The Arizona Cardinals used their sixth-round pick to select California linebacker Evan Weaver. He was one of the most productive defensive players in the country last year and was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

General manager Steve Keim was impressed by his confidence and intensity when he spoke with him.

The rookie linebacker has the mentality you want to see in a linebacker. Two things motivate him winning and hitting people.

I think winning and hitting people as hard as you possibly can and really taking the soul out of people, he said after being drafted after being asked what he loves about football. Once you get to the third, fourth quarter, they dont want to play anymore because they just dont want to hang with you. And just wanting to do it and the will to have to beat somebody up for a whole four quarters and just keep it going through a 12-game season, but now 16. Just having the will and want to win.

Weaver should be an intense special teams contributor as a rookie.

The competition between him and special teams Pro Bowl alternate Dennis Gardeck should be fun to watch.

Fans like it when their team wins. They like to see hitting from their teams defensive players. If Weaver plays the way he talks, he should very quickly become a fan favorite.

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New Cardinals LB Evan Weaver motivated by winning, hitting - Cards Wire