About two weeks ago, I began a mock draft with some other danish NFL-fans. I obviously volunteered to be the general manager of the Cardinals. I thought I would pass on the result along with some thoughts throughout the mock draft to this board.
Here is a link to the entire mock draft: http://americanfootball.freeforums.org/gm-mock-i-2015-drafttraden-t223.html
First a few quick notes:
Overall, my philosophy towards the draft has changed a bit in recent years. I used to be all about getting the best value with each pick but I think rookies have become so important nowadays that I think you have to look at drafting for needs to some extent. With that in mind, I had my overall rankings, and then I had specific needs and fits to the Cardinals on another (imaginary) board. I guess it is pretty much what the Cardinals has in the real draft. It meant that I might choose to select a player that I did not think had the value in general at the spot but had the right value specific to the Cardinals.
I started the mock draft with the thinking that I would strengthen the run game and the linebacking corps. To me, that was the two biggest issues last season, and I think the Cardinals would at least be able to compete with the Panthers if those two elements had been better.
Not once, at any time, did I think about drafting a quarterback. I think Palmer will be back, I think Stanton is a good backup, and I think it is way too soon to give up on Logan Thomas. Maybe he will be good, maybe he will stay as he is right now, but he is Arians’ project, and I am willing to give it some time.
Nor did I think about drafting Melvin Gordon. As I said, I wanted to upgrade the run game but I don’t think Gordon is that special. I have seen my share of Wisconsin-games from last season, and I’m still not sure he broke a single tackle or at least got touch in any of them. Just kidding, but he DID have some huge holes to run through.
Now, on to the draft:
#24 – Traded with the Packers for their #30, #94 (third round) and #190 (sixth round). They got my #24 and #182 (sixth round)
My thinking:
When I was on the clock, I had three players I strongly considered (Paul Dawson, inside linebacker, TCU. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, outside linebacker, UCLA. Ereck Flowers, offensive tackle, Miami), and I thought at least one of them were likely to slide far enough that I would still get my shot at him. Yes, I also considered Todd Gurley, runningback, Georgia. I don’t like to draft runningbacks in the first round, and especially runningbacks coming off ACL-surgery, but I just think Gurley could maybe be a home run-pick. I really think he could potentially takes this offense to a new level.
If I could do it all over, I would probably have selected Odighizuwa right away. That’s basically because I am buying what Chopper has been selling for months, and especially since we now know that the defensive philosophy will not change. The outside linebackers are not the primary pass rushers to the Cardinals. They are run stoppers first with a very big responsible at setting the edge. I think Odhigizuwa are the best in the draft at doing that, and he can still really get after the quarterback. When I made this trade I was still worried (and I still am) about him only being a little more than a year removed from two major hip surgeries but that’s not really an excuse as I think his potential and upside will still make him a first round pick.
#30 – Paul Dawson, inside linebacker, TCU
My thinking:
Paul Dawson was the one out of the three that fell far enough for me to select him, and even though I kind of regret not drafting Odighizuwa I would be happy with this pick in real life.
Again, this is mostly because Chopper has me convinced that the primary pass rush comes from the inside linebackers, and I think Dawson is probably the best, most complete linebacker in this draft. His playing style reminds me some of Karlos Dansby because Dawson as well is very instinctive, yet is good enough, patient enough and has the football-intelligence to stay home, read the play and then make his move. He is great at blitzing the A-gap, he closes very fast, he can run from sideline-to-sideline, and he is very skilled at dropping in to coverage. I honestly think it’s hard to find holes in his game.
Obviously, I have no idea what happens to Daryl Washington, and this pick was not made because of him, but having Dawson would seriously diminish the need for having Washington back at full speed.
#55 – Alex Carter, cornerback, Stanford
My thinking:
I had not envisioned drafting a cornerback this early, if at all, but I thought the value was too great to pass up. I guess you could say that this was where my overall board ‘won’ over my Cardinals-board.
When the pick came up, I considered Arie Kouandjio, offensive guard, Alabama, and Preston Smith, defensive end, Mississippi State. I tried to trade back as well but didn’t get any offers that were good enough.
