How did the Cardinals do ? [Read before voting]

[RugbyMuffin]

I am not asking to grade the potential of this draft. I am asking how well the Cardinals drafted relative to the 2013 NFL draft, at this time, under the current circumstances.

I.E. - Don't say Tyrann Matheui COULD be great. What do you think about him today. And keep that mindset for all the draft picks, and then make your pick.

 

[oaken1]

based on "expert" analysis and draft projections,....the Cards war room did a fantastic job of pulling value from the draft..........managed to fill some team needs and add depth in the process...

 

[RugbyMuffin]

based on "expert" analysis and draft projections,....the Cards war room did a fantastic job of pulling value from the draft..........managed to fill some team needs and add depth in the process...

Agreed.

On paper I see

Cooper, G - Starting caliber, needed.

Minter, ILB - a 2-down linebacker, but great fit for the team

Mathieu, FS - Wildcard, could be great, could be a wasted pick, hasn't played in a year

Okafor, OLB - Must be a reason he dropped, solid OLB prospect

Watford, OG - Small school dominator, will it translate to NFL

Stepfan Taylor, HB - pass blocking specialist, extremely durable, jack of all trades master of none

Ryan Swope, WR - Speed WR, with injury concerns

Andre Ellington, HB - there is a reason he dropped, but good potential

D.C. Jefferson, TE - I wasn't impressed with Jefferson in Rutgers, and he cost them a bowl game against Louisville

That is just speaking for today, not really letting myself get into the thoughts about what the potential of this draft class may be.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I went A+ for the reason that this was the very first time I saw the Cardinals trade and move around and still get their guy for the most part and added picks that could contribute. One just cannot pick whoever you want because you have other teams wanting their guy too, for me the Cards could not have done better and how they reacted to the ongoing draft.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I went A+ for the reason that this was the very first time I saw the Cardinals trade and move around and still get their guy for the most part and added picks that could contribute. One just cannot pick whoever you want because you have other teams wanting their guy too, for me the Cards could not have done better and how they reacted to the ongoing draft.

Damn. Wish I didn't vote already.

That is a REALLY REALLY good point.

The best example is:

I was a little bummed we passed up Menelik Watson in the 2nd round but if you look at it like we gave up Menelik Watson for Kevin Minter AND Earl Watford it makes it seem a little better. If Watford can translate his college success to the NFL we have an absolute STEAL for the Cardinals with Watford.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Damn. Wish I didn't vote already.

That is a REALLY REALLY good point.

The best example is:

I was a little bummed we passed up Menelik Watson in the 2nd round but if you look at it like we gave up Menelik Watson for Kevin Minter AND Earl Watford it makes it seem a little better. If Watford can translate his college success to the NFL we have an absolute STEAL for the Cardinals with Watford.

For me if this was an average team, who had a history of being active across the rounds getting their guy, I would have given the Cards a A-, but these are the Cardinals...I was freaking shocked at all the trades, and we got so lucky by still getting our man. I think removed from the center, Schwenke from Cal who it appeared we might have wanted that got picked ahead of us, the front office acquired picks and loaded on their targets.

 

[Cardiac]

Glad SK didn't want to trade up for a LT or Pass Rusher because "we need all our picks". No other choice but to take Cooper or try and trade down and get Jarvous Jones, which may have been the best idea. Thing is Cooper is top notch talent and superior human being and also addresses a huge need so I'm glad SK took him.

Loved trading back in the 2nd and 4th rounds picking up extra picks in a very deep draft.

How about Okafor in the 4th after getting Massie and Acho in the same rd previously.

Wasn't happy about the Honey Badger pick but have come around from my knee jerk reaction to being very happy with the choice. Based on some posters comments, listening to SK explain why they are confident in the choice and the Honey Badger saying he will put whatever language they want in the contract.

Can't give the draft more than a A- because I'm not sold we have taken care of the OLBer position fully.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Glad SK didn't want to trade up for a LT or Pass Rusher because "we need all our picks". No other choice but to take Cooper or try and trade down and get Jarvous Jones, which may have been the best idea. Thing is Cooper is top notch talent and superior human being and also addresses a huge need so I'm glad SK took him.

Loved trading back in the 2nd and 4th rounds picking up extra picks in a very deep draft.

How about Okafor in the 4th after getting Massie and Acho in the same rd previously.

Wasn't happy about the Honey Badger pick but have come around from my knee jerk reaction to being very happy with the choice. Based on some posters comments, listening to SK explain why they are confident in the choice and the Honey Badger saying he will put whatever language they want in the contract.

Can't give the draft more than a A- because I'm not sold we have taken care of the OLBer position fully.

Good points, but I personally never can look at a draft and base it fully on fulfilling needs because it is a gamble and because it is a gamble you just hope the players available, which have the best shot sticking in the pros, fill those needs for the most part. One cannot dictate the draft, its talent and ongoing situation dictates the drafter. Seriously, if you looked at the teams after the draft and removed their name, and draft postions, and said which team was the Cardinals without knowing the prior draft talk...there is no way with all the trades that I would have guessed that the Cardinals are the Cardinals LOL

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Can't give the draft more than a A- because I'm not sold we have taken care of the OLBer position fully.

