Importance of Draft

[overseascardfan]

Call me Captain Obvious, but after the first 4 days of FA we are definitely a worse team than before FA. Most of us expected this as we knew there was not going to be enough money to keep all of our key FA but now ARZ is backed into a corner and MUST have a lights out draft to even think about contending for a playoff spot let alone a SB. I highly doubt SK pulls another Chandler Jones miracle trade so he has his work really cut out for him.

Needs:
- DL who can keep pressure off of Jones & Golden (if he has pass rush ability that's a bonus)
- NFL ready CB to play opposite Patrick Peterson (Bethel/Williams combo not going to cut it)
- Depth at ILB (Dansby is 35 years old and on a 1 year deal) in case of an injury
- Reliable WR to complement Fitzgerald and eventually replace him
- Starter at RG (other guys on roster are back ups and upgrade is needed)
- FS (Too many SS on roster, need rangy cover S)
- RB depth (so as to not run DJ into the ground)
- P (need to stay away from Drew Butler)
- Oh and a QBOF that BASK are supposedly in the market for

There are some FA possibilities that could pare down this list come draft day. But ARZ seems to be done as I haven't read or heard of any targets or visits scheduled.

 

[Dan H]

Scratch P off the list, I'm pretty sure Wile is the guy.

 

[az jam]

Good list but we don't need a punter. We dropped Butler and picked up Wile who as our starting punter at the end of the season. We also pick up Punter Richie Leone from the Canadian League where he was outstanding. But you are right that there are still lots of needs.

Urban:
The Cardinals signed former Canadian Football League punter Richie Leone Thursday to a "future" contract, and he will compete with incumbent Matt Wile – who was signed late in the season to replace Drew Butler – for the job in 2017.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Steve Keim is no moron and intends to be employed past this coming season... he is doing the right thing

 

[Reddog]

Scratch P off the list, I'm pretty sure Wile is the guy.

He is also going to do our kick offs.

 

[JeffGollin]

I think we're trying to evaluate a moving target by looking at a single snapshot.

We're taking that snapshot just after the Cards lost more FA's than they signed. But it's all part of a process - i.e. one way or another, we had to shed players/dollars to get under the cap.

True, you can blame SK for getting us into cap hell in the first place, but remember that we were taking a shot at a Super Bowl spot a year ago and Steve was all-in, budget-wise, bringing a bunch of one-year FA's who could plug roster holes, provide roster depth etc. A case could be made that Steve's moves played the right percentages but got undermined by "surprises" in the form of injuries and atrocious ST play.

All of this took place over several months. The draining of our veteran roster is only one brief chapter in a much longer story that is yet to be completed.

 

[overseascardfan]

I think we're trying to evaluate a moving target by looking at a single snapshot.

We're taking that snapshot just after the Cards lost more FA's than they signed. But it's all part of a process - i.e. one way or another, we had to shed players/dollars to get under the cap.

True, you can blame SK for getting us into cap hell in the first place, but remember that we were taking a shot at a Super Bowl spot a year ago and Steve was all-in, budget-wise, bringing a bunch of one-year FA's who could plug roster holes, provide roster depth etc. A case could be made that Steve's moves played the right percentages but got undermined by "surprises" in the form of injuries and atrocious ST play.

All of this took place over several months. The draining of our veteran roster is only one brief chapter in a much longer story that is yet to be completed.

Oh, I am not mad at Keim for spending to keep our key guys, what I am saying is he needs to have a great draft and find replacements for the guys we lost because even with those guys we were not a playoff team so without them and not bringing impact guys in through the draft, this team will not make the playoffs despite being "all in" bringing back Palmer and Fitzgerald.

I understand ARZ has Wile and are bringing in the Leone guy but both didn't exactly set the league on fire. Sure compared to Butler they are All Pros but I like the Rehkow kid out of Idaho I think he's from.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Oh, I am not mad at Keim for spending to keep our key guys, what I am saying is he needs to have a great draft and find replacements for the guys we lost because even with those guys we were not a playoff team so without them and not bringing impact guys in through the draft, this team will not make the playoffs despite being "all in" bringing back Palmer and Fitzgerald.

I understand ARZ has Wile and are bringing in the Leone guy but both didn't exactly set the league on fire. Sure compared to Butler they are All Pros but I like the Rehkow kid out of Idaho I think he's from.

We were the only top 10 offence and defence that didn't make the playoffs last season. The issue wasn't the quality of our 53 going into the season. It came down to two things: Health and failures at key game moments, most notably on Special teams. Wile was adequate; Leone couldn't very well light things up in the NFL from the CFL and we have found a PK who has long NFL history of steady production.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Bad teams count on rookies to be main contributors. If the Cards get 1 rookie starter out of the draft and he makes an impact, that's about all that can be expected. That's not say those rookies can't be depth guys and work their way into starting roles but day 1 starters are rare for a talented roster.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Bad teams count on rookies to be main contributors. If the Cards get 1 rookie starter out of the draft and he makes an impact, that's about all that can be expected. That's not say those rookies can't be depth guys and work their way into starting roles but day 1 starters are rare for a talented roster.