Alex Carter is a very skilled cornerback who has played in both zone- and man-coverage, and has excelled in both. For the last two season of his career at Stanford, Carter blanketed the opponents’ best receiver, and more often than not helped with the run defense as well.
I didn’t really think about Cromartie maybe leaving since I can’t predict the future but I don’t think that would have anything to do with this pick anyway. As I wrote at the start this was a value-pick, and since they often uses many defensive backs in nickel-packages there should be plenty of playing time to Carter. Besides, I think Powers is much better off staying where he is as the nickel-back.
#86 – Traded with the Saints for their #75, #109 (fourth round), and #205 (seventh round). They got my pick #86, #94 (third round) and #216 (seventh round)
My thinking:
After my previous pick a run on offensive linemen suddenly started. I wanted to upgrade the run game, and I think blocking is more important than the runningback, so I decided to pull the trigger, and move up to secure the last offensive lineman I had ranked in the first three rounds.
This was a hard trade to make. A very good friend of mine were in charge of the Saints, and he definitely knows what he is doing as it relates to the draft. So even though I didn’t really wanted to flee him, I wouldn’t have been able to even if I had tried. At the end of the day, I knew we would end up with a trade that both of us felt comfortable with but it took a long time to get there.
#75 – Daryl Williams, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
My thinking:
I think you could move Williams to right guard, and he will be a monster in the run game for years. Oklahoma had a very good offensive line this past season, and in run blocking no-one came even close to matching Williams.
He actually reminds me some of D.J. Fluker coming out of Alabama, and just like Fluker, I believe Williams could play some offensive tackle if needed.
I really think Williams could be drafted even higher, and I think if he were to be picked by the Cardinals they could have found their two starting offensive guard (if Cooper pans out) for a very long time.
#109 – Taiwan Jones, inside linebacker, Michigan State
My thinking:
More pass rush from the inside. At this pick, I was also considering Nick O’Leary, tight end, Florida State, and Henry Anderson, defensive end, Stanford. I just think they will be as patient with Troy Niklas as they were with Okafor, and that Fells looks like a keeper, and I didn’t select Anderson because I think the defensive line is stacked – maybe outside of a true nose guard.
I get that Jones has looked somewhat like a classic thumper this season, and that’s probably why a lot of people questions his coverage-ability. I just think you have to factor in that prior to this season he got moved to middle linebacker to replace Max Bullough, who was drafted last year, and that Michigan State does not ask their middle linebacker to do much else besides staying in the box. Taiwan Jones played outside linebacker for two full season, with many coverage-assignments, and he didn’t look lost at all.
Even if he should turn out to be the second coming of Kevin Minter (but probably better on special teams), I think that’s decent value in the fourth round.
#120 – Malcolm Brown, runningback, Texas
My thinking:
I didn’t think about selecting anyone else at this spot. I had it circled for a long time as the perfect spot to target Brown.
He is the runningback I would like the team to draft. Outside of Todd Gurley I don’t think there is a better fit. I think Brown has suffered from several things at Texas, including a big rotation of runningbacks, a bad offensive line, and a very unstable quarterback-situation. Obviously, at the end of the day, Brown has simply not been good enough but I really believe he will be a better pro- than college-player.
Brown runs hard, can make some nifty moves and though he is no speedster, he’s not slow either.
#151 – Chris Hackett, safety, TCU
My thinking:
Here, I thought about Deion Barnes, rush linebacker, Penn State. Nose guard, Xavier Williams, Northern Iowa. Offensive guard, Robert Myers, Tennessee State.
In the end I decided that the value was too good with Hackett, and even though I think players such as Rashad Johnson or Tony Jefferson are good enough, I also think they are replaceable. Like I wrote about Alex Carter, I am almost certain there would be plenty of playing time for Hackett in different packages.
Actually, I think he will get drafted a lot higher than this. I think he was available because he is not the fastest player, and his tackling-skills are not that good.
#190 – Max Garcia, center, Florida
My thinking:
I also thought about Chris Harper, wide receiver, California.
