Cardinals' 2015 Draft Summary

Mitch

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Getting right to the point---BA&SK said prior to the draft that they did not perceive any immediate or desperate needs heading into the draft---that they had done their addressing of immediate needs in FA---and that they felt very comfortable that they could already play with the current roster.

Therefore---what this draft was---for all intents and purposes---a "Next Man Up" draft.

1. T D.J. Humphries takes the swing tackle (2014-Bradley Sowell) role. He's only 21---and he needs to be groomed until he's ready to start. 2016 FA: Bobby Massie.

2. LB Markus Golden takes the situational rusher role (2014-Marcus Benard). He gets to be groomed by FA OLB LaMarr Woodley. 2016 FA: LaMarr Woodley.

3. RB David Johnson becomes Andre Ellington Part II, so that with shared touches, both players can stay fresh. (What we didn't know was that Kerwynn Williams has now taken the Mendenhall/Dwyer role).

4. DE Rodney Gunter gets to work behind Frostee Rucker for a year. 2016 FA Frostee Rucker.

5. OLB Shaquille Riddick get to work behind Alex Okafor at the WILL. Although, it is likely the Cardinals are going to sign another veteran FA edge rusher---which means that unless Riddick is a real factor on STs, he likely spend the year on the PS, assuming he can clear waivers.

6. WR J.J. Nelson's ticket to the roster is simple---he has to win the KO/PR job over Brittan Golden. If so he replaces (2014-WR Ted Ginn Jr.). With the current depth at WR, Nelson can focus primarily on STs.

7. TE Gerald Christian has to beat out Ifeanyi Momah for the speed TE role (2014-TE Rob Housler).

UDFAs: (any have legit roster chances?)

OLB Zach Wagenmann, Montana. He didn't get drafted because he recently broke his foot during a workout, but he was expected to go in rounds 5-7. I think he could make things interesting.

CB C.J. Roberts, University of Colorado-Pueblo. This aggressive, young CB is going to impress the coaches, certainly enough to make the PS. He's sticky in coverage and a good tackler.

ILB Gabe Martin, Bowling Green. Fast and instinctive. Lacks ideal size, but then again so does Larry Foote.

LB Alani Fua, BYU. What's appealing about him is his length, speed and coverage ability (5 career ints.). His is an outside shot---but I wonder if he could be used as a Dansby type WILB.

Early 53 Man Roster Prediction:

QB (3): Palmer, Stanton, (Thomas/Harnish winner)
RB (5): Ellington, Williams, Johnson, Grice, (Taylor/Hughes winner)
WR (5): Fitzgerald, Floyd, John Brown, Jaron Brown, (Golden/Nelson winner)
OL (8): Veldheer, Iupati, Shipley, Cooper, Massie, Larsen, Humphries, (Watford/Steen winner)
TE (4): Carlson, Niklas, Fells, (Momah/Christian winner)
DL (8): Campbell, Rucker, Peters, Redding, Stinton, Gunter, Shaughnessy, (Mauro/Ta'amu winner)
LB (9): Foote, Weatherspoon, Minter, (Carson/Martin/Fua/Demens winner), Woodley, Okafor, Golden, Martin, (Riddick/FA/Wagenmann winner)
DB (8): Peterson, Bucannon, Mathieu, Johnson, Powers, Bethel, Jefferson, (Clemons/FA/Whitley/Legree/Weaver/Smith winner)
ST (3): Catanzaro, Leach, Zastudil


* The fact that the Cardinals did not draft an ILB, very likely means that Larry Foote will be playing this year

* I think the Cardinals like Tyrann Mathieu as a combo S/CB---which is why they didn't feel desperate to draft a CB.

Thanks to everyone at ASFN for making this site a wealth of information and well-prepared analyses of the draftees. We do up the draft right! We really do our homework---which is why this draft was tough for many to take---because with all the mocks we do and all the info we generate---no one could have predicted what the Cardinals did in this draft.

As for draft grades---there is only one grade for every draft the day after: INC.

When the work is turned in over the course of 3-4 years, then we can assess how the Cardinals did.

And---I have to laugh when pundits talk about "good value" in a pick.

The bottom line is a player you like has NO value to you if you don't take him!

Take him---coach him up big-time---and then let's talk about value.
 
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juza76

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shaq riddick offers something that our pass rusher doesnt.so he will make roster period ,he got his degree in a small university then transferred to west virginia for his senior year
facing a good level of competition in his first significant season he was west virginia best pass rusher
lot of upside there
is the pick i like more
 

redheat

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As much as I wanted them to go all out in this draft in getting a pass rusher, gurley or trade for AP.. This draft will keep our depth alive for this window and help transfer when Carson/fitz are gone.
 