You draft for the future (hence, we better be looking for a QB and a WR) and even a cornerback with the talent of Peterson would not fair well opposite of a corner which will put an emphasis on you in your rookie year... the Cards need to find a vet to man the position and as stated they might feel they already have him in Jenkins but the dude is in his thirties and tore an acl

 

[JeffGollin]

The longer I follow the NFL, the more I'm convinced that rules are meant to be broken.

Luck has something to do with it. So does out of the box thinking and the ability to spot trends earlier than the other teams.

At the risk of of asking a question without first knowing the answer: If you were to take a successful team (like...say...the Pats) and pair it with another NFL team that patterns itself after NE, would that second team equal or exceed the Pats in W's & L's?

Or how about pairing two other teams (say Denver and another team. Or Seattle and another team). Do the imitators ever do as well as the teams they imitate?

I think not. I think you take what you feel are the good things in your organization and team cultures, work with the hand your dealt, give it your best shot and hope the FB Gods smile kindly.

Draft vs. FA's? Rooks vs. Vets? Lots of Low Picks vs. A Few High #1's? There's no magic formula. While you can't fault NE for succeeding, I'm not convinced that any imitator would enjoy the same degree of success.

(No doubt, some other team will counter what NE does by doing something like dumping the cost of their top 10 players and using the profits to open a resort in the Bahamas).

 

[Chopper0080]

I think you are overreacting a bit.

We have a rotation of players to replace Campbell. It won't be as good, but it is in place an dready to go.

We have Justin Bethel and Brandon Williams to fight for the #2CB spot and Mathieu is our nickel CB. At some point you have to draft and develop players. I imagine we will look to draft a CB to push those two, but we won't have to depend on that rookie.

We get Alani Fua and Gabe Martin back from injury and they were our depth at ILB last year. You can argue that we improved over Minter. We also have Zavier Gooden and Scooby Wright to challenge for a spot. We could draft an ILB as well.

You say we need a reliable WR to help Fitz, but we didn't have that last year either and WRs are getting huge money. You can add a role player through FA and be fine.

RG? Boehm, Toner and Wetzel can fight it out.

FS...this we do not have though I believe Branch has played some ala Mathieu. Great draft for S.

RB...there are a ton available and it is a good draft. No worries here.

QBOF...only if one falls who they like. They won't reach for a guy they agree on and believe in.

So, not really much to get worked up about.

Round 1-Hasson Reddick - ILB
Round 2-Marcus Williams - FS
Round 3-Tarrell Basham - OLB
Round 4-Damontae Kazee - CB
Round 5-George Kittle - TE
Round 5-Mack Collins - WR
Round 6-Marlon Mack - RB

...and I don't even really like that draft, but it fills a lot of holes.

 

[juza76]

Drafting for the future in order to be ready for the start of a new chapter when veterans will ritire
This process begins with a young signal caller, mahomes has the upside to lead this franchise

 

[PJ1]

I think you are overreacting a bit.

We have a rotation of players to replace Campbell. It won't be as good, but it is in place an dready to go.

We have Justin Bethel and Brandon Williams to fight for the #2CB spot and Mathieu is our nickel CB. At some point you have to draft and develop players. I imagine we will look to draft a CB to push those two, but we won't have to depend on that rookie.


Round 1-Hasson Reddick - ILB
Round 2-Marcus Williams - FS
Round 3-Tarrell Basham - OLB
Round 4-Damontae Kazee - CB
Round 5-George Kittle - TE
Round 5-Mack Collins - WR
Round 6-Marlon Mack - RB

...and I don't even really like that draft, but it fills a lot of holes.

Bethel and Williams competing for #2CB?....Good luck with that.

 

[Chopper0080]

Bethel and Williams competing for #2CB?....Good luck with that.

Good teams draft and develop. New England's Logan Ryan competed for a #2 spot and played well after years of playing poorly. Markus cooper was not even a starter and came in and contributed. Young players improve. Your entire roster can't be full of sure things .

 

[Cardiac]

I think you are overreacting a bit.

We have a rotation of players to replace Campbell. It won't be as good, but it is in place an dready to go.

We have Justin Bethel and Brandon Williams to fight for the #2CB spot and Mathieu is our nickel CB. At some point you have to draft and develop players. I imagine we will look to draft a CB to push those two, but we won't have to depend on that rookie.

We get Alani Fua and Gabe Martin back from injury and they were our depth at ILB last year. You can argue that we improved over Minter. We also have Zavier Gooden and Scooby Wright to challenge for a spot. We could draft an ILB as well.

You say we need a reliable WR to help Fitz, but we didn't have that last year either and WRs are getting huge money. You can add a role player through FA and be fine.

RG? Boehm, Toner and Wetzel can fight it out.

FS...this we do not have though I believe Branch has played some ala Mathieu. Great draft for S.

RB...there are a ton available and it is a good draft. No worries here.

QBOF...only if one falls who they like. They won't reach for a guy they agree on and believe in.

So, not really much to get worked up about.

Round 1-Hasson Reddick - ILB
Round 2-Marcus Williams - FS
Round 3-Tarrell Basham - OLB
Round 4-Damontae Kazee - CB
Round 5-George Kittle - TE
Round 5-Mack Collins - WR
Round 6-Marlon Mack - RB

...and I don't even really like that draft, but it fills a lot of holes.

Great post Chopper. I would add that at WR Jaron Brown can take over for what Floyd has given us and JJ was coming on strong at the end of the year.