It’s high praise to call a sixth round-pick a potential starter but I really think that could be the case with Garcia. Besides, I think you got to have the mindset that you are looking for starters with each pick. He’s not a great athlete (though he has seen playing time at offensive tackle with Florida) but he’s so football-intelligent, strong in run blocking and at the point of attack, and plays with very good technique. I think he could at least challenge Sendlein, and maybe the loser of the battle could play guard if needed.
#205 – Bryan Thomas, rush linebacker, Bowling Green
My thinking:
I thought about Matthew Wells, hybrid safety-linebacker, Mississippi State, but not really anyone else.
Honestly, I don’t think Bryan Thomas will get drafted. I just like him, and think he could be a good fit or maybe just a good special teams-player.
He’s actually a somewhat complete player but unfortunately he doesn’t do anything particularly well. He’s best a setting the edge (against Wisconsin, Melvin Gordon ran 13 times for 253 yards, and the rest of the team ran 47 times for 391 yards. Not one time did a play bounce to the outside of Bryan Thomas) but in their bowl-game against South Alabama he almost lived in the backfield so he has some pass rush-moves as well. He has a very big motor, can get around the corner or rush inside, and his hustle-skills are what made me a fan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Paul Dawson, inside linebacker, TCU
2. Alex Carter, cornerback, Stanford
3. Daryl Williams, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
4. Taiwan Jones, inside linebacker, Michigan State
4. Malcolm Brown, runningback, Texas
5. Chris Hackett, safety, TCU
6. Max Garcia, center, Florida
7. Bryan Thomas, rush linebacker, Bowling Green
I think I manage to achieve my goals. I think Daryl Williams would be a very good guard, and that Malcolm Brown could thrive in a rotation with Ellington and Taylor, and behind a much better offensive line than at Texas. I also think both Paul Dawson and Taiwan Jones would have a chance to earn a starting-spot – Dawson probably pretty quick, - and if Daryl Washington comes back, and maybe if Kevin Minter wakes up, the inside linebacking corps could develop into something special. I would have liked to add an outside linebacker earlier than I did but I simply didn’t think the value was right. You could argue that at least one of the defensive back-picks were sort of overkill but I thought the value was to get to resist, and you can never have enough talent on your roster.
We will probably do another mock draft again in a month or two, and obviously, I will pass along the result.
Here is a link to the entire mock draft: http://americanfootball.freeforums.org/gm-mock-i-2015-drafttraden-t223.html
First a few quick notes:
Overall, my philosophy towards the draft has changed a bit in recent years. I used to be all about getting the best value with each pick but I think rookies have become so important nowadays that I think you have to look at drafting for needs to some extent. With that in mind, I had my overall rankings, and then I had specific needs and fits to the Cardinals on another (imaginary) board. I guess it is pretty much what the Cardinals has in the real draft. It meant that I might choose to select a player that I did not think had the value in general at the spot but had the right value specific to the Cardinals.
I started the mock draft with the thinking that I would strengthen the run game and the linebacking corps. To me, that was the two biggest issues last season, and I think the Cardinals would at least be able to compete with the Panthers if those two elements had been better.
Not once, at any time, did I think about drafting a quarterback. I think Palmer will be back, I think Stanton is a good backup, and I think it is way too soon to give up on Logan Thomas. Maybe he will be good, maybe he will stay as he is right now, but he is Arians’ project, and I am willing to give it some time.
Nor did I think about drafting Melvin Gordon. As I said, I wanted to upgrade the run game but I don’t think Gordon is that special. I have seen my share of Wisconsin-games from last season, and I’m still not sure he broke a single tackle or at least got touch in any of them. Just kidding, but he DID have some huge holes to run through.
Now, on to the draft:
#24 – Traded with the Packers for their #30, #94 (third round) and #190 (sixth round). They got my #24 and #182 (sixth round)
My thinking:
When I was on the clock, I had three players I strongly considered (Paul Dawson, inside linebacker, TCU. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, outside linebacker, UCLA. Ereck Flowers, offensive tackle, Miami), and I thought at least one of them were likely to slide far enough that I would still get my shot at him. Yes, I also considered Todd Gurley, runningback, Georgia. I don’t like to draft runningbacks in the first round, and especially runningbacks coming off ACL-surgery, but I just think Gurley could maybe be a home run-pick. I really think he could potentially takes this offense to a new level.
