafting those individuals who have a passion and love for the game.

“It’s one of the most important factors,” said Keim, now in his third year leading the draft. “Again, all these guys on our board have a degree of ability, and what the hardest part to judge is the heart and the mind. And the thing that is so good about our football team right now is to come in and to be accepted and to fit in in that locker room; you better love it and you better have passion, or those veteran leaders are going to call you out, and they’re going to eliminate you quick.”

Those that play with a strong emotion rather than go through the motions can easily be identified, according to head coach Bruce Arians.

“You get them on the phone and they’re so excited,” he said. “They can’t wait to get here Thursday (for rookie mini-camp). They’re looking for a role. First thing they said, ‘Hey, I’ll cover kicks, Coach,’ and, ‘I return kickoffs. Don’t forget I return kickoffs.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I ain’t forget that. I know. You’ve got a pretty good resume.’ They’re very excited, so that makes it fun.”

Going into the third day of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Cardinals own six picks, including two each in the fifth and seventh rounds.

They obtained that second fifth-round selection after trading down with Baltimore in round two.

“Looks good,” said Keim, referring to their draft board. “Still a lot of guys that Coach and I like — and our scouts and our coaches like as well. (We) may go back (to the draft room) and we’ve had some conversations about going up, so we’re going to be active and aggressive. If there’s somebody that we think can help us, we’re certainly going to make a jump at them.”