I'll throw my 1st round mock out there

[Cbus cardsfan]

Alot of us are putting our 1st round projections on here.Here's mine, along with the all the Cards picks. Mine has changed because i now think there is no way Mendenhall makes it to 16.

1-Miami:Jake Long-surest pick in the draft and they are desperate for OL
2-St.Louis: Vernon Gholston-playing on the turf enhances his speed and they need all the defensive help they can get.
3-Atlanta: Darren McFadden-they desperatley need a star for the fan base and McFadden has the most star appeal.Plus, he's not a bad player either.
4-Oakland: Chris Long-Davis gets Howie's kid and immediately need to have his depends changed.
5-KC:Leodis McKlevin-he's the #1 CB and they need some youth at that position.OL is a big need but no one is worthy here.
6-NY Jets: Sedrick Ellis-he's the best interior DL in the draft and he's an ideal 3-4 NT.
7-NE:Ryan Clady-NE gets a promising OL prospect to bolster an already strong OL. CB is a need but NE never drafts for need
8-Baltimore: Glenn Dorsey-the Ravens always draft well and some say Dorsey is best DL prospect since Sapp.
9-Cincinnati-Phillip Merling- the Bengals always draft for need and the need a DE.
10-NO: Dominique Rogers-Cromartie: they need playmakers and secondary help.DRC supplies both. He'll burn up that Superdome turf.
11-Buffalo-Derrick Harvey:Buffalo always seems to pick a guy out of left field. Harvey will bring an immediate pass rushing presence.
12-Denver:Keith Rivers-they need LB help badly. Rivers gives them some much needed yout on the outside.
13-Carolina:Matt Ryan-they were going to wait until round 2 for a QB but Ryan falls right into their laps.
14-Chicago:Malcolm Kelly-they need offensive help everywhere. They could go with the hometown guy in Mendenhall but i think they almost have to go WR and Kelly is probably the best.
15-Detroit:Rashard Mendenhall-there's no doubt they'll go RB now that Jones is gone. Stewart's foot injury makes Mendy the easy choice.
16-Arizona: Mike Jenkins-they'll probably think about Stewart but Jenkins would be a steal at this point.
17-Minnesota:Chris Williams-they could use an OT with the questions about McKinnie. Williams could also be a bookend at RT with McKinnie,if he keeps out of trouble, at LT.
18-Houston:Jonathon Stewart-their RB is so bad they may take Stewart with his foot cut off. I think he'll be fine and will thrive in this running scheme.
19-Philadelphia:Limas Sweed-they talked about getting a big WR in Fitz. Now they get a big WR in Sweed to give Donovan another weapon
20-Tampa Bay: Devin Thomas-tough call here but Galloway isn't any spring chicken and Thomas brings alot of upside and speed to the position.
21-Washington: Dre Moore- they need DL help and Moore is a beast in the middle.He can collapse a pocket as well as anyone.
22-Dallas: Aliq Talib-they need to groom someone to take over for Henry and Talib is the guy.Pretty good value here.
23-Pittsburgh:Brandon Albert-this may the eaisest call in the 1st round. As long as no one takes him prior to here,he will the Faneca replacement.
24-Tennessee: Desean Jackson-they try and give Young another weapon. Jackson is the best playmaker in the draft.
25-Seattle:James Hardy- Hackett is gone, Branch is out with an ACL, Hardy fills the bill. He could easily be the best WR in the draft.
26-Jacksonville:Kentwan Balmer:they get a replacement for Stroud and a good one at that.
27-San Diego: Jeff Otah-he's slid down a ways but i think this is about where he belongs. They need to upgrade RT and Otah will fit in nicely. SD always drafts well.
28-Dallas:Felix Jones-Jerry Jones gets his Razorback and he's a great compliment to MB III.
29-SF:Quentin Groves- what a scary LB corp this will be with Willis, Peterson and Groves .
30-Green Bay:Sam Baker-their tackles are getting up there and Baker is still a pretty nice prospect at pick #30.
31-NY Giants- Calais Campbell-Strahan may retire. Even if he
doesn't,Campbell can get into that DL rotation that was dominant down the stretch.