Keep an eye on Dan Giordano, UDFA we signed.

Really good potential there

 

[BW52]

Grade "B" .Because Mathieu a risk.Didn`t see a real need for Jefferson at TE although a 7th round pick is just gravy.
Cooper seems like he is really happy to be a Card and like the fact that the Cards are getting high character guys who were leaders on their college teams.
Still think Cards are a bit thin on the DT-NT positions although UDFA`s might help that.

 

[Duckjake]

Grade B because that's the kind of players the Cards selected. Nothing wrong with that though because they got them in almost every round. Beats the heck out of the C and D and Z players they were drafting in the later rounds.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Saw a site which rated the GMs in the draft results and the only two which got an A+ were the Cards and Niners

 

[Darkside]

I'm by no means a draft guru, but here are my (somewhat) brief thoughts:

Overall grade: A-. This comes from looking at it as self contained and mutually exclusive from anything else. That is, graded solely on this year based on who was available and what our needs were. I don't like the Mathieu pick at all and that's why I added the minus. And I don't want to hear about PP being a mentor--because they were teammates when Mathieu got into trouble in the first place. Furthermore, there's been nonsense of his reported within the past few months so I don't see any improvement--smartest thing he did was cancel his draft party, but he only did that after the media caught wind of it. I don't expect much of the pick and think we could have gotten him later (and if not, I don't care). Is he going to create more plays than Rhodes did last year? Because Rhodes was a beast last year and a Vet with gas still in the tank. I get the price tag issue with Rhodes, I'm merely comparing play-making ability. He's not Leon SandCastle back there. Aside from that pick I was thrilled.

Overall grade, not mutually exclusive and compared to the Whisenhunt regime: A++++++. The deals they made picking up 2 extra picks, and what we converted those picks to, was a breath of fresh air. At the very least, if nothing else works out and all our picks suck, the rest of the NFL has been alerted that AZ is a willing trade partner and will go about it in a no-nonsense way. Achieved in their very first draft. After all the old man jokes and AARP offers, this is where that experience pays off--when you know someone, or someone who knows someone, in several different front offices and you can deal with them honestly and fairly and with integrity. It matters.

What I'd be most interested to know is how our FO feels they did. If they feel they deserve a B or C based on their own expectations it would tell me how high those expectations are. If they feel they hit it out of the park, that would also give an indication of what they were looking at. Of course, they're going to say they're pleased, the players are here and that's what you say: but after they evaluate themselves post-draft, in an honest and fair manner, I'd love to know how they graded themselves privately in the areas they think are most important.

 

[Catfish]

I gave them a good solid A. In my opinion, they followed the plan that they described to us as best they could. They accomplished everything that they could in securing the best players they could get at each pick for our purposes. They got value, AND they got leadership skills. They also found some wiggle room to add some play makers. Keim did a nice job of maneuvering, and most of all, THEY DID NOT REACH. I feel that they did a great job of complimenting their free agency additions.

Mods-----I double posted thru error. Please eliminate this post for me. Thank you.

 

[Catfish]

I gave BASK and Licht a good solid A. I feel that they executed their plan, to compliment the free agent acquisitions that they had made, very well. The got real value, and they did not reach. Keim showed the ability to maneuver and to secure extra talent because of it. I like that they chose for leadership and self starter qualities when possible, as I feel that this will translate well into our current roster and compliment it well.

One of the things that makes me feel really good about this draft, is the fact that BA displayed sincere trust in players that he has come to know, by actually listening to them and relying on their beliefs when he was soul-searching, and trying to determine whether or not to take some controversial picks such as Honey Badger, and Stepfan Taylor. What a refreshing change from the way Whisenhunt dealt with players.

Compared to the previous team administrators, this management group was light-years ahead of what we have been accustomed to. Their whole plan of (addition by subtraction), was well conceived, and well executed. I couldn't be happier with the mix of selections that included leadership qualities, self-starter qualities, solid performers, and even some play-makers. Great job guys!!!!!

 

[ndhillst]

B+. Points deducted for Honey Badger (due to risk), still weak at SS, not sure we improved our OLB (need to transition a player from 4-3 DT to 3-4 OLB). Bonus points for trading to get 2 extra picks.

 

[Buckybird]

I like our draft, but think we could've hit a slam dunk HR with a couple of other moves.

1) instead of The Pothead Badger in Rd 3 I would've gambled on the OT Armstead or Glennon at QB because a youngster needs to be developed at QB & he fits BAs offense better than anyone in this draft IMO. I also think Levi will be sent packing after the 2013 season.

2) in rd 4 I would've taken the RB Franklin instead of Okafor. Being a Horns fan, I've seen him be hot & cold but never steady. Don't we already have the same player in Sam Acho? Something tells me Franklin will tote the rock many years in Green Bay.

