How important is this year's first found pick?

[red desert]

I ask that question with the belief that WE WILL be a playoff team next season. We could very well win 11 or 12 games. If that happens we will cease having opportunity after oportunity to pick top 5 talent. This should be it for next several years. So we better make this pick (and our second round pick for that matter) a good one.

With that in mind, Adrian Peterson anyone? How about Calvin Johnson?

 

[MadCardDisease]

Got to start in the trenches. I think it should be one of these guys:

OT Joe Thomas, DT Alan Branch or DE Gaines Adams

 

[az jam]

I ask that question with the belief that WE WILL be a playoff team next season. We could very well win 11 or 12 games. If that happens we will cease having opportunity after oportunity to pick top 5 talent. This should be it for next several years. So we better make this pick (and our second round pick for that matter) a good one.

With that in mind, Adrian Peterson anyone? How about Calvin Johnson?

Don't need playmakers. It starts in the line and players like OT Thomas, DT Branch, DEs Adams and Anderson are what the Cards need. They may also be the BPA at #5. We will know more after all star games, the combine and workouts. Plus our new coach may see things differently on needs.

 

[Mulli]

Got to start in the trenches. I think it should be one of these guys:

OT Joe Thomas, DT Alan Branch or DE Gaines Adams

agree

 

[Skkorpion]

A very few of us, okay --me--, don't believe yet that we have our QBOF. Leinart gets hurt picking his nose.

 

[ajcardfan]

A very few of us, okay --me--, don't believe yet that we have our QBOF. Leinart gets hurt picking his nose.

Could that QBOF be, oh, Brady Quinn by chance?

 

[Second Deck]

A very few of us, okay --me--, don't believe yet that we have our QBOF. Leinart gets hurt picking his nose.

You will become a believer next year Skorp. Matt will take us to the promise land with Edge Fitz and Q.

 

[Shogun]

This draft is especially important because we have no idea where we're going with the first. The prior years, we had a good idea of who/what we were gunning for.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

The only way Arizona picks a WR with their pick is if Fitzgerald or Boldin is traded for offensive line help. Even then, I'd be suspect.

Picking Johnson would be a waste of a pick.

 

[Stout]

A very few of us, okay --me--, don't believe yet that we have our QBOF. Leinart gets hurt picking his nose.

Come on, Skkorp. You've admitted you dogged Leinart because you wanted to spark discussion

 

[vinnymac]

the cardinals do need a lot of help in the trenches. o-line or d-line will be fine by me. i feel the cardinals need to trade the number 5 pick for more picks. there is a lot of talent in this year draft in o-lineman and skilled positions. the cardinals need to cash in on this oportunity.

 

[Shogun]

Jamaal Anderson....FTW!

 

[Diamondback Jay]

My ideal situation, barring Peterson or Quinn are still available, is to trade down with the Texans and picking either Reggie Nelson, Leon Hall or LaRon Landry.

 

[Skkorpion]

Could that QBOF be, oh, Brady Quinn by chance?

No. I like Quinn but I prefer Jamarcus Russell. More athletic and more upside. I like them both better than Leinart for many reasons but mainly because I think Matt is fragile. He's not tough enough for the NFL.

I'd trade them all for Philip Rivers.

 

[vinnymac]

No. I like Quinn but I prefer Jamarcus Russell. More athletic and more upside. I like them both better than Leinart for many reasons but mainly because I think Matt is fragile. He's not tough enough for the NFL.

I'd trade them all for Philip Rivers.

i am a big phillip rivers fan myself. i was hoping and praying that the cardinals would pick him instead of fitzgerald. it was not to be. i do like matt leinart. to me he is the cardinals qb of the future. he at least is the qb of now.

 

[WildBB]

No. I like Quinn but I prefer Jamarcus Russell. More athletic and more upside. I like them both better than Leinart for many reasons but mainly because I think Matt is fragile. He's not tough enough for the NFL.

I'd trade them all for Philip Rivers.