If I could do it all over, I would probably have selected Odighizuwa right away. That’s basically because I am buying what Chopper has been selling for months, and especially since we now know that the defensive philosophy will not change. The outside linebackers are not the primary pass rushers to the Cardinals. They are run stoppers first with a very big responsible at setting the edge. I think Odhigizuwa are the best in the draft at doing that, and he can still really get after the quarterback. When I made this trade I was still worried (and I still am) about him only being a little more than a year removed from two major hip surgeries but that’s not really an excuse as I think his potential and upside will still make him a first round pick.
#30 – Paul Dawson, inside linebacker, TCU
My thinking:
Paul Dawson was the one out of the three that fell far enough for me to select him, and even though I kind of regret not drafting Odighizuwa I would be happy with this pick in real life.
Again, this is mostly because Chopper has me convinced that the primary pass rush comes from the inside linebackers, and I think Dawson is probably the best, most complete linebacker in this draft. His playing style reminds me some of Karlos Dansby because Dawson as well is very instinctive, yet is good enough, patient enough and has the football-intelligence to stay home, read the play and then make his move. He is great at blitzing the A-gap, he closes very fast, he can run from sideline-to-sideline, and he is very skilled at dropping in to coverage. I honestly think it’s hard to find holes in his game.
Obviously, I have no idea what happens to Daryl Washington, and this pick was not made because of him, but having Dawson would seriously diminish the need for having Washington back at full speed.
#55 – Alex Carter, cornerback, Stanford
My thinking:
I had not envisioned drafting a cornerback this early, if at all, but I thought the value was too great to pass up. I guess you could say that this was where my overall board ‘won’ over my Cardinals-board.
When the pick came up, I considered Arie Kouandjio, offensive guard, Alabama, and Preston Smith, defensive end, Mississippi State. I tried to trade back as well but didn’t get any offers that were good enough.
Alex Carter is a very skilled cornerback who has played in both zone- and man-coverage, and has excelled in both. For the last two season of his career at Stanford, Carter blanketed the opponents’ best receiver, and more often than not helped with the run defense as well.
I didn’t really think about Cromartie maybe leaving since I can’t predict the future but I don’t think that would have anything to do with this pick anyway. As I wrote at the start this was a value-pick, and since they often uses many defensive backs in nickel-packages there should be plenty of playing time to Carter. Besides, I think Powers is much better off staying where he is as the nickel-back.
#86 – Traded with the Saints for their #75, #109 (fourth round), and #205 (seventh round). They got my pick #86, #94 (third round) and #216 (seventh round)
My thinking:
After my previous pick a run on offensive linemen suddenly started. I wanted to upgrade the run game, and I think blocking is more important than the runningback, so I decided to pull the trigger, and move up to secure the last offensive lineman I had ranked in the first three rounds.
This was a hard trade to make. A very good friend of mine were in charge of the Saints, and he definitely knows what he is doing as it relates to the draft. So even though I didn’t really wanted to flee him, I wouldn’t have been able to even if I had tried. At the end of the day, I knew we would end up with a trade that both of us felt comfortable with but it took a long time to get there.
#75 – Daryl Williams, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
My thinking:
I think you could move Williams to right guard, and he will be a monster in the run game for years. Oklahoma had a very good offensive line this past season, and in run blocking no-one came even close to matching Williams.
He actually reminds me some of D.J. Fluker coming out of Alabama, and just like Fluker, I believe Williams could play some offensive tackle if needed.
I really think Williams could be drafted even higher, and I think if he were to be picked by the Cardinals they could have found their two starting offensive guard (if Cooper pans out) for a very long time.
#109 – Taiwan Jones, inside linebacker, Michigan State
My thinking:
More pass rush from the inside. At this pick, I was also considering Nick O’Leary, tight end, Florida State, and Henry Anderson, defensive end, Stanford. I just think they will be as patient with Troy Niklas as they were with Okafor, and that Fells looks like a keeper, and I didn’t select Anderson because I think the defensive line is stacked – maybe outside of a true nose guard.
