Draft Mock Top Five Picks - 1/16/07

[az jam]

Well now that the underclassmen have declared, here is my first crack at the top five picks. This will no doubt change after senior bowl, combine, free agency signings and workouts. (Note that Tampa Bay and Cleveland will have a coin toss to see who gets the 3rd choice as they are both tied.)


1. Oakland - JaMarcus Russell QB LSU. You never know what Davis will do but they need a qb and Russell has the size Davis loves.

2. Detroit - Joe Thomas OT Wisconsin. Millen should take a qb here but is going to go fix the line instead.

3. Clevleand - Brady Quinn QB Norte Dame. Could also go after Adrian Peterson but Frye and Anderson are not the answer.

4. Tampa Bay - Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech. No brainer may be best player in the draft

5. Arizona - Jamal Anderson DE Arkansas. - Big pas rushing DE at 6'6" 280 lbs. Excellent pass rusher had 13.5 sacks and also tough against the run. Could also take Alan Branch DT Michaigan but Anderson also fills need as Berry and Okeafor not getting younger.

 

[B-Dogg]

If that draft falls like that I fully expect the cards to move down and pick up additional picks and grab a ball hawking safety like Nelson...

 

[Chopper0080]

I have said that I would love Thomas, Adams or J Anderson (now that he has declared). If those three are gone then we trade down but I don't feel like that will be the case.

Personally, I would love to take Thomas and franchise Davis. This would give a plethora of options on our offensive line.
We could go...
1-Thomas, Davis, Leckey, Lutui and Wells with M Brown, Step, O Ross for depth

OR

2-Davis, M Brown, Leckey, Lutui and Thomas with R Wells, Step, O Ross for depth

OR

3-Davis, M Brown, Leckey, Lutui and Wells with J Thomas, Step, O Ross for depth

I would say that option 1 would be the absolute best because we would keep Davis happy, improve our interior run blocking and be more atheltic on the outside.

 

[cardsfanmd]

check it out

If that draft falls like that I fully expect the cards to move down and pick up additional picks and grab a ball hawking safety like Nelson...

Take a close look at Antrel Rolle. THe great size, the fabulous speed, the ballhawk instincts---the overall lack of agility for man coverage. For those who dont know, the cards had possibly one of the the worst secondaries in football last year, and whether you want to admit it or not, rolle contributed to that. In other words he is a safety. I believe he can be great-maybe better than wilson. The two could form the best safety tandem in the league, but he has been wasted thus far. If the organization is smart (hey, there is always hope) they will nab either assante samuels or nate clements and draft a stud db early.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I have said that I would love Thomas, Adams or J Anderson (now that he has declared). If those three are gone then we trade down but I don't feel like that will be the case.

Personally, I would love to take Thomas and franchise Davis. This would give a plethora of options on our offensive line.
We could go...
1-Thomas, Davis, Leckey, Lutui and Wells with M Brown, Step, O Ross for depth

OR

2-Davis, M Brown, Leckey, Lutui and Thomas with R Wells, Step, O Ross for depth

OR

3-Davis, M Brown, Leckey, Lutui and Wells with J Thomas, Step, O Ross for depth

I would say that option 1 would be the absolute best because we would keep Davis happy, improve our interior run blocking and be more atheltic on the outside.

i couldn't agree more

 

[az jam]

Kiper's New Board with underclassman has the following top ten:

1. Calvin Johnson WR
2. Joe Thomas OT
3. Brady Quinn QB
4. JaMarcus Russell QB
5. Jamal Anderson DE
6. Adrian Peterson RB
7. Alan Branch DT
8. Marshall Lynch RB
9. Gaines Adam DE
10. Leon Hall CB

 

[Zeno]

I have said that I would love Thomas, Adams or J Anderson (now that he has declared). If those three are gone then we trade down but I don't feel like that will be the case.

Personally, I would love to take Thomas and franchise Davis. This would give a plethora of options on our offensive line.
We could go...
1-Thomas, Davis, Leckey, Lutui and Wells with M Brown, Step, O Ross for depth

OR

2-Davis, M Brown, Leckey, Lutui and Thomas with R Wells, Step, O Ross for depth

OR

3-Davis, M Brown, Leckey, Lutui and Wells with J Thomas, Step, O Ross for depth

I would say that option 1 would be the absolute best because we would keep Davis happy, improve our interior run blocking and be more atheltic on the outside.

Why would option 1 keep Davis happy? I've never heard him say he prefers OG to OT...or vice versa. Option 2 is probably the best bet. Benching M. Brown would be stupid especially with as well as he played the second half of the season. Wells is an OK RT but Joe Thomas could be special there--even though he was a LT in college (with Wells around Thomas could be worked in to that spot slowly).

 

[Redsz]

I'm really not sure what games people are watching. The interior of the line was playing very well. There is no need to shuffle them around. Brown was not a weak link at all!

 

[BleedRed]

Take a close look at Antrel Rolle. THe great size, the fabulous speed, the ballhawk instincts---the overall lack of agility for man coverage. For those who dont know, the cards had possibly one of the the worst secondaries in football last year, and whether you want to admit it or not, rolle contributed to that. In other words he is a safety. I believe he can be great-maybe better than wilson. The two could form the best safety tandem in the league, but he has been wasted thus far. If the organization is smart (hey, there is always hope) they will nab either assante samuels or nate clements and draft a stud db early.

I agree 100% and have stated this in the past. I really hope the coaching staff sees it this way. Obviously we would need to add a #1 corner (Samuel or Clements) and maybe a first day pick on one. But our secondary would be very good and allow Clancy (if he stays) to really be creative with his schemes!! This would take our defense to a completely different level .

