Arizona's Finest
Your My Favorite Mistake
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My mock draft is the first ten picks only. Anybody who says they know who is going to be available at pick 22 is kidding themselves. Besides we are all Cardinal fans here so this is what affects us the most. I also am going to assume the move that makes way too much sense not to happen (Oakland trading up to #2 as was reported earlier today) will go through before the draft. So here it is:
Houston – Reggie Bush
An absolute no-brainer. If they stay here and don’t draft Bush (and im not sure there is a trade scenario even possible to entice enough), the Texans front office should be lined up and shot as this is the surest thing I have seen to a HOFer coming out of college
Oakland – Matt Leinert
How many levels does this make sense on? Matt Leinert is the QB closest to being ready to contribute next year. And the Raiders are the closest top 10 team (Cardinals nonwithstanding) to being able to compete on a regular basis. They need a young QB and Al Davis has a predisposition to Heisman winners and guys from SC (if he could get Bush I’m sure he would as that would have completed the trifecta as he LOVES speed) and Lienert has been compared very favorably to Kenny Stabler, a Davis favorite. I think Matt has the tools to be very good and his intangibles and pocket poise are exactly what the Raiders need under center.
Tennessee – Jay Cutler
Here comes the first curve ball of the draft. Don’t think he will be drafted this high? Consider this: The Titans are dead set on getting a QB in this draft as they feel they will never be this high again to draft a stud. With Chow and Fishers choice (fellow SC alum Lienert) off the board because of those dastardly Raiders, they go for the next best fit. Why nor Vince Young? Although I have heard the Floyd Reese is enamored with him, there are a few things in play with this pick.
1 – Cutler is a Tennessee fav since he went to Vanderbilt. That’s good for about an extra 10,000 seats.
2 – The now legendary performance Cutler had when he was throwing darts into the wind and showing off his arm strength took place in, yup Tennessee Titans facilities.
3- While Young is an intriguing talent, Norm Chows system is predicated on pocket passers and WR’s, TE’s and RB’s making the plays. Go down the list of his apprentices. Leinert, Palmer, Phillip Rivers, and a slew of mediocre pocket passing QB’s from BYU.
Cutler has the big arm Chow likes. If it comes down to the coach and OC, I think Cutler will be the pick.
New York Jets – Vince Young
This my friends is what you call the swing pick. I could see them drafting the value pick in Williams at this point (does he fit into a 3-4?), or Hawk (would look good next to Vilma) or even Ferguson (Quick, name the Jets starting LT…..and no its not Pete Kendall) but when it comes down to it, the momentum is swinging back towards Vince Young and this is as good a situation as any, as he can sit back and learn behind Pennington and Ramsey. I’m not sure this is Mangini’s type of QB but I think the pressure will be immense.
Green Bay – Mario Williams
Hmm….team in dire need of pass rush and defensive help, gets chance at #5 to draft the best pass rushing prospect since Julius Peppers? Done and Done.
SF – AJ Hawk
While I know many believe the Niners want to get some help for Alex Smith, can they Nolan, a guy who coached Ray Lewis, pass up on this kid. I don’t think so. They can draft a WR or TE with the 22nd and pick and get a corner later. I personally would draft Hawk over everybody in this draft not named Bush or Leinert. I know SF is enamored with Hawk as well as a I heard an interview with a beat writer on the radio the other day and he said as much.
New Orleans – Vernon Davis
I’m guessing New Orleans gets a 2nd, next years first, and this pick to move back 5 slots and still get a guy they covet. Many are thinking Ferguson is the guy here but I disagree. They made a trade to shore up there tackle position a few weeks ago and with Drew Brees in tow, don’t you think they would like to get him the Antonio Gates clone he had so much success with in SD. Sean Payton loves to use the TE (See Witten and Shockey) and he gets himself a premier one with this pick. Expect them to draft Nick Manigold with their first second round pick as well.
