If we don't address our LB needs in FA .....

[SissyBoyFloyd]

.....we will need to do it within the 1st 4 rounds of the draft. There just doesnt appear that there are any future starting LBs that would be available past rounds 3 or 4. The talent drops off completely after that with nothing more than bench warmer types you draft for depth.

According to all the mocks there are, it doesn't look like we should spend our 1st pick in either of these 2 positions. We will be reaching greatly if we do. The only player I wouldn't mind us reaching for at LB is Kikaha from Wash. I really like him and could justify him going late in round 1.

We might be lucky enough to get a very decent ILB in round 2, I'm hoping that Perryman, Kendricks, or Mckinney are there for us. It is hard to invision any prospective starters at ILB other than those 3. The exception might be Mike Hull from Penn St who is listed at OLB but would be best at ILB, and could be had in round 3 or 4.

Personally I think the better round 2 players are at OLB, in the likes of Kikaha from Wash, Eric Kindricks from UCLA, Mauldin from Louisville, or Dawson from TCU (if he fits our scheme).

Round 3 picks at OLB would be Kwon Alexander from LSU and a kid named Davis Tull from Chattanoogo, who I can't find anything about but who is rated highly. Markus Golden from Missouri who is a better "Michael Sam" type of player and could probably be had in round 4. There is also Geneo Grissom from Okla who could be had in rounds 4 or 5, but is a project type player and a real gamble.

Projection: I certainly could live with this kind of draft and feel it would solve our LB problems via draft, though I don't feel the Cards are one to reach for a player no matter how bad the need.

1. OLB - Hauoli Kikaha, Wash - said by some to be the best pure pass rusher in the draft

2a. ILB - Perryman, Kendricks, or Mckinney (if none available then 2b)
2b. RB - Ajayi, Coleman, Johnson

3. DT - Marcus Hardison, ASU
3b. ILB - Mckinney or Hull

4. CB - Darby, Florida St. or White, TCU
4. DT - Marcus Hardison, ASU or CB - Darby, Florida St. or White, TCU

Other possible drafts I like:

1. RB - Melvin Gordon, Wisc

2. OLB - Kikaha, Kendricks, Mauldin, or Dawson

3. ILB - Mike Hull, Penn St.

4. DT - Marcus Hardison, ASU, or Darby, CB, Florida St. or White, CB, TCU

If he should fall to us in Round 1:

1. DT - Malcom Brown, Texas

2. RB - Ajayi, Coleman, Johnson

3. OLB/ILB - Mike Hull, Penn St.

4. CB - Darby, Fl St. or White, TCU

More of a Dream Type Draft:

1. TE - Maxx Williams, Minn

2. RB - Ajayi, Coleman, Johnson

3. ILB - Benardrick McKinney, Miss St

4. OLB - Markus Golden, Missouri

 

[DVontel]

Kikaha in round 1? That's a total reach. There's a decent chance we could get him in round 3. To me, the only ILBs worth a 1st round pick are Kendricks(who I hope we draft 1st round) & Dawson(Poor Combine so his stock has dropped a little, but GREAT game tape).
Hell, there's a good chance we could get Kendricks in round 1 & Kikaha in round 2.
I'm hoping we use our first 2 picks for a ILB & OLB.


EDIT:
I would love for our first 4 rounds to go like this:
R1: Eric Kendricks
R2: Hau'Oli Kikaha
R3: Kevin White(CB)
R4: David Johnson.

You could switch Kevin White(CB) & David Johnson around.

 

[Catfish]

sissyboy, I think that you will see us address the LB position in both free agency and the draft. I could see us taking someone like Justin Durant OLB of the Cowboys, and then starting the draft with an ILB like Erik Kendricks of UCLA and going from there to add more edge rushers.