Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
It looks like a pretty darned good draft when one regards it this way:
1. T Levi Brown. Instant starter at a position of highest need. He and Deuce Lutui could well develop into one of the most formidible OL right sides in the NFL.
2. NT Alan Branch. Gives the Cardinals the interior size and run plugging ability they haven't had in recent years. His addition has already motivated fellow Wolverine Gabe Watson to lose weight and work hard to be a starter...and Branch and Quentin Moses could become the right side of the DL that Lutui and Brown are on offense.
3. DE Quentin Moses. Arguably one of the best pass rushers in this draft. Gives the Cardinals edge speed and quickness and adds much needed youth to an aging pass rush. Incredible boon to get him off waivers.
4. WR Steve Breaston. Breaston should have been a first day pick, IMO. So, at least we will bump him up to the 4th round, as he becomes the pick the Cardinals would have made if they didn't have to surrender the 4th rounder to acquire Branch. He, like the previous three, fills a great need for the Cardinals as he provides the Cardinals with a homerun threat as a returner and a speedy option as a slot WR in 4 WR sets.
5. C/G Lyle Sendlein. Certainly deserving of a 5th round pick considering how well he assimilated into the offense as both a center and a guard. And he is great insurance should Nick Leckey sign elsewhere next year. This kid has the work ethic, the desire and the smarts to be around for a long time. Has really clicked with Russ Grimm. Plus he's a local boy who has now made it to the NFL.
6. TE Ben Patrick. The Cards didn't have a 6th rounder because of the Gorin trade, but hey, would anyone have balked at Patrick, whom many considered to be one of the top three TE prospects in this year's draft, being taken in the 6th round? Yes, he was injured early...but he showed some promise as the pre-season evolved. Sure glad he cleared waivers. Had the Patriots not signed TE Marcellus Rivers the day after releasing him, and still smarting over losing TE Garrett Mills to the Vikings, they may have submitted a claim on Patrick. As it turns out, it was brilliant timing to wait to release Patrick a day after the cuts because by then the Patriots--who love stockpiling TE prospects-had re-signed Rivers and had no more room on their roster to claim another TE. Believe me..Ben Patrick would be a Patriot right now if the Cards had cut him Friday with all the others.
7. Take your pick of WR Matt Trannon, LB David Holloway, CB Michael Adams, RB Steve Baylark. All 4 of these guys were draft worthy and all of them have a chance to rise up through the system. Trannon is an exceptional blocker and a clutch receiver...can he be strengthened into a TE? Holloway had arguably the best single play of any Cardinal defender this pre-season. He needs to strengthen up too, but is a fine athlete. Adams is a feisty, competitive player...who may be the answer at nickel back down the road. And Baylark fits Whiz's system as a tough hit the hole hard runner who does not go down on first contact.
It's amazing how much a crap shoot the draft has become, because now more than ever undrafted college free agents are making rosters and practice squads nearly as much as draft picks.
I say kudos to the Cardinals on this draft. The early returns have been splendid.
1. T Levi Brown. Instant starter at a position of highest need. He and Deuce Lutui could well develop into one of the most formidible OL right sides in the NFL.
2. NT Alan Branch. Gives the Cardinals the interior size and run plugging ability they haven't had in recent years. His addition has already motivated fellow Wolverine Gabe Watson to lose weight and work hard to be a starter...and Branch and Quentin Moses could become the right side of the DL that Lutui and Brown are on offense.
3. DE Quentin Moses. Arguably one of the best pass rushers in this draft. Gives the Cardinals edge speed and quickness and adds much needed youth to an aging pass rush. Incredible boon to get him off waivers.
4. WR Steve Breaston. Breaston should have been a first day pick, IMO. So, at least we will bump him up to the 4th round, as he becomes the pick the Cardinals would have made if they didn't have to surrender the 4th rounder to acquire Branch. He, like the previous three, fills a great need for the Cardinals as he provides the Cardinals with a homerun threat as a returner and a speedy option as a slot WR in 4 WR sets.
5. C/G Lyle Sendlein. Certainly deserving of a 5th round pick considering how well he assimilated into the offense as both a center and a guard. And he is great insurance should Nick Leckey sign elsewhere next year. This kid has the work ethic, the desire and the smarts to be around for a long time. Has really clicked with Russ Grimm. Plus he's a local boy who has now made it to the NFL.
6. TE Ben Patrick. The Cards didn't have a 6th rounder because of the Gorin trade, but hey, would anyone have balked at Patrick, whom many considered to be one of the top three TE prospects in this year's draft, being taken in the 6th round? Yes, he was injured early...but he showed some promise as the pre-season evolved. Sure glad he cleared waivers. Had the Patriots not signed TE Marcellus Rivers the day after releasing him, and still smarting over losing TE Garrett Mills to the Vikings, they may have submitted a claim on Patrick. As it turns out, it was brilliant timing to wait to release Patrick a day after the cuts because by then the Patriots--who love stockpiling TE prospects-had re-signed Rivers and had no more room on their roster to claim another TE. Believe me..Ben Patrick would be a Patriot right now if the Cards had cut him Friday with all the others.
7. Take your pick of WR Matt Trannon, LB David Holloway, CB Michael Adams, RB Steve Baylark. All 4 of these guys were draft worthy and all of them have a chance to rise up through the system. Trannon is an exceptional blocker and a clutch receiver...can he be strengthened into a TE? Holloway had arguably the best single play of any Cardinal defender this pre-season. He needs to strengthen up too, but is a fine athlete. Adams is a feisty, competitive player...who may be the answer at nickel back down the road. And Baylark fits Whiz's system as a tough hit the hole hard runner who does not go down on first contact.
It's amazing how much a crap shoot the draft has become, because now more than ever undrafted college free agents are making rosters and practice squads nearly as much as draft picks.
I say kudos to the Cardinals on this draft. The early returns have been splendid.
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