PHX Reporter

The Arizona Cardinals are gearing up for the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where they will join 32 teams in evaluating approximately 330 draft-eligible players. This event is a critical component of the team's strategy to finalize their draft selections set for late April.

Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort emphasized the importance of scouting college games and reviewing game footage, stating these are "paramount" in determining draft prospects. However, he acknowledged that the combine also plays a significant role. "The finish line is near," Ossenfort remarked last week on Arizona Sports.

Currently, the Cardinals hold six draft picks, marking the fewest since Ossenfort's tenure began. The direction of these choices will be influenced by free agency activities commencing March 12, with discussions starting on March 10. This offseason marks an important phase under both Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon.

Ossenfort and Gannon are scheduled to address the media at the Combine on Tuesday amid player interviews, drills, and medical assessments. "Our evaluation of this year's draft class really began last year, the day after last year's draft," Ossenfort noted.

Last year's first-round picks included wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and defensive lineman Darius Robinson. This year, with a selection at 16th overall, attention is focused on positions such as defensive tackles and EDGE players — areas of need — along with potential offensive linemen.

In addition to video analysis and live scouting, Cardinals representatives attended various college all-star games to observe specific players in competitive settings. While drills at Indy provide insight, Ossenfort considers in-person interviews and medical testing as pivotal components: "All those things go into what we try to do."

There are reports from Indianapolis suggesting Arizona has expressed interest in hosting future Combines post-2026 when its current Indiana location may change after being held there since 1987.