Chopper Pre FA Mock Draft

[Jetstream Green]

Despite knowing it is very early, and everything will change, I like doing these. This is viewing our roster as it is, but also understanding some needs will get addressed in free agency.

1-Eric Kendricks-ILB-UCLA (6.00, 230)
*Instinctual and athletic, Kendricks would give the Cardinals a legit option at ILB regardless of how Daryl Washington's situation plays out. He is a bit small, but he reads plays well enough that it doesn't matter, and he plays all three downs.

2-Eli Harold-OLB/DE-Virginia (6.04, 235)
*This is a bit of a projection, but Harold is young and has the frame to put on weight. Also, he is being drafted as a sub edge rush player, and won't have to play OLB is base packages. Immediately becomes our most explosive edge player, and comes in with a roel to excell at.

3-Ali Marpet-OG-Hobart (6.03, 307)
*I watched the Senior Bowl and have bought into the hype on this kid. He is so much different than the OGs I have liked in the past, but I have been proven wrong about many of those. Marpet isn't athletic, and he isn't huge. What he is though, is an agressive technician who brings toughness and physicality inside. He is a similar prospect to Richie Incognito which I believe this defense could use as it has some lacksidascal personalities on which need a kick.

4-Ty Montgomery-WR/KR/PR-Stanford (5.11, 216)
*Montgomery couldn't catch a cold at the Senior Bowl, but that is fine, because he is more of a returner than anything. Cardinals need to upgrade the return game, and Montgomery is a the type of guy who will stick in that role.

5-Nick Marshall-CB-Auburn (6.02, 205)
*Lots of ways to improve special teams and the secondary. Marshall was a QB in college, and played CB at the senior bowl. Round 5 is probably way too early, but this isn't a great draft, he is a great athlete, and it is better to add special teams players with upside rather than guys who don't.

6-Shaquille Riddick-DE/OLB-West Virginia (6.05, 242)
*A long, lean under achiever in college, Riddick has his best year this year. I don't expect him to do great things in the NFL, but he is athletic, can be another edge rusher, and can play special teams. I think he can develop into what Schofield has developed into for the Seahawks.

7-Chris Harper-WR-California (5.11, 176)
*Small and quick player who I believe was held down a bit by poor QB play at Cal. A true Jr., he has talent, and is still young. He runs solid routes, and can be a contributing player. A buy low 7th rounder.

***

Free agency is going to change all of this, but I like this mix. There are many players I really like, and it is tough to make some of these calls. The tough part is that we have to start considering who will make the roster when it comes down to later picks. It is why I went CB, WR, LB late, as I think those are spots low picks can come in and earn a spot.

I would not use a 4rd pick on a guy I viewed as a returner because he was lacking in catching skills unless he is a return demon. If he cannot catch passes consistently, do I want him handling a ball in the NFL with people charging down the field... and speed is not as valuable as you stated as vision in the return, Vai Sikahema was amazing but not a speed player

 

[Bodha]

right but i m talking about beasley playing at OLB in 3-4 defense weak side

Hes an OLB, not an ILB. Anyone can be anything, dont worry about size. Our safety, Bucannon was a very good linebacker last year.

Hes been doing it. I get guys in the NFL are bigger and faster, but they arent THAT much bigger or faster.

Vic showed he can abuse a wide variety if NFL caliber Ts for sacks, and he proved hes a good run defender.

Because not every fast guy is a good returner. It takes a certain mindset and skillset to be a good return guy. Montgomery did a really good job as a returner in college, and I believe that is where he projects best as a pro. He can be a 3rd or 4th WR, KR, and PR which completely warrants a 4th round pick. We just spent 3 mil on Ted Ginn to fill that very role. Why not fill it with a better returner for a fraction of the cost?

4th is way too early for a pure kick returner. Especially when most of them are out of the endzone, or waived off, nowadays.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Hes an OLB, not an ILB. Anyone can be anything, dont worry about size. Our safety, Bucannon was a very good linebacker last year.

Hes been doing it. I get guys in the NFL are bigger and faster, but they arent THAT much bigger or faster.

Vic showed he can abuse a wide variety if NFL caliber Ts for sacks, and he proved hes a good run defender.

No he hasn't. Guys in the NFL aren't only bigger and faster, they are much more athletic, have pro-style sets and techniques, and are fundamentally sound.

There may be 1 OT from college every 5 years that can step in from day 1 and play at the level of a seasoned professional LT. What he's been facing in college isn't remotely close to what he'll face in the NFL. The good thing is that he's shown most college LT's can't handle him on a regular basis. He has potential but he's not going to be able to rely on speed alone and size is an issue.

I remember Andre Wadsworth being as good a college pass rusher as I have seen and, for awhile, he was engulfed by pro OT's, while being much bigger.

If Beasley can develop some pass rush moves, he can be successful but he's going to have to overcome the size issues.

If he develops, he can be a Dwight Freeney type. If he doesn't, he's Dontay Moch.

 

[juza76]

lets see what beasley will do,way to early to lebel him as ILB OR OLB OR DE
from what i ve seen he can get to the qb with his quickness and speed,is a type of pass rusher we miss for a long time
the match between seattle and green bay showed how much important was clay matthews against a scrambler like wilson even if clay was not 100%.
i dont put too much attention in the position he should play but just about the skills he can bring in to the field

 

[WisconsinCard]

I don't believe he projects as an OLB in a 3-4. ILB for a 3-4 or WLB for a 4-3. Similar to how Vin MIller projected.

