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Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Arizona Cardinals, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.
Outside Linebacker: As the Cardinals continue to run a hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense, the outside linebacker position becomes more and more vital. They had a decent pass rush last season, but will need to upgrade in order to make up for their free agency losses, and to help protect their struggling secondary. After losing Calvin Pace and Darryl Blackstock to free agency, the Cardinals are very thin at outside linebacker. Karlos Dansby is really the only reliable playmaker of the group. He will likely make a permanent switch to defensive end, rather than standing up when they move to the 3-4.
They were interested in signing free agent Brandon Chillar to compete on the strong side with Chike Okeafor, who finished last year on injured reserve, but the Larry Fitzgerald contract situation prevented them from doing that.
The Cardinals may address another need like running back or cornerback with their first pick, but their offense was much better than their defense last season, and this is the most glaring need on defense. Either Florida’s Derrick Harvey or Miami’s Calais Campbell should be here at this spot, and either would likely be an opening-day starter for the Cardinals.
Cornerback: Roderick Hood is one of the most overlooked corners in the league; opponents only averaged 4.3 yards per pass against him last season. On the other side, Antrel Rolle will make the switch to free safety. Although he has been a disappointment at corner, he should be a much better safety, and that will give the Cardinals one of the best safety tandems in the league. That leaves the Cardinals with Eric Green starting across from Hood, and that isn’t good for anyone (except opposing quarterbacks). It would be best for the Cardinals to move Green to nickel and bring in a game-ready starter on the first day of the draft.
Cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Mike Jenkins (in whom the Cardinals have shown a great deal of interest) will have to be carefully considered at the sixteenth spot. If they decide to go another direction with this pick, their second-round selection will almost assuredly be used on a corner. A good player like Tyvon Branch of Connecticut (who can also play safety if the Rolle experiment doesn’t work out) or Patrick Lee of Auburn should be available here.
Running Back: Although the Cardinals’ passing attack forces defenses to keep only seven in the box on most downs, their running backs have not been able to take advantage of the mismatch. Two years after signing a blockbuster deal to leave Indy, Edgerrin James looks like a shadow of himself, averaging less than four yards per carry in both of his seasons in Arizona, he will be 30 in the fall along with backup Marcel Shipp, who hasn’t had a good season since 2002. Former second-rounder J.J. Arrington has been a bust so far and certainly doesn’t seem ready to be an every-down back.
Although this isn’t their top need, if Rashard Mendenhall is on the board he’ll be a tough pick for the Cards to pass up at No. 16. This is a deep draft for running backs, however, and a speedy guy like Chris Johnson of East Carolina could be a good fit in the next two rounds.
Wide receiver: This is certainly the position where the Cardinals have the most talent, but it is no longer their deepest position. Losing free agent Bryant Johnson (who had been their number three receiver) to the 49ers will hurt a lot more than most will realize. His talent forced teams to use single coverage on either Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin; now, both can be doubled. Fifth-rounder Steve Breaston was a pleasant surprise last season as a return man and also a fourth wide receiver. The real question is whether the Cardinals will have the cap room to afford to keep both Boldin and Fitz for the majority of their careers, and the likely answer is “hell, no.” As such, they will need to bring in a guy other than Breaston who can compete for the third wide receiver position and eventually take over the spot of one of the two stars (most likely Boldin). Malcom Kelly has reminded a lot of scouts of Anquan Boldin and could be their second-round pick if he
continues to slide down draft boards.
Offensive line: The Cardinals found their right tackle of the future – which is their more important tackle position because Matt Leinart is a lefty – spending the fifth overall pick last year on Levi Brown. Their offensive line is set across the board at starter, but depth is a real issue here. Behind their two offensive tackles, the Cards don’t have a capable backup. Offensive line coach Russ Grimm can make even a late-round pick a starter in a few years, so using a late-round pick on a powerful offensive linemen who can play guard or tackle would be a good investment for the future. The Cardinals like big offensive linemen; Andrew Crummey (Maryland) or Robert Felton (Arkansas) could be good fits.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Hmm, that’s odd. I had commented last night, and it was posted around midnight.
Anyhow, Karlos Dansby as a 3-4 end? He’s around 250-260. He’s not a 3-4 end. Calais Campbell as a 3-4 OLB? He’s around 290 and slow footed. Even if you assume he loses weight and gains agility, it’s hard to imagine him gaining enough to justify a 3-4 OLB move.
Their top needs are CB and RB. One of their first two picks should be on corner. Hood’s underrated, but other than Hood, it’s a lot of questions, particularly with Rolle at FS. RB is more a need because Edge’s contract is up there and they need more juice in the run game. Chris Johnson doesn’t make much sense, as they need a potential everydown, between the tackles type as they can utilize JJ Arrington as a change of pace. That’s what makes Stewart and Mendenhall so enticing. Big backs can be found. Big backs with long speed are harder to find. A guy like a Tashard Choice could be an option in the 3rd. Matt Forte could get a look in the 2nd. I imagine within the first three rounds they’ll add a RB.
I think OL, and in particularly, OT, needs a look. Certainly, said player may not challenge now, but they have Mike Gandy at LT right now, and that is definitely upgradeable. If they look in that 3rd round area, a guy like Carl Nicks could be there if they take a character gamble. A Brandon Keith in the 4th is a thought. Same with Tony Hills. Breno Giacomini in the 4th/5th makes some sense with his nasty streak. Guys like Franklin Dunbar could get a look later.
I think OLB is definitely an area of concern, but not early. They signed Clark Haggans amd Travis LaBoy to buy them time. LaBoy might be better off as a 3-4 OLB. They still have Dansby, Berry, Okeafor as of now. A guy like Robertson in the 3rd, or maybe a Gatewood in the 5th area might be enough. Actually, ILB may be a focus. They have Hayes inside, and while Dansby is versatile enough to move in and out, another body inside might do some good. A Jon Goff in the 3rd/4th or a Phillip Wheeler in that 4th area might make sense. They could perhaps look for a weakside guy as well when they are in 4-3 front, but it’s not as big a push.
DL could get a look. Watson hurt himself, Branch is still a bit of an unknown, Bryan Robinson is a bench guy, Antonio Smith is decent but upgradeable. Dockett is quality, but another body, whether it’s a 3-4 end type that can slide in on 4-3 looks, say, a Letroy Guion or Nick Hayden, or a 3-4 NT type.
WR deph is an area of concern, although I think that’s probably for later. In a draft where WR depth exists, they might be better waiting. A Keenan Burton could get a look in the 4th/5th area. They will be run first, so it’s hard to see a WR pick early when their starters are set for this year.
The last area that might get some attention is TE. They’ve added raw talent in recent years in Leonard Pope and Ben Patrick, who slipped, and they have Troy Bienemann on the roster. None of the three standout, and considering Whisenhunt’s background, if there’s value, they might look. This is a relatively deep TE draft despite the questions at the top, so a guy like a Tom Santi could be a justifiable look in, say, the 6th or later area.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:18 am
The comment was apparently written by the only Cardinals fan. Too much knowledge to be fair weather. I knew there was one out there!!
Just kidding, I know a guy in Philly with an AZ Cardinals tattoo…even in Philly he gets respect because…damn. If you’re gonna tattoo the Cards on your arm, you’re die-hard.
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