Is OT Lane Johnson a reach at #7 for Cards?

[DoTheDew]

Yes, the worst reach imaginable.




We are picking 7th. Theres only 6 teams ahead of us...Lane Johnson is the 3rd best LT. You want to use the #7 overall on the 3rd, THIRD, best player at a single position?

It doesn't really matter if he's the 3rd best OT. What matters is if he is one of the 7 best players. If the 7 best players in the draft were all OTs but we passed on one of them because we could take the best guy at another position even though he's an inferior player overall, we'd be idiots.

Personally, I don't think he's one of the 7 best players in this draft so I wouldn't take him. But that's why. Not because "he's the 3rd best tackle."

 

[Totally_Red]

Not a reach IMO.

Most talent evaluators I've read say he's an ascending talent who may very well end up being the best of the three tackles. PFW says he's an extremely athletic player who will excel with solid veteran coaching. With the coaching staff the Cardinals have in place, he's exactly the kind of player we need IMO-a young high-motor guy with all the physical tools who just needs good NFL coaching and strength conditioning to turn him into an all-pro player. He's played right and left tackle and has a history as a tight end where he could line up in jumbo packages. He's just the kind of versatile player that Harold Goodwin and Bruce Arians said they wanted for their offensive line.

Hope he's there and we take him.

CBS Sports has him ranked as the 7th best player in this draft. That doesn't sound like a reach to me.

COMPARES TO: Joe Staley, OT, San Francisco 49ers - Johnson is taller and longer than Staley, but they have similar athletic backgrounds and the mobility that makes them impressive in pass protection and blocking on the move.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1700429/lane-johnson

What I like-Johnson is a tremendous athlete. Having made several position changes during his career, you can tell it has helped him develop. His time at tight end and defensive end helped him understand leverage. He’s a fluid athlete with almost no wasted movement in his game. Johnson also has a very high football IQ, and solid football pedigree. His former experience as a quarterback shows in his knowledge of the game and when it comes to his assignments, he’s spot on. Physically, Johnson is ideal without being imposing. What I mean by that is he has all the requisite height and length for a top left tackle, but to see him on the field he doesn’t stand out in terms of raw size. But Johnson has learned in just two years of the position how to use his combination of physical gifts and football acumen to become a great pass protector.

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2013/04/05/oklahoma-sooners-lane-johnson-2013-nfl-draft-scouting-report/

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I think Eric Fisher is more of a reach than Johnson. Johnson has a very high ceiling but he comes with question marks as well.

I wouldn't compare him to Joe Staley because that would be a huge reach at 7. Fisher is who I would compare to Staley. They are more technicians and need that technique to be sucessful.

I would compare Johnson to more of the athletic LT's like Ryan Clady or Jordan Gross.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

WHAT? How can a 300 pound athlete be a successful guard.

Only 325 pound bowling balls types can be successful guards.



I think your right but I just wanted to get out of the way the rebuttals you are going to get.

If the guy can play, he can play.

Use all the sarcasm you want, but the Cardinals track record is what it is with using lighter guards in a power running game.....not good.

Don't even have to prove that one, we have three seasons of proof.

Our guards can be 180lbs for all I care, as long as they hold the pocket, don't get blown off the ball, and actually block other players.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I think what is lost on most people is that the Cardinals are in a catch-22 situation.

They need to improve their interior line, both guards, and center, IMO.

They need to improve the LT position.

You cannot do both, IMO.

I don't think you can draft two starters in this draft unless Menelik Watson, for some reason drops in this draft, and he is there in round 2. That is NOT going to happen.

Thus you pick the guard, and live with the tackle, or you pick the tackle and live with the guard.

Personally, the way I see it, is our 7th round pick should be an offensive lineman, and should be a starter day 1.

Thus I believe Chance Warmack improves our guards way more then Lane Johnson improves our LT position.

Furthermore, if Johnson is not going to start at LT day 1, then why on earth do the Cardinals draft him ? To play RT ? Madness.