GuernseyCard

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The fact that the Cardinals did not draft an ILB, very likely means that D-Wash will be playing this year.
 

b8rtm8nn

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It will be a helluva battle for an LB position over the pre-season, like last year's WR competition. Can't wait to see who produces on the field.
 

Buckybird

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The fact that the Cardinals did not draft an ILB, very likely means that D-Wash will be playing this year.

Your right but he's prolly missing anywhere from 4-8 games which isn't a good thing considering what we have
 

Buckybird

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Yeah Mitch if anyone on this board (other than maybe one) thought any of this draft class other than Golden or Johnson would've been wearing Cardinal Red I'd be shocked.

Solid players & lots of gambling on upside.

My fav picks outside of #1:
Johnson
Gunter
Christian-I think he makes the 53
 

BullheadCardFan

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I think that if Worilds doesn't retire so abruptly then Pitt goes another direction with their pick and we end up with either Ray or Dupree
 

GuernseyCard

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Your right but he's prolly missing anywhere from 4-8 games which isn't a good thing considering what we have

Given the Doty ruling; that the league has lost 2 appeals (a third coming up on Hardy) and when Dwash's transgression happened - there isn't a chance in heck that he ends up with that length of suspension. Expect a few games and a couple of game cheques so the Commissioner can save face.
 

82CardsGrad

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Kerwyn Williams is way too small to play the Mendenhall/Dwyer role... But he won't need to as a healthy Ellington and the addition of a big, rugged and fast Johnson should give us a RB core good enough to deal with all situations...
 
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Mitch

Mitch

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Kerwyn Williams is way too small to play the Mendenhall/Dwyer role... But he won't need to as a healthy Ellington and the addition of a big, rugged and fast Johnson should give us a RB core good enough to deal with all situations...

When BA informed the media that David Johnson's style is much like Andre Ellington's and then was asked about running between the tackles, BA said that Kerwynn Williams did that just fine in what BA called the two biggest wins down the stretch.
 

Vermont Maverick

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Good stuff, Mitch.

Some thoughts:

RB: Taylor over Grice with ease. Taylor is still the best pass protector we have in the backfield. Kerwin could be the short yardage back, but Taylor might be able to contribute there as well.

CB: I think we will pick up a FA. Isn't Cason still available? I do think Jimmy Legree might have a chance here.

ILB: I'm with Guernsey on DWash. The 6 game rule came after his transgression. I think he will get 4 games max. Wild azz guess is that if Foote comes back, it will be at midseason. He got gassed by the end of the year, the aim seems to be to shorten his season. We are going to have to piece things together early at ILB. Despite what the coaches are saying, that is going to include Bucannon as the dime LB.

OL: I like Steen for the last spot. I think there is a legit shot that Humpries plays RG (and is still the backup OT). In that case I think Cooper might get a shot to beat out Shipley and Larsen at Center.
 

82CardsGrad

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When BA informed the media that David Johnson's style is much like Andre Ellington's and then was asked about running between the tackles, BA said that Kerwynn Williams did that just fine in what BA called the two biggest wins down the stretch.


Yes, he did well in a few games, but there is no way Williams can last an entire season as our "between the tackles" RB.
 

THESMEL

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still kissing frogs, when mainstream players are available, not 1 frog mind you, but a swarm of tadpoles each draft
 

splitsecond

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Given the Doty ruling; that the league has lost 2 appeals (a third coming up on Hardy) and when Dwash's transgression happened - there isn't a chance in heck that he ends up with that length of suspension. Expect a few games and a couple of game cheques so the Commissioner can save face.

For some reason a lot of people around here haven't let the Doty ruling sink in. Given the fact that the NFL has again flexed it's arrogance with the crap they are trying to pull on Greg Hardy, I can see why. The bottom line is it should be a 2 gamer, but it may take some fighting to get to that. On the other hand none of us know the length d-wash has gone to turn himself around other than pass all his drug tests. He has already been terminated from probation and his offense designated a misdemeanor, which means he has likely gone above and beyond just the minimums to get by.

He will be back.
 

Catfish

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Mitch----once again you are and inspiration to the rest of us here on the board.

I was particularly pleased to see how our FO reacted to the poor positioning we had in this draft. After losing two obvious targets in the first round ( Ray and Dupree ), by virtue of having others jump in front to take them from us----I am pleased that they took Humprhries. This should once and for all, stop all the bickering, complaining, and griping about our O-line, as he seems to be a near perfect fit to complete a two deep roster all across the line. It would appear that he also has the upside to be able to seriously compete with Massie this year already for the starting RT position. I love this man's footwork and his ability to flex to either side of the O'Line.

