Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. I wonder if Steve Keim has told DE/OLB Dwight Freeney and/or CB Jerraud Powers to hang in there while he tries to negotiate a new contract with DE Calais Campbell so that when he can free up some cap space he will be able to get them signed.
To me this makes a good deal of sense, particularly after using the Round 2 pick to acquire DE/OLB Chandler Jones.
BA has indicated that he thinks the other pass rushers will benefit from the addition of Chandler Jones---and thus if they can keep Freeney for another year, it will buy them some added time to develop the younger rushers such as Shaq Riddick, Tristan Okpalauago, Zack Wagenmann and Mike Reilly.
I think BA&SK like the upside of the young rushers enough that they don't feel added pressure to draft another edge rusher in this draft, unless one like Victor Ochi, James Cowser or Matt Judon falls into their laps in Round 4.
As for re-signing Powers, what that would mean is that they have retained the same secondary as in 2015, save swapping Rashad Johnson for Tyvon Branch.
What this also means is that the Cardinals can wait to draft a CB to develop later, rather than sooner, if need be.
2. As we have seen, Steve Keim likes to trade down---especially if he can stay in the first round so that he can control the player's rights for 5 years. This year he has little wiggle room for doing that---one can't imagine that the Panthers would trade up one spot. Thus, the only other option is with the Broncos at #31 and who knows? Maybe they would be willing to trade up two spots to ensure that they get the QB they want?
3. Most realistically, however, if SK wants to trade down, he's going to have to trade down into Round 2. If he can stay within ten picks or os of #29, there will likely be a couple of players still on the board whom he would have been tempted to take at #29 anyway. Yes, he gives up the 5th year option for a first round pick, but he adds 4 years for the added player he selects.
4. The thing is---Keim knows that in all likelihood only 4 of the players he drafts this year will make the 53 man roster, so he has to make those 4 picks count. Thus if he can acquire another pick in the top 130---he can draft 4 players in the top 130 and select developmental PS type players in Rounds 5-6.
What would you think of these scenarios?
AZ trades #29 (Rd. 1) pick to DAL for #34 (Rd. 2) and #104 (Rd. 4).
AZ selects:
34. Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
92. Maliek Collins, DE/DT, Nebraska
104. Victor Ochi, OLB, Stony Brook
128. Deiondre' Hall, CB, Northern Iowa
or
34. Javon Hargraves, DE/DT, South Carolina St.
92. Matt Judon, OLB/DE, Grand Valley St.
104. Ryan Smith, CB, North Carolina Central
128. Jack Allen, C, Michigan St.
or
AZ trades #34 (Rd. 2) to NYG for #40 (Rd. 2) and #109 (Rd. 4)
40. Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
92. Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame
104. Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio St.
109. Ronald Blair, DE, Appalachian St.
128. Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama
There is no question that adding extra picks gives the GM major flexibility, especially in adding a QB or a red short candidate like Jaylon Smith.
To me this makes a good deal of sense, particularly after using the Round 2 pick to acquire DE/OLB Chandler Jones.
BA has indicated that he thinks the other pass rushers will benefit from the addition of Chandler Jones---and thus if they can keep Freeney for another year, it will buy them some added time to develop the younger rushers such as Shaq Riddick, Tristan Okpalauago, Zack Wagenmann and Mike Reilly.
I think BA&SK like the upside of the young rushers enough that they don't feel added pressure to draft another edge rusher in this draft, unless one like Victor Ochi, James Cowser or Matt Judon falls into their laps in Round 4.
As for re-signing Powers, what that would mean is that they have retained the same secondary as in 2015, save swapping Rashad Johnson for Tyvon Branch.
What this also means is that the Cardinals can wait to draft a CB to develop later, rather than sooner, if need be.
2. As we have seen, Steve Keim likes to trade down---especially if he can stay in the first round so that he can control the player's rights for 5 years. This year he has little wiggle room for doing that---one can't imagine that the Panthers would trade up one spot. Thus, the only other option is with the Broncos at #31 and who knows? Maybe they would be willing to trade up two spots to ensure that they get the QB they want?
3. Most realistically, however, if SK wants to trade down, he's going to have to trade down into Round 2. If he can stay within ten picks or os of #29, there will likely be a couple of players still on the board whom he would have been tempted to take at #29 anyway. Yes, he gives up the 5th year option for a first round pick, but he adds 4 years for the added player he selects.
4. The thing is---Keim knows that in all likelihood only 4 of the players he drafts this year will make the 53 man roster, so he has to make those 4 picks count. Thus if he can acquire another pick in the top 130---he can draft 4 players in the top 130 and select developmental PS type players in Rounds 5-6.
What would you think of these scenarios?
AZ trades #29 (Rd. 1) pick to DAL for #34 (Rd. 2) and #104 (Rd. 4).
AZ selects:
34. Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
92. Maliek Collins, DE/DT, Nebraska
104. Victor Ochi, OLB, Stony Brook
128. Deiondre' Hall, CB, Northern Iowa
or
34. Javon Hargraves, DE/DT, South Carolina St.
92. Matt Judon, OLB/DE, Grand Valley St.
104. Ryan Smith, CB, North Carolina Central
128. Jack Allen, C, Michigan St.
or
AZ trades #34 (Rd. 2) to NYG for #40 (Rd. 2) and #109 (Rd. 4)
40. Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
92. Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame
104. Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio St.
109. Ronald Blair, DE, Appalachian St.
128. Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama
There is no question that adding extra picks gives the GM major flexibility, especially in adding a QB or a red short candidate like Jaylon Smith.
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