That's an interesting senario you float out there. I think Russell and Quinn go one, two... but stranger things have happened. If they don't and one falls I'd go Russell but not Quinn over Leinart. I question his durability as well , but he seems tough enough. Anyway the Cards' brass chance to pick a different franchise Qb in the 1st will be less than nill as they are probobly smitten with Leinart. Russell would be awsome though. I'd take him and get a 1st and 2nd this yr. or a 1st this yr. and next, moving Leinart.

 

[Stout]

Jamaal Anderson....FTW!

LOVE your tagline, Shogun! Funny as hell! 100 percent man indeed. Nice.

 

[Capital Card]

A very few of us, okay --me--, don't believe yet that we have our QBOF.

Maybe so, but we are several years away from making that decision. How many years did we give Jake, was it five or six?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

A very few of us, okay --me--, don't believe yet that we have our QBOF. Leinart gets hurt picking his nose.

Could that QBOF be, oh, Brady Quinn by chance?

Nope. Its Troy Smith.

 

[JeffGollin]

An Unorthodox Opinion

When you look at most successful teams, the talent comes from everywhere (even Australia). If you doubt this, check out the last 10 years of Denver Bronco RB's.

It doesn't matter whether our talent comes from a veteran free agent, a top draft choice, a late draft choice or a UDFA just so long as we get it.

That said - obviously, you have better odds at bringing in great talent when you draft high in round one. But, as we all know, there are no guarantees. It's possible to bolo with your first pick and hit it out of the park in the next round. (Example: Johnson in round one/Q in round two).

As I see it, the Cardinals need at least one speedy cover corner, an impact WLB and a playmaking free safety on defense along with at least a couple of potential starters for the O-line. I don't agree with Skkorp about Leinart, but do feel we need to upgrade our #3 QB (and it couldn't hurt to bring in a young backup as "Leinart insurance.")

And - given the way injuries tend to crop up in bunches (let's not forget how lucky we were in 2006), there isn't a position on the roster that couldn't use more quality depth.

But whether any of these players come to us via free agency, the draft or anywhere else - it doesn't much matter. The first day a new guy puts on a Cardinal jersey, he starts fresh - with as good a shot at being a successful starter as anyone else on the roster

 

[Duckjake]

Until the Cardinals learn how to win it won't make any difference who is on the team. I really thought that Green could change the culture but he didn't. Maybe the new coach will but I'm not optimistic.

I don't think that right now the Cardinals have the defense to be a playoff team this fall and they need to really improve that side of the ball.

 

[JC_AZ]

Nope. Its Troy Smith.

Troy Smith demonstrated on Monday night that he will not be picked to be a QB in the NFL...Heisman to Troy Smith was a joke and if OS was not considered so dominant BEFORE the game, he would not have gotten the votes. OVERRATED!

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Troy is of diminutive stature. He will be to this draft what Charlie Ward was to his draft. However, I'd be curios as to what his stats are. WR? PR/KR? Is he athletic and speedy enough to convert a la Matt Jones?

 

[Shogun]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. While I do agree that Troy Smith played bad in the NC game, one game does not totally change the prospects of a player from playing QB. He is a QB first and foremost. And a pretty good one. He's only had three BAD games in his career since he became starter including the NC.

The vibe I got from Smith vs. Florida was that he trying to play for the NFL and not to win the NC. He seemed so deadset on remaining in the pocket despite the ease of the Florida line blowing by his protection.

He is not a Reggie McNeal, Brad Smith, Matt Jones-type of player. Far from it since from what I've seen, he's not that explosive and he makes more plays with his arm than his legs. While his size is in question, I'm quite sure that he can be a solid backup QB, if not more. He can read defenses and has a very good arm with a good amount of accuracy.

Do I think he's a first rounder type of guy? Heavens no. But if you can stash him in the mid-second, early-third he'd be a nice addition to the ballclub.

 

[JC_AZ]

Troy Smith = Rex Grossman...wow ya and make ya sick in the same game...too erratic to be comfortable with, not the brightest QB in the competition and seems to believe that "the big play" makes up for all else...JMHO!

Admittedly I have only watched him three (3) times this year and each time I came away with the same opinion... OVERRATED! Not BAD, just not GREAT!