Arizona Cardinals rookie safety Marqui Christian has high expectations for himself. Drafted in the fifth round, he is listed at 5-11, 196 pounds. He is built basically like teammate D.J. Swearinger, but a few pounds lighter.

But it isn’t Swearinger whose game Christian compares his own to. He compares himself to teammate and superstar Tyrann Mathieu.

“I’d probably have to say Ty, just with the versatility,” he told me in a recent interview when I asked who he compares himself to on his team. “Him being able to play high, being able to play in the box, I’ve got the same skillset and versatility, so I compare my game most to Ty.

“And who wouldn’t want to compare their game to a baller like that?”

Versatility was one of the reasons why the team was very interested in him. The team met with him on three separate occasions leading up to the draft. They met with him at the NFLPA Bowl, at his Pro Day and he came out for an official visit with the team.

However, thus far he is not being asked to play multiple roles on defense. While Mathieu lines up at safety, in the slot and sometimes in the box, Christian so far is on almost all special teams unit and has played only free safety on defense.

“I’m playing a lot of deep middle, a lot basically in pass coverage, so I haven’t really had a chance to be in the box yet,” he explained. “I feel like they want me to use my range and closing speed on the back end to make plays in the passing game and things like that.”

He is getting help from his teammates. In fact, the man he compares himself to is the guy who helps him the most.

“When I’m off the field not getting reps, (Coach Rapone) tells me, ‘go stand next to Ty, soak up as much as you can,'” Christian said. “His football IQ is out the roof, so I try to pick his brain as much as I can when I’m not getting reps myself.”

Christian compares himself to Mathieu. He gets a lot of help from Mathieu. He is a little bigger and a little faster than Mathieu. You can’t help but get excited about Christian for the years to come.