11 days before the draft - some musings

[BuckeyeCardinal]

1. It may already be too late for San Diego to trade down unless someone is secretly negotiating with Eli Manning's people in violation of the rules. Only San Diego is allowed to negotiate a deal right now. If the Chargers trade the pick, the new owner of the #1 draft slot can then start negotiating with players.

11 days is a very short period in which to come to an agreement. My guess is San Diego must start negotiating soon with Eli and Ben, if it hasn't already.

2. The Cardinals may have been playing 'possum and really do want to trade down but I don't buy it. I think they stay put and take Larry FitzGerald.

3. There will likely be some trades but I see them occurring after Pitt's selection of Phillip Rivers at #13. After that, extra 2nd and 3rd round picks will start looking better and better to many teams, including the Cardinals.

4. For Cards fans, sitting at the #3 slot, this has been the most fascinating pre-draft period in years. None of us really knows for sure what Denny and Rod will do. Denny has been a masterful manure spreader. I just hope he's got some budding stars germinating under that blanket of crap.

5. Watch carefully who we bring in over the next few days for private evaluation. It may mean absolutely nothing. Oh lordy, I love this stuff.

6. More and more, I see LB becoming a higher priority for us than CB. It all depends on Denny's opinion of Starks' health. Fisher's career is in doubt, Thompson is hurt again, and I don't know if the free agents we brought in can play.

7. These last 11 days will just drag.

(1) It's not 11 Skorpp...but it feels like 11. San Diego has probably already started negotiating with Eli.

(2) Fitz....which is OK (but so would that guy with the Limey moniker).

(3) Trade down like last year? Uhhhhhh...no.

(4) Exasperating for sure...but aren't they all. The Cards always trick us.

(5) I can see maybe a second round eval or 2. A first ten guy (other than Fitz) will really deepen the manure.

(6) The lber group in this draft may be deeper than the CB bunch. Therefore we may go with lber in round 2 and CB in round 3. I don't think 2 is too high for Teddy Lehman and I don't think 3 is too high for Batman Carroll.

(7) Maybe not.....after next weekend it should fly. Things may heat even before then thanks to San Diego and any trades that may be reached before the draft.