It is very simple, for me at least, because you can draft Chance Warmack and he is your guard. Done. Adam Snyder, or Daryn Colledge and their ridiculous contracts and poor talents go take a set.

Eric Fischer I believe is the wildcard. I would still pick Warmack over Fischer but Fischer could start over Levi Brown, IMO. Thus the intrigue.

Which then if Fischer plays LT, the question is who is the better RT ? Levi Brown or Bobby Massie ?

So, yeah, Levi Brown at RG ?

 

[az jam]

Miami appears to really want Jonhson and may trade up to get him.


Although Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland is reportedly finished with his free-agent shopping spree, his roster still has a glaring need at offensive tackle.

Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for free agent Eric Winston, is "hearing from everyone" that the Dolphins will take an offensive tackle in the first round.

The problem is that the trio of Texas A&M's Luke Joekel, Central Michigan's Eric Fisher and Oklahoma's Lane Johnson will likely be off the board by the time Miami picks at No. 12 overall.

The solution to trade up, as Ireland is armed with extra second- and third-round picks from last year's Vontae Davis and Brandon Marshall trades. The Palm Beach Post "keeps hearing" the Dolphins are high on Johnson, and suggests pairing the 12th pick with the 54th or 77th overall to move up.

Drafting Johnson would potentially solve the left tackle position for the next decade while allowing Jonathan Martin to stay on the right side. A trade up will be costly, however, as the Dolphins would likely have to position themselves ahead of the tackle-needy Detroit Lions at No. 5 overall to ensure Johnson.

 

[mjb21aztd]

any offensive lineman player in the draft is a ok pick for the Cards at 7

 

[Chopper0080]

Miami appears to really want Jonhson and may trade up to get him.


Although Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland is reportedly finished with his free-agent shopping spree, his roster still has a glaring need at offensive tackle.

Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for free agent Eric Winston, is "hearing from everyone" that the Dolphins will take an offensive tackle in the first round.

The problem is that the trio of Texas A&M's Luke Joekel, Central Michigan's Eric Fisher and Oklahoma's Lane Johnson will likely be off the board by the time Miami picks at No. 12 overall.

The solution to trade up, as Ireland is armed with extra second- and third-round picks from last year's Vontae Davis and Brandon Marshall trades. The Palm Beach Post "keeps hearing" the Dolphins are high on Johnson, and suggests pairing the 12th pick with the 54th or 77th overall to move up.

Drafting Johnson would potentially solve the left tackle position for the next decade while allowing Jonathan Martin to stay on the right side. A trade up will be costly, however, as the Dolphins would likely have to position themselves ahead of the tackle-needy Detroit Lions at No. 5 overall to ensure Johnson.

I think both the Dolphins and the Chargers are highly likely to try and move up in front of Arizona, possibly Detroit, to try and get whichever tackle they prefer. My guess is the Dolphins are the most likely when you consider how agressive they have been this offseason.

My guess, the Dolphins trade up to #3 with the Raiders, giving them their #12, #42, and a 2014 draft pick. I think the Raiders are the most likely to trade because they are the most desperate for draft picks and will be willing to take less to move back.

Just my thoughts.

 

[bg7brd]

I think both the Dolphins and the Chargers are highly likely to try and move up in front of Arizona, possibly Detroit, to try and get whichever tackle they prefer. My guess is the Dolphins are the most likely when you consider how agressive they have been this offseason.

My guess, the Dolphins trade up to #3 with the Raiders, giving them their #12, #42, and a 2014 draft pick. I think the Raiders are the most likely to trade because they are the most desperate for draft picks and will be willing to take less to move back.

Just my thoughts.

Good Point. The Browns are another team that might want to move back. If the Lions go with a DE (Ansah) and Johnson is still on the board I suspect we will see some action. Then we'll take Warmack and all is good

 

[az jam]

Good Point. The Browns are another team that might want to move back. If the Lions go with a DE (Ansah) and Johnson is still on the board I suspect we will see some action. Then we'll take Warmack and all is good

Agree, its possible that Joeckel, Fisher and Johnson are gone when we pick. Warmack would be just fine.

