Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. It's fascinating to think of how Steve Keim, with a mere six picks going in, is going to work this draft---a draft that Bruce Arians deems as "the deepest draft in years."
The challenge for Keim will be how he can manage to acquire extra picks in a draft where most teams will want to do the same.
At the same time, it appears (on the surface anyway) the Cardinals will be heading into the draft seeking to acquire starters at RT and SS---which will make it all the more difficult to trade down if starting caliber prospects are sitting right there when the Cardinals are on the clock.
The other significant challenge is that going into the draft, the chances seem likely that the Cardinals will receive the worst draft grade in the NFC West.
The Rams have 11 picks---2 1st rounders (including the #2 pick) and 4 of the first 75. Their first pick (Clowney, Robinson, Mack, Matthews or Watkins) is very likely going to be a future All-Pro.
The 49ers also have 11 picks---6 of the first 100 picks and whenever that is the case they have the flexibility to move up to get players they like and to draft early on at positions (like QB) that with fewer picks they wouldn't have the luxury of taking.
The Seahawks may only have 7 picks (no 3rd rounder---Percy Harvin trade)---but you just know right now John Schneider is going to make out like a thief in the night. Chances are, when all the picks have been made, as Cardinals' fans we look at our draft and then Seattle's, we might prefer theirs to our own, particularly if they get better pass rushers and skill players.
2. Because Keim is looking to draft starters and impact players---the possibility of moving up increases---don't be surprised if he moves up in round 1 and then tries to move down twice or more times later in the draft.
Who might Keim target as a player to move up and take?
Realistically, he probably doesn't have a shot at moving into the top ten, unless he offers #20, #52 and a 2015 1st round pick. Keim isn't going to do that unless it is for a QB...and in this draft there is no sure-fire franchise QB.
But, to move into the 11-16 range and have to give up the #20 and #84 picks---there are a couple of players who might be in play---such as:
OLB Anthony Barr, UCLA
T Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
DE Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
3. Players that could quite possibly make Keim want to stay at #20:
Any of the above three (Barr, Matthews, Donald)
T Zach Martin, Notre Dame
T Taylor Lewan, Michigan
S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama
S Calvin Pryor, Louisville
WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon St.
WR Marquis Lee, USC
WR Odell Beckham, LSU
DE Dee Ford, Alabama
DE Kony Ealy, Missouri
LB C.J. Mosely, Alabama
LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio St.
CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan St.
CB Jason Verrett, TCU
DT Tommy Jernigan, Florida St.
DT Louis Nix, Notre Dame
DT RaShede Hageman, Minnesota
4. Most likely Keim trades back at #20 because look at the list above---Keim can trade back as many as 10-14 spots and still get a first round talent.
5. While we have every reason to believe that the early picks will include a RT and SS---Keim likely has players in rounds 3-5 at those spots that he feels can compete right away, because there are several positions that Keim wants to bolster sooner rather than later, because of the following starters who may not be on the roster a year or two from now:
QB Palmer
WR Fitzgerald
TE Carlson, Housler
NT Williams
DE Dockett
ILB Inside depth
OLB Abraham
CB Cromartie
K Feely
Therefore, it shouldn't be a total surprise if Keim hops on BPA early at one or more of these positions---Keim will be true to his board.
6. It wouldn't be surprising either because of the June 1st cap relief the Cardinals will get that Keim already has contract agreements with T Eric Winston, ILB Larry Foote and quite possibly with a S like Major Wright. This is another reason why it shouldn't be too surprising if Keim doesn't target positions of perceived need early in the draft---or, in a case or two, not at all.
In Winston's case---could you really imagine Keim starting 3 players on the offensive line who have never started an NFL game before? At least, there had better be some veteran depth.
The challenge for Keim will be how he can manage to acquire extra picks in a draft where most teams will want to do the same.
At the same time, it appears (on the surface anyway) the Cardinals will be heading into the draft seeking to acquire starters at RT and SS---which will make it all the more difficult to trade down if starting caliber prospects are sitting right there when the Cardinals are on the clock.
The other significant challenge is that going into the draft, the chances seem likely that the Cardinals will receive the worst draft grade in the NFC West.
The Rams have 11 picks---2 1st rounders (including the #2 pick) and 4 of the first 75. Their first pick (Clowney, Robinson, Mack, Matthews or Watkins) is very likely going to be a future All-Pro.
The 49ers also have 11 picks---6 of the first 100 picks and whenever that is the case they have the flexibility to move up to get players they like and to draft early on at positions (like QB) that with fewer picks they wouldn't have the luxury of taking.
The Seahawks may only have 7 picks (no 3rd rounder---Percy Harvin trade)---but you just know right now John Schneider is going to make out like a thief in the night. Chances are, when all the picks have been made, as Cardinals' fans we look at our draft and then Seattle's, we might prefer theirs to our own, particularly if they get better pass rushers and skill players.
2. Because Keim is looking to draft starters and impact players---the possibility of moving up increases---don't be surprised if he moves up in round 1 and then tries to move down twice or more times later in the draft.
Who might Keim target as a player to move up and take?
Realistically, he probably doesn't have a shot at moving into the top ten, unless he offers #20, #52 and a 2015 1st round pick. Keim isn't going to do that unless it is for a QB...and in this draft there is no sure-fire franchise QB.
But, to move into the 11-16 range and have to give up the #20 and #84 picks---there are a couple of players who might be in play---such as:
OLB Anthony Barr, UCLA
T Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
DE Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
3. Players that could quite possibly make Keim want to stay at #20:
Any of the above three (Barr, Matthews, Donald)
T Zach Martin, Notre Dame
T Taylor Lewan, Michigan
S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama
S Calvin Pryor, Louisville
WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon St.
WR Marquis Lee, USC
WR Odell Beckham, LSU
DE Dee Ford, Alabama
DE Kony Ealy, Missouri
LB C.J. Mosely, Alabama
LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio St.
CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan St.
CB Jason Verrett, TCU
DT Tommy Jernigan, Florida St.
DT Louis Nix, Notre Dame
DT RaShede Hageman, Minnesota
4. Most likely Keim trades back at #20 because look at the list above---Keim can trade back as many as 10-14 spots and still get a first round talent.
5. While we have every reason to believe that the early picks will include a RT and SS---Keim likely has players in rounds 3-5 at those spots that he feels can compete right away, because there are several positions that Keim wants to bolster sooner rather than later, because of the following starters who may not be on the roster a year or two from now:
QB Palmer
WR Fitzgerald
TE Carlson, Housler
NT Williams
DE Dockett
ILB Inside depth
OLB Abraham
CB Cromartie
K Feely
Therefore, it shouldn't be a total surprise if Keim hops on BPA early at one or more of these positions---Keim will be true to his board.
6. It wouldn't be surprising either because of the June 1st cap relief the Cardinals will get that Keim already has contract agreements with T Eric Winston, ILB Larry Foote and quite possibly with a S like Major Wright. This is another reason why it shouldn't be too surprising if Keim doesn't target positions of perceived need early in the draft---or, in a case or two, not at all.
In Winston's case---could you really imagine Keim starting 3 players on the offensive line who have never started an NFL game before? At least, there had better be some veteran depth.
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