Now for the Cards other picks:
round 2- Gosder Cherilus-he slides just a bit and stops at the Cards,who now have their future set at tackle for at least the next 5 years.
round 3- Matt Forte- has as much potential as any back in the draft. He's got a nice size/speed ratio as well.The RB of the future for the Cards.
round 4-Jason Jones-he may be gone by now but late 3rd to 4th round is where he's projected. I hope he sitting there for us. If he's gone,Jordy Nelson is my guy.
round 5- Darrell Robertson-another DE/OLB prospect that could have a high ceiling.
round 6-Frank Okam- he's got the size to play NT.For some reason his draft stock keeps falling.He's a steal,talentwise, in round 6.
round 7- i would love for Dexter Jackson to be here but it's not very likely. I'll take a chance on Adrian Arrington. He didn't put up great number at his pro day and it obligatory for RG to draft a Michigan player every year so AA is it. We'll have AA and JJ.

 

[DaisyCutter]

You know the Falcons signed RB Michael Turner, right? And they just got rid of a character risk in Michael Vick, right? And that their starting QB right now is Chris Redman?

If Matt Ryan is on the board when the Falcons go on the clock, they'll take about 0.002 seconds to get the card in.

Dude, Sedrick Ellis is like 285 lbs. He can't be an NT in a 3-4.

Ugh. And Buffalo has pass rushers already. Chris Kelsay and Aaron Schobel.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

You know the Falcons signed RB Michael Turner, right? And they just got rid of a character risk in Michael Vick, right? And that their starting QB right now is Chris Redman?

If Matt Ryan is on the board when the Falcons go on the clock, they'll take about 0.002 seconds to get the card in.

Dude, Sedrick Ellis is like 285 lbs. He can't be an NT in a 3-4.

Ugh. And Buffalo has pass rushers already. Chris Kelsay and Aaron Schobel.

Yes, i know Turner signed there.So what. You know the Falcons have two number 2 picks at the top of the round don't you? You know Flacco, Henne, Woodson, and maybe Brohm will all be available don't you? Teams have been knwn to use two backs from time to time.

Ellis is listed at 309 and at 6'0 is plenty stout and strong enough to play NT.Have you ever seem him play?

Well i guess if the Bills have 2 whole pass rushers they may as well not even look at another one.

 

[Garthshort]

Jets Pick

Cbus, nice job. But I doubt that the Jets will go NT when they just signed Kris Jenkins to play that position. Also, I'm not familiar with your other Cards picks. Would you give me their position? I do know Forte is a RB and Arrington is a WR.

 

[Doc Cardinal]

I like Jenkins at CB....if he's there. Lindy's has him goin in the top 10 picks. Forte would be a decent pick at RB....but I'd like a shot at Chris Johnson in the second and then with the OL in the third go with Mike McGlynn of Pitt.....doubtful if Jones and Robertson will be there in the 4th and 5th so in the 4th I'd like to see WR Harry Douglas from Louisville and in the 5th maybe Jones will be there or Chris Harrington from Texas A & M.....Okam would be OK in the 6th and if he's there BYU LBer bryan Kehl in the 7th.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I hate to sound redundant, but I agree with most of wht DC said. Buffalo will take Malcom Kelly. Whi is Jones from Detriot?? Atlanta will not take McFadden, they already have him in Norwood and they are paying enough to Turner. I think KC will go O-line no matter what. NE is gonna go CB, they lost 3 of their top 4 this year. Aside ffrom that I liked the rest of the 1st round.

I sure hope the Cards don't take Cherilous, unless they plan to move Levi to LT. I am cool with Forte in the third, but Jason Jones will not be there in the 4th IMO. If he is, use the 5th on Brooks or Drago. If not use the fourth on Tommy Blake.

 

[HookemCards]

Alot of us are putting our 1st round projections on here.Here's mine, along with the all the Cards picks. Mine has changed because i now think there is no way Mendenhall makes it to 16.