Buffalo – D’Brick Ferguson
And the fall stops here. It always happens. A guy drops on draft day and no one saw it coming. Well I have heard enough scouts say they like Justice better than Ferguson to see that his value as a franchise LT is from a select few. Kiper himself said that Ferguson was no where near the class of Boselli or Ogden. And while Buffalo wanted Ngata, can they really pass on this guy when they have such a need. Exit Mike Williams , Enter Ferguson. That sound you hear is JP Losman yelling for joy that he will actually get to stand up right for more than a few seconds.
Detroit – Chad Jackson
(just kidding)
Michael Huff
Wow this draft has a lot of elite prospects. Marinelli needs a safety to make his cover two defense work, and with no value D-linemen that fit his likes, he goes with the best prospect still on the board.
Arizona – Winston Justice
No QB’s available. Davis is gone. Ferguson and Hawk did not fall far enough. This is terrible right. Not really. What this does is force the PR driven Cardinals to actually make a move in all likelihood is the key to us winning next year. In this scenario I could see the Cards falling back so Philly or Cleveland can get Ngata and I might do that. But I think its smart to draft this guy, immediately pencil him in as RT, and maybe just maybe, he will progress enough to opening day that he can move into the LT spot for BIG. That would be huge (no pun intended).
I say we make this pick, and then forget about this damn position it until about the 6th round where I would recommend grabbing an interior guy. Now we go get BPA at TE, LB, or in the secondary in the next two round and we are on the cusp of big things. For those of you who checked out my draft analysis, while I previously thought we were a playmaker away (and we were but we got one in the Edge) I now believe we should do what every good NFL team does and build depth and talent along the lines. I really don’t think we need anymore Pro Bowl players (although I ain’t sending them back either) as we have great players at key positions already. We just need to make sure guys at positions like FS, MLB, TE, and along the lines are all NFL starter material. Solid but not spectacular.
I think the core is in place and although my preference is to get a young QB this year, its not the end of the world if we don’t and I would rather not waste a second or third rounder if we don’t feel he is at the level as the three top guys in this draft. It’s important that backup QB is addressed however and I think if we don’t get a guy in the first, Kerry Collins is the way to go.
Houston – Reggie Bush
An absolute no-brainer. If they stay here and don’t draft Bush (and im not sure there is a trade scenario even possible to entice enough), the Texans front office should be lined up and shot as this is the surest thing I have seen to a HOFer coming out of college
Oakland – Matt Leinert
How many levels does this make sense on? Matt Leinert is the QB closest to being ready to contribute next year. And the Raiders are the closest top 10 team (Cardinals nonwithstanding) to being able to compete on a regular basis. They need a young QB and Al Davis has a predisposition to Heisman winners and guys from SC (if he could get Bush I’m sure he would as that would have completed the trifecta as he LOVES speed) and Lienert has been compared very favorably to Kenny Stabler, a Davis favorite. I think Matt has the tools to be very good and his intangibles and pocket poise are exactly what the Raiders need under center.
Tennessee – Jay Cutler
Here comes the first curve ball of the draft. Don’t think he will be drafted this high? Consider this: The Titans are dead set on getting a QB in this draft as they feel they will never be this high again to draft a stud. With Chow and Fishers choice (fellow SC alum Lienert) off the board because of those dastardly Raiders, they go for the next best fit. Why nor Vince Young? Although I have heard the Floyd Reese is enamored with him, there are a few things in play with this pick.
1 – Cutler is a Tennessee fav since he went to Vanderbilt. That’s good for about an extra 10,000 seats.
2 – The now legendary performance Cutler had when he was throwing darts into the wind and showing off his arm strength took place in, yup Tennessee Titans facilities.
3- While Young is an intriguing talent, Norm Chows system is predicated on pocket passers and WR’s, TE’s and RB’s making the plays. Go down the list of his apprentices. Leinert, Palmer, Phillip Rivers, and a slew of mediocre pocket passing QB’s from BYU.