3) in rd 5 I would've been all over OLB Quan Smith because of his dynamic pass rush skills even though he's likely to never play a down of ball this year. This edge rusher has more upside than RB Taylor or OLB Okafor picked in rd 4.

With that said, we had a productive draft though I'm disappointed in our selection of the FS & that we didn't address the QB issue. Lets see how well BASK did in 3 years.

 

[52brandon]

For me if this was an average team, who had a history of being active across the rounds getting their guy, I would have given the Cards a A-, but these are the Cardinals...I was freaking shocked at all the trades, and we got so lucky by still getting our man. I think removed from the center, Schwenke from Cal who it appeared we might have wanted that got picked ahead of us, the front office acquired picks and loaded on their targets.

exactly. We did great in this draft compared to anybody. But compared to what we've typically done, we were off the freakin charts

 

[52brandon]

2) in rd 4 I would've taken the RB Franklin instead of Okafor. Being a Horns fan, I've seen him be hot & cold but never steady. Don't we already have the same player in Sam Acho? Something tells me Franklin will tote the rock many years in Green Bay.

same school, same position, even same EXACT spot in the draft. The irony is strong. But I like Okafor. In the 4th, I think he was a steal. And we got a couple solid RBs later anyways

 

[Buckybird]

same school, same position, even same EXACT spot in the draft. The irony is strong. But I like Okafor. In the 4th, I think he was a steal. And we got a couple solid RBs later anyways

But Brandon, wouldn't you rather have a guy (Smith) who has the skills to be a better edge rusher than your average Joe?

I guarantee you in 3 years Taylor won't have the same upward NFL career as Franklin...but we will see.

 

[HotSauce]

Only two issues I see with this draft class.

1) Nobody really knows, but could Mathieu really have been on that many teams draft boards to justify a 3rd round selection? I was listening to Bill Polian on ESPN and I can't help but to wonder how many old school GMs AND Owners would have even allowed him to be on their draft boards. It wouldn't shock me to learn later that Mathieu was only on the Cardinals, Bengals, and Rams draft boards.

2) Several good players selected, but is it just me or has the team gotten slower?

 

[52brandon]

But Brandon, wouldn't you rather have a guy (Smith) who has the skills to be a better edge rusher than your average Joe?

I guarantee you in 3 years Taylor won't have the same upward NFL career as Franklin...but we will see.

that's a good point. But our FO apparently believes Okafor has the greater potential at that spot. They have to have some reason for it

 

[jf-08]

For the first time I can remember, in my opinion:

1.) Front Office had a well-executed plan
2.) FO was proactive and not reactive
3.) FO made solid selections as well as took some reasonable gambles on some players.
4) FO did not "reach" for anyone

 

[Cardiac]

Good points, but I personally never can look at a draft and base it fully on fulfilling needs because it is a gamble and because it is a gamble you just hope the players available, which have the best shot sticking in the pros, fill those needs for the most part. One cannot dictate the draft, its talent and ongoing situation dictates the drafter. Seriously, if you looked at the teams after the draft and removed their name, and draft postions, and said which team was the Cardinals without knowing the prior draft talk...there is no way with all the trades that I would have guessed that the Cardinals are the Cardinals LOL

I agree that drafting for need alone is not smart. Thing is the SK builds his draft board factoring in need. Since they had a great plan and showed they aren't afraid to at least move back in the draft I would have liked to see an OLBer taken earlier.

Now if Okafor is a 2nd round talent and some how the Cards knew he would drop to their pick in the 4th, lots of ifs, then I'd give a higher grade.

It's been .............. forever since the Cards spent a 1st rd pick on a pass rusher.

The encouraging news is that it sounds like Bowles is going to turn CC & DD loose and not having them play 2 gasps and both can generate a good pass rush. Should free up the OLBers some.

Keep an eye on Dan Giordano, UDFA we signed.

Really good potential there

Hope you are right, have you seen him play or going off of research?

 

[Duckjake]

The encouraging news is that it sounds like Bowles is going to turn CC & DD loose and not having them play 2 gasps and both can generate a good pass rush. Should free up the OLBers some.

However, when Pendy and Davis were letting Dockett loose the Defense was awful. I'm a big fan of what Horton did in the AZ and really hope that DD's excitement isn't him putting personal glory ahead of the team. He was asked to sacrifice personal stats to improve the Defense and to his credit he did it. It worked. The Defense was fun to watch for the first time since 1994. Let's hope Bowles can keep it going.

Proof that nothing about the Arizona Cardinals is normal:

In 2005 on defense they ranked 10th vs the run (yards). 12th vs the pass (yards) and 26th in scoring defense!

They were #1 in passing offense and 32nd in rushing offense and finished almost exactly in the middle of the NFL in scoring at #17.

Well of course they finished 5-11.

You gotta love Cardinal Football.