1-Miami:Jake Long-surest pick in the draft and they are desperate for OL
2-St.Louis: Vernon Gholston-playing on the turf enhances his speed and they need all the defensive help they can get.
3-Atlanta: Darren McFadden-they desperatley need a star for the fan base and McFadden has the most star appeal.Plus, he's not a bad player either.
4-Oakland: Chris Long-Davis gets Howie's kid and immediately need to have his depends changed.
5-KC:Leodis McKlevin-he's the #1 CB and they need some youth at that position.OL is a big need but no one is worthy here.
6-NY Jets: Sedrick Ellis-he's the best interior DL in the draft and he's an ideal 3-4 NT.
7-NE:Ryan Clady-NE gets a promising OL prospect to bolster an already strong OL. CB is a need but NE never drafts for need
8-Baltimore: Glenn Dorsey-the Ravens always draft well and some say Dorsey is best DL prospect since Sapp.
9-Cincinnati-Phillip Merling- the Bengals always draft for need and the need a DE.
10-NO: Dominique Rogers-Cromartie: they need playmakers and secondary help.DRC supplies both. He'll burn up that Superdome turf.
11-Buffalo-Derrick Harvey:Buffalo always seems to pick a guy out of left field. Harvey will bring an immediate pass rushing presence.
12-Denver:Keith Rivers-they need LB help badly. Rivers gives them some much needed yout on the outside.
13-Carolina:Matt Ryan-they were going to wait until round 2 for a QB but Ryan falls right into their laps.
14-Chicago:Malcolm Kelly-they need offensive help everywhere. They could go with the hometown guy in Mendenhall but i think they almost have to go WR and Kelly is probably the best.
15-Detroit:Rashard Mendenhall-there's no doubt they'll go RB now that Jones is gone. Stewart's foot injury makes Mendy the easy choice.
16-Arizona: Mike Jenkins-they'll probably think about Stewart but Jenkins would be a steal at this point.
17-Minnesota:Chris Williams-they could use an OT with the questions about McKinnie. Williams could also be a bookend at RT with McKinnie,if he keeps out of trouble, at LT.
18-Houston:Jonathon Stewart-their RB is so bad they may take Stewart with his foot cut off. I think he'll be fine and will thrive in this running scheme.
19-Philadelphia:Limas Sweed-they talked about getting a big WR in Fitz. Now they get a big WR in Sweed to give Donovan another weapon
20-Tampa Bay: Devin Thomas-tough call here but Galloway isn't any spring chicken and Thomas brings alot of upside and speed to the position.
21-Washington: Dre Moore- they need DL help and Moore is a beast in the middle.He can collapse a pocket as well as anyone.
22-Dallas: Aliq Talib-they need to groom someone to take over for Henry and Talib is the guy.Pretty good value here.
23-Pittsburgh:Brandon Albert-this may the eaisest call in the 1st round. As long as no one takes him prior to here,he will the Faneca replacement.
24-Tennessee: Desean Jackson-they try and give Young another weapon. Jackson is the best playmaker in the draft.
25-Seattle:James Hardy- Hackett is gone, Branch is out with an ACL, Hardy fills the bill. He could easily be the best WR in the draft.
26-Jacksonville:Kentwan Balmer:they get a replacement for Stroud and a good one at that.
27-San Diego: Jeff Otah-he's slid down a ways but i think this is about where he belongs. They need to upgrade RT and Otah will fit in nicely. SD always drafts well.
28-Dallas:Felix Jones-Jerry Jones gets his Razorback and he's a great compliment to MB III.
29-SF:Quentin Groves- what a scary LB corp this will be with Willis, Peterson and Groves .
30-Green Bay:Sam Baker-their tackles are getting up there and Baker is still a pretty nice prospect at pick #30.
31-NY Giants- Calais Campbell-Strahan may retire. Even if he
doesn't,Campbell can get into that DL rotation that was dominant down the stretch.

