Updated APR 27, 2015 6:24p ET  TEMPE, Ariz. -- No team selected a running back in the first round of the NFL Drafts the last two years. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians thinks that's more a product of circumstance than a shifting philosophy.  "If one stands out -- and there are some that stand out in this (year's) group -- that warrants being the No. 1 pick; who's a three-down player and is not going to come off the field unless he gets tired, then you'll see them come back up," Arians said. "I just don't think they've been there for the last few years."  The Cardinals need a running back. The suspension of Jonathan Dwyer impacted the team in short-yardage and between-the-tackles situations last season.  "We obviously missed Jonathan; that was a big hit to us," Arians said. "Jonathan's not just a big back, he's a fast back. His run in New York, when we bounced it outside and went 50 yards, is typical Jon. We're looking to hopefully find that: not just a big back, but a fast back."  How and when the Cardinals will find that back is the question. Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon are the consensus top two backs in this year's draft. Gurley has similar size (6-1, 222), but Gordon (6-1, 215) fits the power-back mold the Cardinals missed last season.  "When you see the jersey No. 25 and you see the dreads and you see the feet and the lateral cut ability, it certainly brings (Kansas City running back) Jamaal Charles to mind," GM Steve Keim said of Gordon. "He's a dynamic runner.  "You look at him and Todd Gurley, who a lot of people talk about as the top two backs; it's pick your poison. It's two different styles. One's more of a straight-line banger and uses his size and physicality, and the other guy is a little more of a dynamic perimeter runner."  One potential problem is many analysts believe Gordon and Gurley will be off the board before the Cardinals select at No. 24. If that happens, the Cardinals may wait until a later round to select a running back, filling a different need in the first round. Arians believes there will be ample opportunities.  "I think this might be the best group, top to bottom, that I've seen in about 10 years," he said. "There are 15 really quality running backs in this draft. You could probably get down to round 4 and 5."  At least publicly, the Cardinals still believe that Andre Ellington is an every-down back and Arians doesn't expect Ellington's touches to decrease, but if the Cardinals can keep those touches to the in-space variety, that might help keep Ellington healthy and fresh.  Ellington had foot, hip and core injuries last season that limited him to 12 games and prevented him from practicing full weeks, thereby costing him some prep time with the game plans. Ellington, who had a combined 1,055 rushing and receiving yards, underwent season-ending sports hernia surgery after the team's Dec. 7 win over the Chiefs.  "It was just freaky, freaky injuries but he still got his touches," Arians said. "What really set him back is he couldn't evolve as the pass receiver because he couldn't get the reps.  "In games, he'd make a questionable decision when he had a two-way go and the quarterbacks' back there holding the ball; hit him on the back hip. I can think of three chances we had in Seattle for big plays and we weren't on the same page because he couldn't practice it and the quarterback couldn't see him practice it. It was just gut it up for the game."  If Ellington stays healthy, perhaps the Cardinals could live with a later-round selection that becomes more of a role player. But if they land a premier back like Gordon or Gurley, it calls into question Ellington's role unless the Cardinals shift their offensive philosophy.  It's hard to envision a Bruce Arians offense that isn't predicated on the pass, but the team did beef up its offensive line by adding run mauler Mike Iupati to man the left guard spot next to Jared Veldheer.  "That's two truckloads coming down there on a double team. They should be dominant and they do take a lot of pride in it," Arians said. "I've only been left handed running one time in my career and that was in Indy a couple years ago.  "I don't mind running left and I don't mind we'll tell ya we're coming over there. 'Stop it.' So that'll be my challenge to those two guys: Come up to the line and tell them we're running right here. Stop us. That's the attitude we want to have."  That is clearly a price the Cardinals would not be willing to pay, but it could also be posturing on the Vikings' part. On the flip side, Yahoo Sports Charles Robinson reported the Vikings do not view the Cardinals' late second-round pick (55) as adequate compensation for Peterson.  A trade for Peterson would clearly alter the Cardinals' approach on draft day, but according to Robinson, if Peterson isn't traded by Saturday, he will remain a Viking.  For their part, the Cardinals can't engage in any public conversations regarding Peterson.  "You trying to get me fired?" Arians joked at the recent NFL owners meetings when asked about Peterson. "That's tampering, dude. I can't talk about another player. I ain't saying jack about Adrian Peterson. I'd get fined for that."  Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians believes this is the deepest running back draft class in 10 years, but Adrian Peterson's uncertain future muddles Arizona's draft-day plans at this position.