 

[joeshmo]

Kiper's New Board with underclassman has the following top ten:

1. Calvin Johnson WR
2. Joe Thomas OT
3. Brady Quinn QB
4. JaMarcus Russell QB
5. Jamal Anderson DE
6. Adrian Peterson RB
7. Alan Branch DT
8. Marshall Lynch RB
9. Gaines Adam DE
10. Leon Hall CB

Where is Ginn? I am pissed.

 

[Skkorpion]

Take a close look at Antrel Rolle. THe great size, the fabulous speed, the ballhawk instincts---the overall lack of agility for man coverage. For those who dont know, the cards had possibly one of the the worst secondaries in football last year, and whether you want to admit it or not, rolle contributed to that. In other words he is a safety. I believe he can be great-maybe better than wilson. The two could form the best safety tandem in the league, but he has been wasted thus far. If the organization is smart (hey, there is always hope) they will nab either assante samuels or nate clements and draft a stud db early.

There have been some long threads on this lately. Just wanted you to know. Check back a page or two and you'll find the arguments.

 

[D-Dogg]

Where is Ginn? I am pissed.

Wait until the combine.

 

[Chopper0080]

"Why would option 1 keep Davis happy? I've never heard him say he prefers OG to OT..."

when Davis was talking about free agency he said that he would prefer to play his natural position which he felt was guard.

As far as our interior offensive line play...it is not that it was bad but it could definitely be better. Davis would be a great asset at guard because of his size and strength. This is not a statement against M Brown as much as it is an endorsement of Davis's ability at guard.

 

[joeshmo]

Wait until the combine.

Wont mean a thing. Teams already now he is fast. Him running below a 4.3 wont change his stock much.

The average speed of the 23 WR's picked in the first round the last 6 years is 4.47. 40 times are not the first thing scouts look at. 40 times are highly overratted by fans.

 

[az jam]

Where is Ginn? I am pissed.

Ginn was not on the top 25 at all but Kiper did the ranking on Thursday, January 11. Ginn's announcement I believe was on Monday the 15ht which was the last day. He is missing several others but has Adrian Peterson who many thought had already commited.
Bottom line is there most likely will be an update with all the underclassman included that have declared.

 

[Zeno]

"Why would option 1 keep Davis happy? I've never heard him say he prefers OG to OT..."

when Davis was talking about free agency he said that he would prefer to play his natural position which he felt was guard.

As far as our interior offensive line play...it is not that it was bad but it could definitely be better. Davis would be a great asset at guard because of his size and strength. This is not a statement against M Brown as much as it is an endorsement of Davis's ability at guard.

Where did he say this? I've never seen the article, I'm not saying you are making it up I just have never seen it.

 

[General Chaos]

Im a fan of trading down if Thomas isn't there. There seems to be a major dip after Russell, Quinn, C. Johnson, and Thomas. Hopefully someone really wants Peterson.

 

[perivolaki]

There is no way this team keeps Davis and drafts Thomas. I heard on a radio show a week or two back that the Cardinals are 3rd in the NFL in the amount of money spent on their offensive line. When you factor in running backs the Cards are #1 in the NFL in money spent on the running game, thats offensive line + running backs.

If you look at it that way which most teams do, they are only going to allot so much money per unit and the Cards offensive line is already way up there. We may be able to trim it some by cutting Ross and some other veterans but there is no way you will see Thomas and Davis on this team together. It's just too much money allotted to the offensive line.

 

[PJ1]

There is no way this team keeps Davis and drafts Thomas. I heard on a radio show a week or two back that the Cardinals are 3rd in the NFL in the amount of money spent on their offensive line. When you factor in running backs the Cards are #1 in the NFL in money spent on the running game, thats offensive line + running backs.

If you look at it that way which most teams do, they are only going to allot so much money per unit and the Cards offensive line is already way up there. We may be able to trim it some by cutting Ross and some other veterans but there is no way you will see Thomas and Davis on this team together. It's just too much money allotted to the offensive line.

You may be right but I wouldn't be surprised to see it. They will be roasted by the media and fans if the line is weakened by letting LD go and the rookie is not ready.

 

[WildBB]

There is no way this team keeps Davis and drafts Thomas. I heard on a radio show a week or two back that the Cardinals are 3rd in the NFL in the amount of money spent on their offensive line. When you factor in running backs the Cards are #1 in the NFL in money spent on the running game, thats offensive line + running backs.

If you look at it that way which most teams do, they are only going to allot so much money per unit and the Cards offensive line is already way up there. We may be able to trim it some by cutting Ross and some other veterans but there is no way you will see Thomas and Davis on this team together. It's just too much money allotted to the offensive line.

It can and should be done.

 

[WildBB]

Im a fan of trading down if Thomas isn't there. There seems to be a major dip after Russell, Quinn, C. Johnson, and Thomas. Hopefully someone really wants Peterson.

That would hopefully be us.

 

[JC_AZ]

That would hopefully be us.

I agree...we are not SET at RB! New Orleans is SET at RB... with an innovative game plan, and our skill players on O, how do you game plan your D against ML, Edge, AP, Q and Fitz? Looks like they would be about 2 players short!

 

[Mulli]

That would hopefully be us.

 

[Estringonly]

Brady Quinn is gonna suck as a pro. Mark it down!

 

[Goldfield]

Milford Brown was one of our best linemen last year. If you want to replace someone on the line it should be Wells. He is playing OK, but he IMO is the weakest link.

I would Tag Davis play him at LG and move Brown to LT. Brown is very athletic, I think he could do well there. Joe Thomas at RT, Cut Ross...

I also agree about Rolle to FS. Sign Samuel...