Now for the Cards other picks:
round 2- Gosder Cherilus-he slides just a bit and stops at the Cards,who now have their future set at tackle for at least the next 5 years.
round 3- Matt Forte- has as much potential as any back in the draft. He's got a nice size/speed ratio as well.The RB of the future for the Cards.
round 4-Jason Jones-he may be gone by now but late 3rd to 4th round is where he's projected. I hope he sitting there for us. If he's gone,Jordy Nelson is my guy.
round 5- Darrell Robertson-another DE/OLB prospect that could have a high ceiling.
round 6-Frank Okam- he's got the size to play NT.For some reason his draft stock keeps falling.He's a steal,talentwise, in round 6.
round 7- i would love for Dexter Jackson to be here but it's not very likely. I'll take a chance on Adrian Arrington. He didn't put up great number at his pro day and it obligatory for RG to draft a Michigan player every year so AA is it. We'll have AA and JJ.

I'd be ok with Jenkins in the 1st. Everything i've read on Cherilous is he doesn't have the skill set to play LT, and I don't think Levi Brown does either. I guess Forte would be a good option if we fail on getting Charles . I don't like Okam, I guess in the 6th he'd be ok, but doubt he'll be there. If I had to choose between Okam and D. Jackson there I'd probably take Jackson.

In other words, change Cherilous to J. Charles, Forte to Shuening or Baker, and Okam to Jackson and I'd love this draft.

 

[Pariah]

I thought McFadden was a lock for the Falcons until they got Turner. I don't think they'll load up on RB THAT much.

 

[joeshmo]

6-NY Jets: Sedrick Ellis-he's the best interior DL in the draft and he's an ideal 3-4 NT.

I think it depends on what type of 3-4 Defense you are talking about. Is it the attacking style 3-4 D that Parcells and Dallas Currently run. Or is it more like the standard 3-4 style that the Chargers run right now. Does the Jets ask their NT to take up blockers or do they ask for them to attack the backfield. If the Jets 3-4 D is the standard 3-4 style and ask their NT to take up blockers as their main responsibility then you would be taking away what makes Ellis the player that he is and would be be considered a bust for the next 5 years playing in that scheme. He could be a Jason Ferguson type that Parcells likes so much in his 3-4 D as a NT. But I am not sure what style of 3-4 the Jets run.

McFadden to Atlanta seems very redundant after signing Turner to a 35 Mill contract. Doubt they draft McFadden and spend over 90+ Mill on RB's in one offseason. They need a face of their franchise and QB badly. The best QB and a really good guy that teams like to have as the face of their franchise, Ryan seems like the most logical pick.

Merling @ #9 seems like a reach especially since he hasn't been able to workout this offseason for scouts with a hernia and only recently actually getting the surgery for it.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Ellis is listed at 309 and at 6'0 is plenty stout and strong enough to play NT.Have you ever seem him play?

I have seen him play. Have you? He's a one-gap penetrator in the Warren Sapp/Darnell Dockett mold. You could ask him to play the nose, but you'd be playing away from all his strengths and toward all his weaknesses.

NY Jets coach Eric Mangini runs the Belicheck 3-4 defense. Look at the Pats' NT: Vince Wilfork. He's 6'2", 325. Before Wilfork, they had Ted Washington clogging the middle. Or look to Pittsburgh's more traditional 3-4 defense. Casey Hampton is 6'1", 325, and maybe the best nose tackle in football. If it's not Hampton, then the best nose tackle in football is San Diego's Jamal Williams, who tips the scales at 6'3", 348.

 

[DaisyCutter]

29-SF:Quentin Groves- what a scary LB corp this will be with Willis, Peterson and Groves .

You know that Julian Peterson has been a Seattle Seahawk for several seasons now. Although an LB corps of Groves, Willis, Dontarrious Thomas, and Manny Lawson would be intriguing.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

You know that Julian Peterson has been a Seattle Seahawk for several seasons now. Although an LB corps of Groves, Willis, Dontarrious Thomas, and Manny Lawson would be intriguing.

Yeah, i messed up on Peterson.I knew he was with Seattle. But you have to admit a LB corp of Willis, Peterson, and Groves would be scary .

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The Raiders have alot of money tied up in RB yet they are picked by alot of people to take McFadden. So why wouldn't Atlanta? Norwood could always be traded to pick up some extra picks which is what Atlanta seems interested in doing.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I have seen him play. Have you? He's a one-gap penetrator in the Warren Sapp/Darnell Dockett mold. You could ask him to play the nose, but you'd be playing away from all his strengths and toward all his weaknesses.