Cutler has the big arm Chow likes. If it comes down to the coach and OC, I think Cutler will be the pick.
New York Jets – Vince Young
This my friends is what you call the swing pick. I could see them drafting the value pick in Williams at this point (does he fit into a 3-4?), or Hawk (would look good next to Vilma) or even Ferguson (Quick, name the Jets starting LT…..and no its not Pete Kendall) but when it comes down to it, the momentum is swinging back towards Vince Young and this is as good a situation as any, as he can sit back and learn behind Pennington and Ramsey. I’m not sure this is Mangini’s type of QB but I think the pressure will be immense.
Green Bay – Mario Williams
Hmm….team in dire need of pass rush and defensive help, gets chance at #5 to draft the best pass rushing prospect since Julius Peppers? Done and Done.
SF – AJ Hawk
While I know many believe the Niners want to get some help for Alex Smith, can they Nolan, a guy who coached Ray Lewis, pass up on this kid. I don’t think so. They can draft a WR or TE with the 22nd and pick and get a corner later. I personally would draft Hawk over everybody in this draft not named Bush or Leinert. I know SF is enamored with Hawk as well as a I heard an interview with a beat writer on the radio the other day and he said as much.
New Orleans – Vernon Davis
I’m guessing New Orleans gets a 2nd, next years first, and this pick to move back 5 slots and still get a guy they covet. Many are thinking Ferguson is the guy here but I disagree. They made a trade to shore up there tackle position a few weeks ago and with Drew Brees in tow, don’t you think they would like to get him the Antonio Gates clone he had so much success with in SD. Sean Payton loves to use the TE (See Witten and Shockey) and he gets himself a premier one with this pick. Expect them to draft Nick Manigold with their first second round pick as well.
Buffalo – D’Brick Ferguson
And the fall stops here. It always happens. A guy drops on draft day and no one saw it coming. Well I have heard enough scouts say they like Justice better than Ferguson to see that his value as a franchise LT is from a select few. Kiper himself said that Ferguson was no where near the class of Boselli or Ogden. And while Buffalo wanted Ngata, can they really pass on this guy when they have such a need. Exit Mike Williams , Enter Ferguson. That sound you hear is JP Losman yelling for joy that he will actually get to stand up right for more than a few seconds.
Detroit – Chad Jackson
(just kidding)
Michael Huff
Wow this draft has a lot of elite prospects. Marinelli needs a safety to make his cover two defense work, and with no value D-linemen that fit his likes, he goes with the best prospect still on the board.
Arizona – Winston Justice
No QB’s available. Davis is gone. Ferguson and Hawk did not fall far enough. This is terrible right. Not really. What this does is force the PR driven Cardinals to actually make a move in all likelihood is the key to us winning next year. In this scenario I could see the Cards falling back so Philly or Cleveland can get Ngata and I might do that. But I think its smart to draft this guy, immediately pencil him in as RT, and maybe just maybe, he will progress enough to opening day that he can move into the LT spot for BIG. That would be huge (no pun intended).
I say we make this pick, and then forget about this damn position it until about the 6th round where I would recommend grabbing an interior guy. Now we go get BPA at TE, LB, or in the secondary in the next two round and we are on the cusp of big things. For those of you who checked out my draft analysis, while I previously thought we were a playmaker away (and we were but we got one in the Edge) I now believe we should do what every good NFL team does and build depth and talent along the lines. I really don’t think we need anymore Pro Bowl players (although I ain’t sending them back either) as we have great players at key positions already. We just need to make sure guys at positions like FS, MLB, TE, and along the lines are all NFL starter material. Solid but not spectacular.
I think the core is in place and although my preference is to get a young QB this year, its not the end of the world if we don’t and I would rather not waste a second or third rounder if we don’t feel he is at the level as the three top guys in this draft. It’s important that backup QB is addressed however and I think if we don’t get a guy in the first, Kerry Collins is the way to go.
