PHX Reporter

As the draft approaches, discussions intensify around the team visits made by potential draftees in the leadup to the event. Interestingly, the Rams and Jaguars have opted not to fully utilize these meetings. These 30 visits are intended for closer evaluation of certain players and do not represent rankings or assessments of the players’ abilities. For instance, running back Tim Hightower, a fourth-round pick for the Cardinals, had such a visit.

General Manager Monti Ossenfort clarified the intentions behind these visits: "It's really players that for whatever reason we want to get more exposure to," he said, explaining that these could be players who were absent from all-star games or had limited contact at the combine. "There could be something that (head athletic trainer) Drew (Krueger) in the training room wanted to see somebody a little bit more on. Maybe it's just as simple as it's a guy that we want to get a little bit of a better feel for the person," Ossenfort added, underscoring the importance of the comprehensive interaction that these visits allow.

In proximity-based visits, like that with Cam Skattebo, as long as transportation is not provided, these meetings do not count toward the 30-visits limit, provided the college is within 50 miles of the facility. These visits offer an opportunity to evaluate local talents, such as Sun Devils, without occupying one of the 30 spots.

Ossenfort also noted that some reported visits did not actually occur. He refrains from providing specifics about players who visited. This aligns with the strategy of maintaining discretion until the draft, as player awareness of team interest can be pivotal. Ossenfort summed up the objective of these visits: "That's our goal by the end of the day, so if we move forward and end up picking that player, we feel good about what the person is when they walk in our building."

The interaction between draftees and teams before the draft remains a nuanced process, affecting selections based on comprehensive assessments of potential contributions to team dynamics.

Jeremy Chen/Arizona Cardinals