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1. Andrew Luck--QB--Stanford–6'4 235
* Duh
2. Matt Kalil–LT–USC–6'7 295
* He would rank #1 on most drafts for me and is a better tackle prospect than Joe Thomas was IMO. Here’s a guy that just flat-out has no weaknesses to his game. Too bad he wont be there at 13...
3. RGIII--Q--Baylor--6'2 220
* Duh II
4. Dre’ Kirkpatrick–CB–Alabama–6'3 190
* I know you wont see him ranked ahead of Claiborne anywhere else, but I can’t imagine a better fit for this D. He’s big, strong, excels in zone coverage and is the best and most physical top-tier CB prospect since Charles Woodson (and maybe even better than him) when it comes to run support. I love, love, love this kid and would sprint to the podium if he were available for us.
5. Claiborne–CB–LSU–6'0 188
* There isn’t too much to say. The kid is a natural CB with ridonkulous agility, great feet and ball skills to boot. Though I think he’d be better-suited for another system, talent is talent.
6. Justin Blackmon–WR–Oklahoma State–6'1 210
*In the mold of Boldin and that seemed to work well for us in the past...
7. Quentin Coples–3-4 DE–NC–6'6 285
* Most have him listed solely as a 4-3 end and, in most 3-4 defenses I would be inclined to agree, but he looks and plays just like Calais and we seem to have found a spot for him. Sadly, selecting him would be evidence of the team letting Campbell walk. This would be a travesty and I don’t see it happening.
8. Courtney Upshaw–3-4 OLB–Alabama–6'2 265
*Absolutely what we want and need. I am wary of the Whitney Mercilus types, who seem too tall and concerned with pass-rushing to properly set the edge and excel in run support. Here’s a guy with a low center of gravity, great pad level, above average instincts, a workhorse mentality, plays through injuries, and hits like a locomotive. I’ve heard questions about his speed but, like Luke Kuechly, his instincts make up for it. Keep in mind that John Lott would likely be shaving 10lbs off this guy as he doesn’t like our OLBs over 255.
9. David DeCastro–OG–Stanford–6'5 312
*Best interior lineman in the draft by a mile and virtually a clone of a young Steve Hutchinson. Though, like many, I don’t typically put a whole lot of stock in guard play, I’ll take a PBer at any position over a good starter at a glamour spot. It’s not like we have an abundance of ballers on the line anyhow...
10. Riley Reiff–RT–Iowa–6'6 300
* Notice I have him listed as a RT and that’s why he’s so low here. I like the guy plenty; he’s a bull of a technician and that’s what you need on the line, but I just don’t think he has the feet to play at a high level on the left side. He reminds me a lot of Brian Bulaga.
11. Luke Kuechly–SILB–BC–6'3 236
*Now I am a bit of a hypocrite because just last week I went into detail on here as to why I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that he would be taken in the first half of the first round. With that said, I’ve had a change of mind and if the Cards had the first 16 picks, I’d have to differ. There are plenty of reasons not to have faith in this kid’s future; he’s tall and light, too slow to add on much more weight, he comes from a system that inflated his opportunities/stats and I dislike BC. The simple fact of the matter though is that the kid is a good old-fashioned football player and makes plays. Nobody accidentally logs 200 tackles in a season, it just doesn’t happen. I don’t think he’ll ever be Ray Lewis, but I do see him as a better prospect than Mauluga, Larenwhatever, Pat Angerer and Paul Pusluzny. Putting a sure-tackling cerebral guy like him next to Washington could give us the potential to have a Ray Lewis/Bart Scott type middle of the D in a few years (again, I know he isn’t Lewis, but I also think washingotn will be much better than Scott ever was).
12. Kendall Wright–WR–Baylor–5'10 190
*Here’s the sure-handed speedster we’ve been craving for as long as I can remember. I know he’s undersized, but he’s the most polished receiver in the draft IMO and adds a much needed dimension to this offense.
13. Alshon Jeffrey–WR–SC–6'4 235
* If Fitz were a few years older, I would have Jeffrey over Wright. Physically, he’s a perfect protégé for Larry, but thusfar hasn’t demonstrated the mental toughness/work ethic that he’ll need to reach elite status at the next level. Regardless, if anyone can show this kid how to do it, it’s #11.
14. Whitney Mercilus–3-4 OLB–Illinois–6'4 265
*There is a lot that scares me about this kid. First off, is he stout enough at the point of attack? I typically like OLBs in the 5'11-6'2 range, like a fast FB. He also is a one year wonder. Granted, this is pure speculation, but it leaves me wondering about his intelligence and guessing it may take a year or two for him to fully grasp the scheme. In the end of the day though, the kid was a one-man wrecking crew this year and I love that not only does he make plays, but he strips the ball at a ridiculous rate.
15. Trent Richardson–RB–Alabama–5'11 220
*Yes I know he’s better than many of the guys ahead of him but, again, this is about who brings the most to the Cardinals. Right now we have a workhorse who needs 15-20 carries a game a young guy who will definitely be getting 5-10 touches and a scatback they like to bring in 5 times a game. We can only go away from Larry so many times.
OK, so I'm tired. I'll finish this tonight or tomorrow...
