No, will Anderson was the #1 priority due to his talent. While passrusher was a priority it’s not our #1 imo. Creating an offensive line was my first priority. And it sounded like it was the #1, or at least a high, priority for many others on the board.
No. We were will Anderson or bust because we considered him the most talented player in the draft and we had a desire for a transcendent passrusher. If we weren’t going to get him I wasn’t lining up for the next passrusher. I was going CB. I’m okay with Paris bc I want to build the lines. But I’m also leery that we overdrafted him and missed out on next level corners by trading back.
That’s all true. I don’t hate this draft. I just love it. Guess we will see where a lot of these guys pan out. Biggest concern is we really don’t have anyone suited to play center effectively heading into the season. That’s both a short term and long term disaster.
This is all true and we can still end up with a keim making terrible decisions.
Oh the irony . . .
I fully disagree he is transcendent. Jared Verse coming out next year will be better because he has actual bend and is bigger. And the Cardinals should have the ammo to get him AND Marvin Harrison Jr.
Rumor is the Raiders were going to take him at seven. Like I said before the draft I did like Anderson, but when a team offers what the Texans did, it's hard to ignore what amounted to a future #7 overall pick.
FYI I've never seen a 245 lb guy with little bend end up as a transcendent pass rusher. He's much more likely to be an 8 sack per year guy than be "transcendent".
This is a big concern for many of us here
Would you have felt solid at center with a rookie? I wouldn't.
Not solid, no, but with the ability to become solid by, say, mid-season, if we took the right guy like Schmitz. Then, next year, the OL is looking a lot better as a unit.
I'm happier with Ojulari with the way the draft worked out.
You can believe he wasn’t transcendent. I’ve thought that about him watching him for two years. Obviously the Texans, and some pretty defensive coaches, thought so too.
You’ve been on this “no bend” crusade for a while, but I didn’t see that come up in write ups, nor is it reflective of what my eyes told me. Nor does demeco Ryans seem to agree with you. But you be you.
I don't disagree with your sentiment here, but I will say, it was good to see the Cardinals essentially say, "We're going to do what it takes to protect Kyler Murray."
I would have felt we had a guy who had experience at the position that was growing into the role. Next year is a loss, and kyler won’t be behind center for all of it, so what better time for a rookie to take his lumps learning if the goal is to move forward in 2024?
Agree. Just would’ve liked to see them really double down on that with a center. Even if Ojulari ends up the more talented player I would’ve loved to have seen them end up with the best center in the draft. If Schmidt ends up being a good (not even great, just good) center for a decade I think we blew it. I believe giving kyler his left tackle and center combo for a decade goes a lot farther in making us competitive than any other pick in the second round. It’s more an aggregate of how the center would combine with Paris and their collective impact on our most important piece, kyler, than the individual talent. And mind you, you won’t hear me taking that stance often (usually I’m talent over all else).
Doubtful he is good for a decade, he's already 25.
I agree, but I will say, I think it's easier to get by on bad center play than it is to get by with little pass rush. JMS is a nice prospect, but he's clearly below the top center prospects we've seen in other drafts.
You can't fix everything in one draft. So I don't think they could actually go wrong in any direction, if they stuck to their board. Which I believe they did, drafting for need is rarely a good way to draft. IMO
Stiff hips is a component but ankles and balance are just as, if not more, important to bend. That’s the only that comments in his bend it just says “not elite,” which could still mean very good. And when coupled with his other attributes (unusual strength, generational get-off and play diagnosis, nonstop motor, etc.) leaves him as an elite prospect. There’s a reason he went 3rs behind two QBs. And it’s not because Houston overdrafted him.Will Anderson Jr. NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Alabama Edge
<b>HEIGHT:</b> 6'4" <b>WEIGHT:</b> 243 <b>HAND: </b>TBD <b>ARM:</b> TBD <b>WINGSPAN:</b> TBD <b>40-YARD DASH:</b> TBD <b>3-CONE:</b> TBD <b>SHUTTLE:</b> TBD...syndication.bleacherreport.com
And read the other scouting reports where they talk about his stiff hips (stiff hips is another way of talking about lack of bend).
Not when you’re dependent upon kyler as your crown jewel.
I generally agree with this philosophy. But not here. You’re ostensibly building around kyler. We’ve seen him greatly underperform with poor center play. I think you do have to take into account specific needs when they may be central to your success.
Man I have watched probably every sack of his career and 3-4 games focused on Anderson and you rarely see a bendy play from him. He wins with speed to power and very good hand usage. He also gets a ton of sacks on stunts and games as well.
OL play isn't killed by one bad player. If the Cardinals plug Johnson at LG and he can play competently, a marginal center won't destroy the offense.
