Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Players the Cardinals have shown interest in to date:
1. C Andre Gurode (DAL): RE-SIGNED with Dallas.
2. G/T Derrick Dockery (WASH): signed with Buffalo (7 yrs./$48M).
3. TE Reggie Kelly (CIN). Visited and left for other visits. Has an offer on the table from Atlanta. Cincinnati has expressed interest in re-signing him. Is visiting with Oakland today. Seems made to order for what the Cardinals need: a good blocking TE. Better option? There's one...Daniel Graham (NE)...very good blocker---much better receiver than Kelly. Wants a $4-5M/yr. contract. Is he worth it? IMO, yes.
4. G/T Mike Gandy (BUF). Visited and said he wants to play in Arizona and has been staying in town to get a deal done. Is he a good pickup? Good for depth...questionable as a starter at LT (was relegated to guard by the Bills after giving up numerous sacks last season)...could push Milford Brown and Deuce Lutui for time at guard...Better options? Yes. Luke Pettigout (NYG) is a LT...has had false start issues, but has played reasonably well at times when healthy. Marc Colombo (DAL) is a monster RT...the team could switch Reggie Wells over to LT. Kenyatta Walker (TB) is coming off an injury...if he's healthy, he's a talented RT.
5. C/G Al Johnson (DAL). Visited and is awaiting a deal. Good pickup? Yes. An injury cost him his starting job in Dallas...he has some upside and can challenge Nick Leckey at center and Brown and Lutui at guard. Better option? With C Ryan Kalil of USC expected to be off the board by the #38 pick, signing Johnson would be a good move and he is certainly an upgrade over Alex Stepanvich.
6. S Kevin Kaesviharn (CIN). Visited and bolted off for New Orleans, and has stated that he may re-sign with the Bengals. Good pickup? he is exactly the ballhawking centerfielder the Cardinals need for their Cover 2 defense...even if he doesn't start over Aaron Francisco, who is a better hitter, Kaes can come in in passing situations and take care of his half of the field. Better option? Ken Hamiln perhaps, but surprisingly the Cardinals haven't shown any interest in him to date. In the draft, FS LaRon Landry, who is now #6 on Mel Kiper's board is possibly the one sure-fire Pro Bowler in this draft. However, should the Cards outbid the others for Kaes? If they want to pass on Landry at #5, yes. The need is too great not to.
7. CB Roderick Hood (PHI). Young fiesty CB who visited and left town. Would push Eric Green for the starting RCB position and bolster the special teams in coverage and possibly on punt returns. Good pickup? Yes, particularly at his age and experience...he could really blossom here.
8. FB Vonta Leach (TEX). First to visit...RFA...with low tender and no compensation, just right of matching the Cardinals' offer. Thus far...no offer reported. Good pickup? yes. A real need and this kid has upside.
9. CB Travis Fisher (STL). Visiting today. Can really cover, but can't seem to stay healthy. Good pickup? Yes, if signed to an incentive laden deal based on playing time and production.
What's wrong with this picture?
No true Ts or OLBers in to date at areas of significant need.
1. C Andre Gurode (DAL): RE-SIGNED with Dallas.
2. G/T Derrick Dockery (WASH): signed with Buffalo (7 yrs./$48M).
3. TE Reggie Kelly (CIN). Visited and left for other visits. Has an offer on the table from Atlanta. Cincinnati has expressed interest in re-signing him. Is visiting with Oakland today. Seems made to order for what the Cardinals need: a good blocking TE. Better option? There's one...Daniel Graham (NE)...very good blocker---much better receiver than Kelly. Wants a $4-5M/yr. contract. Is he worth it? IMO, yes.
4. G/T Mike Gandy (BUF). Visited and said he wants to play in Arizona and has been staying in town to get a deal done. Is he a good pickup? Good for depth...questionable as a starter at LT (was relegated to guard by the Bills after giving up numerous sacks last season)...could push Milford Brown and Deuce Lutui for time at guard...Better options? Yes. Luke Pettigout (NYG) is a LT...has had false start issues, but has played reasonably well at times when healthy. Marc Colombo (DAL) is a monster RT...the team could switch Reggie Wells over to LT. Kenyatta Walker (TB) is coming off an injury...if he's healthy, he's a talented RT.
5. C/G Al Johnson (DAL). Visited and is awaiting a deal. Good pickup? Yes. An injury cost him his starting job in Dallas...he has some upside and can challenge Nick Leckey at center and Brown and Lutui at guard. Better option? With C Ryan Kalil of USC expected to be off the board by the #38 pick, signing Johnson would be a good move and he is certainly an upgrade over Alex Stepanvich.
6. S Kevin Kaesviharn (CIN). Visited and bolted off for New Orleans, and has stated that he may re-sign with the Bengals. Good pickup? he is exactly the ballhawking centerfielder the Cardinals need for their Cover 2 defense...even if he doesn't start over Aaron Francisco, who is a better hitter, Kaes can come in in passing situations and take care of his half of the field. Better option? Ken Hamiln perhaps, but surprisingly the Cardinals haven't shown any interest in him to date. In the draft, FS LaRon Landry, who is now #6 on Mel Kiper's board is possibly the one sure-fire Pro Bowler in this draft. However, should the Cards outbid the others for Kaes? If they want to pass on Landry at #5, yes. The need is too great not to.
7. CB Roderick Hood (PHI). Young fiesty CB who visited and left town. Would push Eric Green for the starting RCB position and bolster the special teams in coverage and possibly on punt returns. Good pickup? Yes, particularly at his age and experience...he could really blossom here.
8. FB Vonta Leach (TEX). First to visit...RFA...with low tender and no compensation, just right of matching the Cardinals' offer. Thus far...no offer reported. Good pickup? yes. A real need and this kid has upside.
9. CB Travis Fisher (STL). Visiting today. Can really cover, but can't seem to stay healthy. Good pickup? Yes, if signed to an incentive laden deal based on playing time and production.
What's wrong with this picture?
No true Ts or OLBers in to date at areas of significant need.