I love the speed garnered at RB and WR/KR/PR------since speed kills, and both Johnson and the prospective returner have it in spades, we may have just become very explosive along with Ellington. Few can run with the KR, and almost none can cut at that speed, but he seems to be able to do that.

I have a feeling that Gunter from Delaware St., might end up being the steal of the draft.

I am very pleased with the selections made by our FO and coaching staff. They all make perfect sense to me. Whether or not they all materialize is yet to be seen, but the stuff is there for good things to be able to happen.
 
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Mitch

Mitch

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Mitch----once again you are and inspiration to the rest of us here on the board.

I was particularly pleased to see how our FO reacted to the poor positioning we had in this draft. After losing two obvious targets in the first round ( Ray and Dupree ), by virtue of having others jump in front to take them from us----I am pleased that they took Humprhries. This should once and for all, stop all the bickering, complaining, and griping about our O-line, as he seems to be a near perfect fit to complete a two deep roster all across the line. It would appear that he also has the upside to be able to seriously compete with Massie this year already for the starting RT position. I love this man's footwork and his ability to flex to either side of the O'Line.

I love the speed garnered at RB and WR/KR/PR------since speed kills, and both Johnson and the prospective returner have it in spades, we may have just become very explosive along with Ellington. Few can run with the KR, and almost none can cut at that speed, but he seems to be able to do that.

I have a feeling that Gunter from Delaware St., might end up being the steal of the draft.

I am very pleased with the selections made by our FO and coaching staff. They all make perfect sense to me. Whether or not they all materialize is yet to be seen, but the stuff is there for good things to be able to happen.

This group, Catfish, is hungry, humble and ready to get to work---because they've always been this way. You said it about adding speed, explosiveness and athleticism---which is what BA&SK said all along---they said good RBs in rounds 2-4---and they stressed taking players who love the game and who are hungry to learn and grow.

All of these players have talent---but what could make all of them special is their character and work ethic.

The only think you said that I question is the Cardinals' interest in Shane Ray. Steve Keim called D.J. Humphries the minute Dupree was off the board at #22---which meant that they had Humphries rated higher than Ray on their board. Now---what made that easier for BA&SK is the realization that they liked Markus Golden just as well or even better.

I think they ideally wanted RB Ameer Abdullah in round 2 and Markus Golden in round 3---but when Abdullah was picked right in front of the Cardinals at #54---which apparently caused Keim to display a rare show of frustration---that's when they figured they could trade down a few picks, pick up an extra 5th (WR J.J. Nelson) and ensure that the didn't miss out on Golden---which they would have missed out on for sure, imo, in the latter portion of the 3rd round.
 
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This group, Catfish, is hungry, humble and ready to get to work---because they've always been this way. You said it about adding speed, explosiveness and athleticism---which is what BA&SK said all along---they said good RBs in rounds 2-4---and they stressed taking players who love the game and who are hungry to learn and grow.

All of these players have talent---but what could make all of them special is their character and work ethic.

The only think you said that I question is the Cardinals' interest in Shane Ray. Steve Keim called D.J. Humphries the minute Dupree was off the board at #22---which meant that they had Humphries rated higher than Ray on their board. Now---what made that easier for BA&SK is the realization that they liked Markus Golden just as well or even better.

I think they ideally wanted RB Ameer Abdullah in round 2 and Markus Golden in round 3---but when Abdullah was picked right in front of the Cardinals at #54---which apparently caused Keim to display a rare show of frustration---that's when they figured they could trade down a few picks, pick up an extra 5th (WR J.J. Nelson) and ensure that the didn't miss out on Golden---which they would have missed out on for sure, imo, in the latter portion of the 3rd round.

Abdullah, I believe, is the player the Cards needed to be on the board in order to make the AP trade happen.
 
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Mitch

Mitch

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Abdullah, I believe, is the player the Cards needed to be on the board in order to make the AP trade happen.

Fascinating, but I can't see the Vikings as being able to sell the team and fan base they are better off with Abdullah, especially after making it crystal clear that they have no intention of trading AD.
 

THESMEL

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when was the last player at 157 lbs in the NFL? speed is great on a car too- but you know what is the last thing that goes through a bugs mind when it hits a windshield?

there were better bPA available, when Keim dances across the mountains on the moon! like he wouldn't be there as a ufa?
 

CardsSunsDbacks

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when was the last player at 157 lbs in the NFL? speed is great on a car too- but you know what is the last thing that goes through a bugs mind when it hits a windshield?

there were better bPA available, when Keim dances across the mountains on the moon! like he wouldn't be there as a ufa?
It's too bad that there is no way that he can add weight...

As for him being available as a UFA there is absolutely no guarantee of that. After all he was the fastest player in the draft and he was the best return man in the nation last year. He did that despite being all of 156 lbs btw.
 

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