Bach's mock and draft speculation

[BACH]

The way I see it this team have four need positions (DE, WR, DT & CB in that order) in this draft and have to find two starters in the first & second rounds and two quality back-up/eventual starters in the 3rd and 4th at these four positions. I don't want the team to draft a QB at all!! Graves has stated that this team is not going for a QB in the first, so if one is drafted it's going to be a developmental project QB in the later rounds. But, I don't want a developmental QB, we already got McCown and Parson. If this team wants a QB they should draft a franchise-type at #6 or none at all IMO.

I'm not an expect, I can't follow college games overhere and I don't know who on the current roster has the biggest upside.I leave the judgement to the coaches, since they know better than me: 1. If Dennis Johnson/Marcus Bell has starting potential. 2. If Rhinehart/Hill is good enough to play nickel-back in the league. 3. If our current WR corps is good enough to work in the new system.

The team have four major needs, but it's hard for me to determine what's the biggest need?
DE looks like it, but Johnson was considered a steal last year, so could he start?
I'm not thrilled with the combination of Tanner/Davis/Bell, but the team re-signed both Tanner and Davis and are very high on Bell, so just how big is the need at DT?
Barrett is a solid starter in the NFL, but where's the depth? Is Rhinehart and Hill good enough to start in case of an injury to Barrett/Starks? Is the best move to draft a starter at #6 and move Barrett to nickel-back?
The WRs?? A lot of potential, a lot of questions, but few answers... Receivers take some time adjusting to the NFL, so how bad do the want more development WRs, when they have McAddley, Gilmore etc. What's their plans regarding Robinson and/or Muhammed??

I basicly don't care if they draft e.*. Suggs or Newman at #6 as long as they take the best player available at the four need positions in the first four rounds. JUST DON'T REACH!! I'm for Suggs, but I'm trying to approach this rational. Dennis Johnson should develop into a starter, so why take Suggs. The draft is very deep at DT, so why "waste" the #6 pick on a DT. So, this is my rational mock where the Cards' get the most value:

1. CB - Marcus Trufant, Wash. ST. - Newman is gone at #6, so the Cards' take the 2nd best in a weak CB class and find a starting CB and a punt returner.

2. WR - Bryant Johnson, Penn st. - Gilmore and McAddley could develop into #1 WRs, Robinson and Muhammed are #1 type WRs, so the team needs #2 type WRs. Johnson is the best.

3. DT - Ian Scott, Florida - The draft is deep at DT, so good value will fall to #70. The Cards need a two-gap DT and Scott fills that role.

4. DE/OLB - Peeks/Banta-Cain, Cin/Cal - Coaches decided that Johnson is good enough to start when they passed on Suggs, but the team needs more speed of the edge. Peeks/Banta-Cain will see action as situational pass-rushers at first, but could develop into OLBs in the Colvin mold.

5. CB - Donald Strickland, Colorado - More depth at CB is needed. Strickland is undersized but has the tools. A back-up and eventual nickel corner.

6. OLB - Chaun Thompson, West Texas A&M - The Cards have deep group of small and fast LBs. Thompson is raw, but is fast and has more bulk than any of the current OLBs.

6. C - Wayne Lucier, Colorado - Not starting material yet, but another year or two on the practice squad, who knows.

7. OT - Seth Wand, Northwest Missouri - Has good size and abillity, but is raw. A project that could become a solid back-up.

Bottom Line:
I-ve based my selections on the teams' needs, the potential on players currently on the roster and availabillity of FAs. I don't take Suggs/Robertson/Kennedy in the first because Marcus Bell and Dennis Johnson both has the potential to become starters. I chose a CB, because it's the hardest position to upgrade in free-agency (Look at the size of Dre Bly's contact!!!). I only draft one WR, because of 1. Gilmore, McAddley and Kasper's potential. 2. There are still WR left in Free Agency and more will be there after June 1st (Muhammed, JJ. Stokes etc.)