NY Jets coach Eric Mangini runs the Belicheck 3-4 defense. Look at the Pats' NT: Vince Wilfork. He's 6'2", 325. Before Wilfork, they had Ted Washington clogging the middle. Or look to Pittsburgh's more traditional 3-4 defense. Casey Hampton is 6'1", 325, and maybe the best nose tackle in football. If it's not Hampton, then the best nose tackle in football is San Diego's Jamal Williams, who tips the scales at 6'3", 348.

6'1 325 is not a whole lot different tha 6'0 309 and Ellis will only get bigger as he ages. Jamaal Williams is a freak.If Ellis is even close to him than he'll be a success. Wilfork, i don't think kas seen 325 since 8th grade. Whoever gave him that listed weight is being awfully kind. I think he's more 352. Ellis,when he's motivated, is unblockable. I'm not syaing he's going to step in and dominate from day 1 but he will become a force in the league and i think it will be at NT.

 

[joeshmo]

The Raiders have alot of money tied up in RB yet they are picked by alot of people to take McFadden. So why wouldn't Atlanta? Norwood could always be traded to pick up some extra picks which is what Atlanta seems interested in doing.

You may have a point if the Raiders actually had a lot of money tied up on their RB's, but they don't. Rhodes isn't making much and Fargas got a modest 3 year extension. The Raiders top 3 RB's on their depth chart make a grand total of 21.5 Mill over the life of their contracts. Jordan is 4th on their depth chart if Bush is healthy and looking to be on his way out the door, all 4 with small to modest gaurateed money locked up into them making it easy to cut anyone of them. Even if you add in his salary thats 4 RB's making half of what Atlanta would be paying for Turner and McFadden.

 

[joeshmo]

6'1 325 is not a whole lot different tha 6'0 309 and Ellis will only get bigger as he ages.

16 lbs is a huge difference with only 1 inch separation between the two. If it wasnt a difference teams wouldnt be continually asking their players to gain or lose 5 lbs the beginning of every single training camp. I also have a hard time believing that a 24 year old man is going to be getting any bigger, let alone a guy that is 6 foot nothing. How much bigger do you think a 6 foot man can get without getting fat and losing the speed that makes him what he is. At 6 Foot 309 is probably already pushing the limits.

 

[Chopper0080]

Having watched a ton of Pac-10 football the only place Ellis plays in a 3-4 is at DE where he could shoot the 5 gap and is strong enough to clog the run, though he lacks the arm length. Ideally Ellis should be used similarily to how Dorsey will be used, which is in a 3 technique, shooting the gap and getting into the backfield. It is what they both do best.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

16 lbs is a huge difference with only 1 inch separation between the two. If it wasnt a difference teams wouldnt be continually asking their players to gain or lose 5 lbs the beginning of every single training camp. I also have a hard time believing that a 24 year old man is going to be getting any bigger, let alone a guy that is 6 foot nothing. How much bigger do you think a 6 foot man can get without getting fat and losing the speed that makes him what he is. At 6 Foot 309 is probably already pushing the limits.

People put on weight as they get older without getting fat all the time. Then you have guys like Keith Traylor who came into the league as a LB and ate himself into a productive DT. I'll bet almmost all NFL players are heavier than when they entered the league.

 

[joeshmo]

People put on weight as they get older without getting fat all the time. Then you have guys like Keith Traylor who came into the league as a LB and ate himself into a productive DT. I'll bet almmost all NFL players are heavier than when they entered the league.

Those players are usually taller then 6 Foot nothing and have the frame to get bigger. If they don't have the frame then they are not asked to get any bigger, in fact a lot of OL and DL are actually asked to get smaller. Your last sentence only applies to skill player positions and is probably only half and half for the big uglies. We see it every single year, a lot of guys are asked to lose weight before camp starts, more so then those that are asked to actually gain weight.

You are asking a 6 foot man to carry more then 310 pounds and still keep his speed that makes him what he is and you are asking for failure. Its like asking Dockett to stay at his 300 pound mark while playing under Green and play more of a 2 gap style. Its just a bad idea.