The Arizona Cardinals need young depth at inside linebacker after relying heavily on veteran Gerald Hayes and Paris Lenon in recent years.
Sixth-round choice Quan Sturdivant could fill the void.
"Instinctive, tough, productive," draft analyst Rob Rang said. "He'll make that roster and I could see him being a starter for that team some day. He is a more reliable player than (North Carolina teammate) Bruce Carter, who was taken in the second round."
Pro Football Weekly's draft guide projected Sturdivant as a third- or fourth-round pick. Rang, who analyzes prospects for NFL Draft Scout and CBSSports.com, suspected Sturdivant went later in part because there's nothing flashy about him.
The Cardinals used a second-round choice last season for Daryl Washington, another inside linebacker. Washington, like Sturdivant, projected more as a 4-3 linebacker in some of the reports I've read. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. has said he thought Washington fit a 4-3 better, but had the ability to succeed in the Cardinals' 3-4 system as well.