I agree 100%, I just don't see him as an OSLB in a 3-4 unless he shows up at his pro day about 25 pounds heavier with the same quickness. He will get abused by NFL tackles. He would only be good to us as a pure pass rusher and IMO you don't take a guy in the first round who is not a 3 down player.

 

[Bodha]

No he hasn't. Guys in the NFL aren't only bigger and faster, they are much more athletic, have pro-style sets and techniques, and are fundamentally sound

There may be 1 OT from college every 5 years that can step in from day 1 and play at the level of a seasoned professional LT. What he's been facing in college isn't remotely close to what he'll face in the NFL. The good thing is that he's shown most college LT's can't handle him on a regular basis. He has potential but he's not going to be able to rely on speed alone and size is an issue.

If Beasley can develop some pass rush moves, he can be successful but he's going to have to overcome the size issues.

If he develops, he can be a Dwight Freeney type. If he doesn't, he's Dontay Moch/

He hasn’t proven anything? No, technically not. But with that thinking, than neither has Randy Gregory or Shane Ray. Last year Khalil Mack, CJ Mosely. Couple years back, despite all their ‘college stats’ Luke Kuechly and Russell Wilson. Year before that Von Miller, Robert Quinn, aldon Smith, JJ Watt.

Point being nobody in any draft has ‘proven’ anything, because none of them have set foot in the NFL yet. However, we use our best judgment based on what they did show in college vs their contemporaries, and that gives you the best opportunity to make your best educated GUESS at whos going to be good. Its not science, but it’s the best we got.

And the best we got says Vic Beasley will PROBABLY….be a good pass rusher and run defender in the NFL.

And that’s just not true with the rookie Ts. 1 every 5 years? Theres like 2-3 every single year. And you said “play like a seasoned NFL left tackle” Not pro bowler or HOFr. Most of the Ts in the NFL are average or sub average. Theres very few Joe Thomas’. So with that said, plenty of guys come out every year who are good starting Ts as a rookies. Either matching a lot of veteran Ts, or even out performing them. Tyron Smith has been phenomenal since day 1. Matt kalil went to the pro bowl his rookie year (altho he was awful this year). Ja’wuan james and Taylor Lewan were ‘solid’ this year. Some of the best guards in the NFL today are rookies or 2nd year guys.

Freeney or Moch? So a HOFr or a complete bust? Where do you come up with that. Wheres the gigantic middle ground of ‘good’ or ‘solid’ player?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

He hasn’t proven anything? No, technically not. But with that thinking, than neither has Randy Gregory or Shane Ray. Last year Khalil Mack, CJ Mosely. Couple years back, despite all their ‘college stats’ Luke Kuechly and Russell Wilson. Year before that Von Miller, Robert Quinn, aldon Smith, JJ Watt.

Point being nobody in any draft has ‘proven’ anything, because none of them have set foot in the NFL yet. However, we use our best judgment based on what they did show in college vs their contemporaries, and that gives you the best opportunity to make your best educated GUESS at whos going to be good. Its not science, but it’s the best we got.

And the best we got says Vic Beasley will PROBABLY….be a good pass rusher and run defender in the NFL.

And that’s just not true with the rookie Ts. 1 every 5 years? Theres like 2-3 every single year. And you said “play like a seasoned NFL left tackle” Not pro bowler or HOFr. Most of the Ts in the NFL are average or sub average. Theres very few Joe Thomas’. So with that said, plenty of guys come out every year who are good starting Ts as a rookies. Either matching a lot of veteran Ts, or even out performing them. Tyron Smith has been phenomenal since day 1. Matt kalil went to the pro bowl his rookie year (altho he was awful this year). Ja’wuan james and Taylor Lewan were ‘solid’ this year. Some of the best guards in the NFL today are rookies or 2nd year guys.

Freeney or Moch? So a HOFr or a complete bust? Where do you come up with that. Wheres the gigantic middle ground of ‘good’ or ‘solid’ player?

Tyron Smith started at RT, Lewan and James may have been solid for rookies but they weren't in the top 25 LT's in the league. They may eventually be but aren't yet and that was my point. I consider seasoned as a middle of the road starter or above, not Pro-Bowl or HOF, and you named 2 in about the last 10 years that even approached that level in a rookie with Thomas and Kalil.
I used Freeney and Moch as his ceiling and basement. Of course there is middle ground. Didn't think I had to spell that out.

Also, there are/were a lot less question marks with the guys you mentioned as they had NFL bodies upon entering the league. Beasley doesn't. The best comps that have had some success for Beasley entering the NFL are guys like Shazier and Lavonte David, who both would be questionable fits a 3-4 OLB.

 

[Russ Smith]

Ty Montgomery is hard to peg. Was a great return guy early on at Stanford, but never quite blossomed into the WR you hoped. Has a tendency to body catch so he drops lots of passes.

One of the big concerns with him is health, he's one of those pulled muscle waiting to happen guys. He's always having cramp or tweak issues because he's so muscular he's almost too strong for his body.

Loved the kid his first 2 years at Stanford but he never quite made the expected jump.