ESPN makes this projection for Saturday:
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-10)
Derrick Johnson | OLB | Texas
We still contend the Cardinals and Bills will get a trade done with Buffalo, dealing OT L.J. Shelton for RB Travis Henry, before or on draft day. Bills general manager Tom Donahoe's request to flip-flop second round picks (Nos. 44 and 55) in addition should be matched. For the Cardinals, the thought process is to address one of their biggest needs with Henry taking over as the starting running back, while also giving them the freedom to draft the best available defensive player at pick No. 8. While cornerback is clearly their biggest defensive need, don't be shocked if Johnson is the pick. The depth at the cornerback class is much greater than at linebacker, and the team could use an elite player in the linebacker corps after making Ronald McKinnon, LeVar Woods and Ray Thompson salary-cap casualties in the offseason. Johnson still needs to become more physical and learn to take on blocks, but he has Derrick Brooks-like potential and immediately would upgrade the athleticism and playmaking skills of the Cardinals' defense.
Other scenarios:
• If the Cardinals get a deal done for Henry, they have the luxury of drafting Johnson because they can still draft a quality prospect from a deep cornerback position in the second round.
• If they get Henry and wind up drafting Rolle at No. 8, the team would continue to address the defense in the second round.
• If they don't get a deal done for a running back, the team would draft its highest-rated prospect at the running back and cornerback positions – RB Brown, DC Rolle, RB Benson, RB Carnell Williams, DC Carlos Rogers and DC Jones.
• If that's the case, the team would use its second-round pick on the position that it didn't address in the first round.
• If QB Rodgers slips to the Cardinals at No. 8, they would debate all possible options but would likely pass on him in favor of a defensive player or running back.
The other choices (players the Cards apparently like):
Travis Henry RB trade with Bills
Rd. 2-Bryant McFadden CB Florida State
Rd. 3 (a)-C.J. Mosley DT Missouri
Rd. 3 (b)-Chris Colmer OT North Carolina State
Rd. 4-Jerome Collins TE Notre Dame
Rd. 5-Brandon Jacobs RB Southern Illinois
Rd. 6-Peppi Zellner DE and Troy Hambrick trade with Raiders
Rd. 7-Adell Duckett DE Texas Tech
FYI-Rumors are very high that the Cards are working on trying to trade for CB Patrick Surtain for a third round pick and they are also looking at CB Pete Hunter of Dallas for a future pick.
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-10)
Derrick Johnson | OLB | Texas
We still contend the Cardinals and Bills will get a trade done with Buffalo, dealing OT L.J. Shelton for RB Travis Henry, before or on draft day. Bills general manager Tom Donahoe's request to flip-flop second round picks (Nos. 44 and 55) in addition should be matched. For the Cardinals, the thought process is to address one of their biggest needs with Henry taking over as the starting running back, while also giving them the freedom to draft the best available defensive player at pick No. 8. While cornerback is clearly their biggest defensive need, don't be shocked if Johnson is the pick. The depth at the cornerback class is much greater than at linebacker, and the team could use an elite player in the linebacker corps after making Ronald McKinnon, LeVar Woods and Ray Thompson salary-cap casualties in the offseason. Johnson still needs to become more physical and learn to take on blocks, but he has Derrick Brooks-like potential and immediately would upgrade the athleticism and playmaking skills of the Cardinals' defense.
Other scenarios:
• If the Cardinals get a deal done for Henry, they have the luxury of drafting Johnson because they can still draft a quality prospect from a deep cornerback position in the second round.
• If they get Henry and wind up drafting Rolle at No. 8, the team would continue to address the defense in the second round.
• If they don't get a deal done for a running back, the team would draft its highest-rated prospect at the running back and cornerback positions – RB Brown, DC Rolle, RB Benson, RB Carnell Williams, DC Carlos Rogers and DC Jones.
• If that's the case, the team would use its second-round pick on the position that it didn't address in the first round.
• If QB Rodgers slips to the Cardinals at No. 8, they would debate all possible options but would likely pass on him in favor of a defensive player or running back.
The other choices (players the Cards apparently like):
Travis Henry RB trade with Bills
Rd. 2-Bryant McFadden CB Florida State
Rd. 3 (a)-C.J. Mosley DT Missouri
Rd. 3 (b)-Chris Colmer OT North Carolina State
Rd. 4-Jerome Collins TE Notre Dame
Rd. 5-Brandon Jacobs RB Southern Illinois
Rd. 6-Peppi Zellner DE and Troy Hambrick trade with Raiders
Rd. 7-Adell Duckett DE Texas Tech
FYI-Rumors are very high that the Cards are working on trying to trade for CB Patrick Surtain for a third round pick and they are also looking at CB Pete Hunter of Dallas for a future pick.
