The Arizona Cardinals announced the hiring of general manager Monty Osenfort on Monday, just eight days after Steve Keim’s decade at the helm.
Ossenfort brings years of scouting and drafting experience with 21 years in the NFL.
Let’s get to know the new GM.
New England career
The 44-year-old played 15 of his 21 seasons with the New England Patriots. During his 15 seasons, Osenfort served as director of college scouting (2014-19), assistant director of college scouting (2011-13), national scout (2008-10), area scout (2006-07) and assistant staff member (2003). : )
The new Cardinals GM spent two seasons with the Houston Texans as a pro and college scouting assistant before returning to the Patriots.
Osenfort rose through the ranks with New England before heading to the Tennessee Titans in 2020 as director of player personnel, a position he held for three seasons.
Patriots draft pick history
Osenfort has played a role in helping draft players such as QBs Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett and Jarrett Stidham (all who started games in the NFL this season), RBs Sony Michel and Damien Harris, offensive linemen Joe Tunney, Isaiah Wynn, Shaq Mason, Ted. Karras, Cameron Fleming and former Arizona State standout WR N’Keal Harry.
The offensive linemen listed all started for an NFL team last season.
He was also the assistant director of college scouting in 2012, when the team selected pass rusher Chandler Jones in the first round.
No. 3 would be Osenforth’s highest pick for a team in his 21 years in the NFL.
Ability to trade back
The former member of the Patriot front office has been part of the franchise’s ability to trade back in the draft and get more in the later rounds, positions where New England particularly hits on offensive line prospects.
The Patriots have a history of trading up in the past, most recently sending the No. 21 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to NESN, New England made 46 current trades in 2010-21, almost all of them while Osenforth was with the team.
This includes a 29x trade, 16x growth, and three times trade for players.
Trade by stages.
1st round. 7:00
2nd round. 13:00
3rd round. 11:00
4th round. 3:
5th round. 7:00
6th round. 4:
7th round. 3:
Arizona is in an interesting position with the No. 3 pick in 2023. It could select the best non-quarterback on the board, or it could be in position to trade assets with a team like Ohio State’s CJ Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce. Young.
Contact Brian Flores
With the Patriots, Osenfort served with Brian Flores, who was an assistant in New England from 2004-18.
Flores, now a senior defensive assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is one of the coaches the Cardinals have already requested an interview with.
Flores spent the first four seasons in New England as an assistant scout and pro scout while Osenfort was an area scout.
The two served on the Patriots staff for a combined 13 years and served at the Career Development Symposium as New England representatives in 2018.
History of the Titans
Osenforth was hired after the 2020 NFL Draft and was part of the team that landed first-rounders Traylon Burks and Caleb Farley.
The Titans’ biggest front office decisions under Osenforth came when the team traded a second and fourth-round pick in 2021 to the Atlanta Falcons for Julio Jones.
Additionally, the Titans traded the No. 18 and No. 101 overall picks in the 2022 draft to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jones had 434 receiving yards in one season before leaving for Tampa Bay, while Brown was a star in Philadelphia, catching 88 balls for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Seven of Tennessee’s eight picks in the 2021 NFL Draft played for the Titans in 2022. Arizona had four players (Zaven Collins, Rondale Moore, Marco Wilson and Victor Dimukeje) play in 2022-2021.
Osenforth and the front office not only had success in 2021, but also in 2022.
The team found three starters who played in 15 or more games as rookies.
CB Roger McCrea was taken No. 35 overall in the 2nd round and started all 17 games. He was taken after Farley struggled to stay healthy and on the field.
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo was taken No. 143 overall in the fourth round and earned a starting position at the end of the year. The rookie led all first-year TEs in receiving yards (450) and made the PFF All-Rookie Team.
T Nicholas Petit-Frere was taken 69th overall in the 3rd round and started 16 games.
Burks played in 11 games and had an injury-riddled rookie campaign.
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