I get that Jones has looked somewhat like a classic thumper this season, and that’s probably why a lot of people questions his coverage-ability. I just think you have to factor in that prior to this season he got moved to middle linebacker to replace Max Bullough, who was drafted last year, and that Michigan State does not ask their middle linebacker to do much else besides staying in the box. Taiwan Jones played outside linebacker for two full season, with many coverage-assignments, and he didn’t look lost at all.
Even if he should turn out to be the second coming of Kevin Minter (but probably better on special teams), I think that’s decent value in the fourth round.
#120 – Malcolm Brown, runningback, Texas
My thinking:
I didn’t think about selecting anyone else at this spot. I had it circled for a long time as the perfect spot to target Brown.
He is the runningback I would like the team to draft. Outside of Todd Gurley I don’t think there is a better fit. I think Brown has suffered from several things at Texas, including a big rotation of runningbacks, a bad offensive line, and a very unstable quarterback-situation. Obviously, at the end of the day, Brown has simply not been good enough but I really believe he will be a better pro- than college-player.
Brown runs hard, can make some nifty moves and though he is no speedster, he’s not slow either.
#151 – Chris Hackett, safety, TCU
My thinking:
Here, I thought about Deion Barnes, rush linebacker, Penn State. Nose guard, Xavier Williams, Northern Iowa. Offensive guard, Robert Myers, Tennessee State.
In the end I decided that the value was too good with Hackett, and even though I think players such as Rashad Johnson or Tony Jefferson are good enough, I also think they are replaceable. Like I wrote about Alex Carter, I am almost certain there would be plenty of playing time for Hackett in different packages.
Actually, I think he will get drafted a lot higher than this. I think he was available because he is not the fastest player, and his tackling-skills are not that good.
#190 – Max Garcia, center, Florida
My thinking:
I also thought about Chris Harper, wide receiver, California.
It’s high praise to call a sixth round-pick a potential starter but I really think that could be the case with Garcia. Besides, I think you got to have the mindset that you are looking for starters with each pick. He’s not a great athlete (though he has seen playing time at offensive tackle with Florida) but he’s so football-intelligent, strong in run blocking and at the point of attack, and plays with very good technique. I think he could at least challenge Sendlein, and maybe the loser of the battle could play guard if needed.
#205 – Bryan Thomas, rush linebacker, Bowling Green
My thinking:
I thought about Matthew Wells, hybrid safety-linebacker, Mississippi State, but not really anyone else.
Honestly, I don’t think Bryan Thomas will get drafted. I just like him, and think he could be a good fit or maybe just a good special teams-player.
He’s actually a somewhat complete player but unfortunately he doesn’t do anything particularly well. He’s best a setting the edge (against Wisconsin, Melvin Gordon ran 13 times for 253 yards, and the rest of the team ran 47 times for 391 yards. Not one time did a play bounce to the outside of Bryan Thomas) but in their bowl-game against South Alabama he almost lived in the backfield so he has some pass rush-moves as well. He has a very big motor, can get around the corner or rush inside, and his hustle-skills are what made me a fan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Paul Dawson, inside linebacker, TCU
2. Alex Carter, cornerback, Stanford
3. Daryl Williams, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
4. Taiwan Jones, inside linebacker, Michigan State
4. Malcolm Brown, runningback, Texas
5. Chris Hackett, safety, TCU
6. Max Garcia, center, Florida
7. Bryan Thomas, rush linebacker, Bowling Green
I think I manage to achieve my goals. I think Daryl Williams would be a very good guard, and that Malcolm Brown could thrive in a rotation with Ellington and Taylor, and behind a much better offensive line than at Texas. I also think both Paul Dawson and Taiwan Jones would have a chance to earn a starting-spot – Dawson probably pretty quick, - and if Daryl Washington comes back, and maybe if Kevin Minter wakes up, the inside linebacking corps could develop into something special. I would have liked to add an outside linebacker earlier than I did but I simply didn’t think the value was right. You could argue that at least one of the defensive back-picks were sort of overkill but I thought the value was to get to resist, and you can never have enough talent on your roster.
We will probably do another mock draft again in a month or two, and obviously, I will pass along the result.
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