* Duh
2. Matt Kalil–LT–USC–6'7 295
* He would rank #1 on most drafts for me and is a better tackle prospect than Joe Thomas was IMO. Here’s a guy that just flat-out has no weaknesses to his game. Too bad he wont be there at 13...
3. RGIII--Q--Baylor--6'2 220
* Duh II
4. Dre’ Kirkpatrick–CB–Alabama–6'3 190
* I know you wont see him ranked ahead of Claiborne anywhere else, but I can’t imagine a better fit for this D. He’s big, strong, excels in zone coverage and is the best and most physical top-tier CB prospect since Charles Woodson (and maybe even better than him) when it comes to run support. I love, love, love this kid and would sprint to the podium if he were available for us.
5. Claiborne–CB–LSU–6'0 188
* There isn’t too much to say. The kid is a natural CB with ridonkulous agility, great feet and ball skills to boot. Though I think he’d be better-suited for another system, talent is talent.
6. Justin Blackmon–WR–Oklahoma State–6'1 210
*In the mold of Boldin and that seemed to work well for us in the past...
7. Quentin Coples–3-4 DE–NC–6'6 285
* Most have him listed solely as a 4-3 end and, in most 3-4 defenses I would be inclined to agree, but he looks and plays just like Calais and we seem to have found a spot for him. Sadly, selecting him would be evidence of the team letting Campbell walk. This would be a travesty and I don’t see it happening.
8. Courtney Upshaw–3-4 OLB–Alabama–6'2 265
*Absolutely what we want and need. I am wary of the Whitney Mercilus types, who seem too tall and concerned with pass-rushing to properly set the edge and excel in run support. Here’s a guy with a low center of gravity, great pad level, above average instincts, a workhorse mentality, plays through injuries, and hits like a locomotive. I’ve heard questions about his speed but, like Luke Kuechly, his instincts make up for it. Keep in mind that John Lott would likely be shaving 10lbs off this guy as he doesn’t like our OLBs over 255.
9. David DeCastro–OG–Stanford–6'5 312
*Best interior lineman in the draft by a mile and virtually a clone of a young Steve Hutchinson. Though, like many, I don’t typically put a whole lot of stock in guard play, I’ll take a PBer at any position over a good starter at a glamour spot. It’s not like we have an abundance of ballers on the line anyhow...
10. Riley Reiff–RT–Iowa–6'6 300
* Notice I have him listed as a RT and that’s why he’s so low here. I like the guy plenty; he’s a bull of a technician and that’s what you need on the line, but I just don’t think he has the feet to play at a high level on the left side. He reminds me a lot of Brian Bulaga.
11. Luke Kuechly–SILB–BC–6'3 236
*Now I am a bit of a hypocrite because just last week I went into detail on here as to why I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that he would be taken in the first half of the first round. With that said, I’ve had a change of mind and if the Cards had the first 16 picks, I’d have to differ. There are plenty of reasons not to have faith in this kid’s future; he’s tall and light, too slow to add on much more weight, he comes from a system that inflated his opportunities/stats and I dislike BC. The simple fact of the matter though is that the kid is a good old-fashioned football player and makes plays. Nobody accidentally logs 200 tackles in a season, it just doesn’t happen. I don’t think he’ll ever be Ray Lewis, but I do see him as a better prospect than Mauluga, Larenwhatever, Pat Angerer and Paul Pusluzny. Putting a sure-tackling cerebral guy like him next to Washington could give us the potential to have a Ray Lewis/Bart Scott type middle of the D in a few years (again, I know he isn’t Lewis, but I also think washingotn will be much better than Scott ever was).
12. Kendall Wright–WR–Baylor–5'10 190
*Here’s the sure-handed speedster we’ve been craving for as long as I can remember. I know he’s undersized, but he’s the most polished receiver in the draft IMO and adds a much needed dimension to this offense.
13. Alshon Jeffrey–WR–SC–6'4 235
* If Fitz were a few years older, I would have Jeffrey over Wright. Physically, he’s a perfect protégé for Larry, but thusfar hasn’t demonstrated the mental toughness/work ethic that he’ll need to reach elite status at the next level. Regardless, if anyone can show this kid how to do it, it’s #11.
14. Whitney Mercilus–3-4 OLB–Illinois–6'4 265
*There is a lot that scares me about this kid. First off, is he stout enough at the point of attack? I typically like OLBs in the 5'11-6'2 range, like a fast FB. He also is a one year wonder. Granted, this is pure speculation, but it leaves me wondering about his intelligence and guessing it may take a year or two for him to fully grasp the scheme. In the end of the day though, the kid was a one-man wrecking crew this year and I love that not only does he make plays, but he strips the ball at a ridiculous rate.
15. Trent Richardson–RB–Alabama–5'11 220
*Yes I know he’s better than many of the guys ahead of him but, again, this is about who brings the most to the Cardinals. Right now we have a workhorse who needs 15-20 carries a game a young guy who will definitely be getting 5-10 touches and a scatback they like to bring in 5 times a game. We can only go away from Larry so many times.
OK, so I'm tired. I'll finish this tonight or tomorrow...