 

[spanky]

Very rational.......some observations.....I am a fan of Peek and have stated many times already that he could be an OLB in a heartbeat. He WILL NOT last until the 4th RD. Some project him as a 2nd RD. pick( see Walter's Mock Draft, with trades of yesterday). There is an OUTSIDE chance he's still on the board by RD.3 when we pickat #70. I also like Banta-Cain as a prospect DE.He should be available when we pick in the 4th RD. I know that every draft publication has Chaun Thompson available in the 6th RD. He's rising very quickly (some see him as a Brian Urlacher type). It should be assumed that he'll go in the 3rd RD. My draft is shaping up as follows:

RD 1: Leftwich-QB- (I'm being converted slowly)
RD.2: McMullen-WR-(would love Washington)
RD3: Peek-DE/OLB-(might be a "steel" here)
RD 4:Asomugha-CB-(suspect he won't be available here,but hope)
RD5:Thompson-OLB-(see above)
RD 6A):Nelson-C-
6B: Leonard-D
RD. 7: PICK EM

 

[RedStorm]

Originally posted by BACH

The way I see it this team have four need positions (DE, WR, DT & CB in that order) ....

I agree with you but I would flip the WR and DT spots to be DE, DT,WR, CB with DT and DE being interchangeable.
My reason is that we already have some offensive weapons. Two good RBs, OL, and an upgraded QB. Our WRs are average and we still have a shot at Mr. Robinson. However, we have NO pass rush at all. None what so ever. That is our greatest need.

Now, I am all for drafting Suggs but part of me wonders if it might be better to go with a DT that can penetrate the line and to get a decent DE in the 2nd (Peek, Redding??). Add in the mix a healthy Levar Fisher and Thompson then we just might have a pass rush this year.

Good thing that the DL is the deepest in the draft. However, that fact also scares me. The Cards just might opt on going WR or CB with their 1st pick because they think they can still get quality for the DL later on.

 

[RedStorm]

2. WR - Bryant Johnson, Penn st. - Gilmore and McAddley could develop into #1 WRs, Robinson and Muhammed are #1 type WRs, so the team needs #2 type WRs. Johnson is the best.

I think Kasper can be a very good #2. He should alot last year. Showed he had good hands, not afraid to go over the middle. Very fast. He can get up the seam. He can also return punts and KO.

Also, my thoughts are that I think the Cards feel that our secondary is decent and can be very good if we have presure on the QB.

 

[Pariah]

The more I read about Banta-Cain, the more I like him, particularly if we don't get a solid DE in the first 2 rounds--he could be a nice fall-back position for us.

 

[JeffGollin]

Barrett is a solid starter in the NFL, but where's the depth?
I realize part of our problems in pass coverage last year were do the anemic pass rush, but I still feel our CB's are not as dependible as they need to be.

Starks - when healthy - still had a subpar year. Barrett had some OK games but - compared to corners on the teams we played - always seemed to be a step late getting to the receiver.

I view Barrett as a potentially excellent nickel back and only a potentially decent CB.

We need someone besides Starks at CB who's like money in the bank.

Having said all that, I came into the draft leaning strongly Newman because we needed a CB. But Suggs' play knocked my socks off and I feel we'd be insane to pass him by.

But after that, I feel CB is our next priority.

Regarding WR's and who we pick in the 2nd & 3rd round, I think that will depend on the Robinson situation. Robinson would take care of our short term need for a guy similar to Boston. We'd still need a return guy, though and we might want to zero in on someone like Kevin Curtis if our big WR need was addressed. Otherwise, the B Johnsons, Callicos and Bethel Johnsons of the world take on a higher priority in rounds 2 - 4.

 

[BACH]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
We need someone besides Starks at CB who's like money in the bank.

Having said all that, I came into the draft leaning strongly Newman because we needed a CB. But Suggs' play knocked my socks off and I feel we'd be insane to pass him by.
But after that, I feel CB is our next priority.

The only problem is that there's none of the quality corners left at #37. This year's group have two high 1st rounders (Newman & Trufant), two low 1st rounders (Woolfolk & Davis) and then about 10 good development players all rated in the 3rd. The best scenario would be Suggs in the first and Davis in the second, but after Weathersby's shooting the minimal chance of Davis dropping to #37 is gone. If we take Suggs in the 1st, which is the most likely, where do we pick-up CBs?? Do we go for two development guys in the 3rd and 4th??