 

[kerouac9]

I think Eric Fisher is more of a reach than Johnson. Johnson has a very high ceiling but he comes with question marks as well.

I wouldn't compare him to Joe Staley because that would be a huge reach at 7. Fisher is who I would compare to Staley. They are more technicians and need that technique to be sucessful.

I would compare Johnson to more of the athletic LT's like Ryan Clady or Jordan Gross.

I mean, Joe Staley was drafted in the 20s. He turned out to be a very good player, but there was as much risk with him as there is in both Fisher and Lane Johnson.

The problem is that this draft class doesn't have the elite talent that Staley's class did, and so these two guys are kind of getting pushed up because of the mediocrity around them, particularly at QB, WR, CB, and pass rusher.

What would make Johnson or Fisher "reaches" isn't their physical potential, it's their lack of development at the college level that makes their ability to reach that potential less likely.

That's what pushed Staley down the board, as well.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I mean, Joe Staley was drafted in the 20s. He turned out to be a very good player, but there was as much risk with him as there is in both Fisher and Lane Johnson.

The problem is that this draft class doesn't have the elite talent that Staley's class did, and so these two guys are kind of getting pushed up because of the mediocrity around them, particularly at QB, WR, CB, and pass rusher.

What would make Johnson or Fisher "reaches" isn't their physical potential, it's their lack of development at the college level that makes their ability to reach that potential less likely.

That's what pushed Staley down the board, as well.

I agree. If I was drafting, neither Fisher or Johnson would be in my top 10. They are definitely benefitting from the lack of top end talent at the OT position in this draft. In fact they are benefitting from the overall lack of elite talent at the top of the draft. Just go back to last year and Riley Reiff was a comparable, if not better talent, and he went 23 because, after all the highly rated skill players were chosen, there were top guys like Melvin Ingram still on the board in the late teens. There's likely not one offensive skill player in this draft that gets picked prior to 15. Maybe Geno Smith will be if someone wants to reach for him.

 

[kerouac9]

I agree. If I was drafting, neither Fisher or Johnson would be in my top 10. They are definitely benefitting from the lack of top end talent at the OT position in this draft. In fact they are benefitting from the overall lack of elite talent at the top of the draft. Just go back to last year and Riley Reiff was a comparable, if not better talent, and he went 23 because, after all the highly rated skill players were chosen, there were top guys like Melvin Ingram still on the board in the late teens. There's likely not one offensive skill player in this draft that gets picked prior to 15. Maybe Geno Smith will be if someone wants to reach for him.

Well, IMO Reiff fell because of the massive amount of question marks coming out of the prospects that Iowa has produced over the last decade or so, particularly on the offensive line.

It sounds dumb to say, but if this were a better draft class at the top, then these imperfect prospects would be pushed down. I mean, Ziggy Ansuh was being talked about as a mid-round prospect in November, but now people are hoping that he's an Top 10 OLB(?!).

No one knows for sure how old Ansuh is, and he's played football for a season and a half.

This is a dysfunctional draft class. It doesn't make sense to try and grade these guys historically--you're only going to feel bad about how terrible this draft class is.

The only thing you can do is measure each player against the rest of the draft class. In that measure, all 5 of the top linemen are probably in the Top 15 players overall.

 

[JeffGollin]

You know what? If Johnson is drafted in the top 7 and winds up sucking, then he's a reach. But if he makes the Pro Bowl a few times, then he'll be anything but.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

If he can start right away than he isn't a reach, but if he has to sit on the bench year 1 while he develops than I think it's a reach because we could have had an immediate starter in Warmack who also has a very good upside.

 

[WildBB]

If he can start right away than he isn't a reach, but if he has to sit on the bench year 1 while he develops than I think it's a reach because we could have had an immediate starter in Warmack who also has a very good upside.

If we stay put at #7, I see either Warmack, Starr Loutulelei or Jarvis Jones being the pick. I'd be happy with any of them.

The way things are stacking up and with Miami mtl on the move up in the draft order, I see all three OT's being picked ahead of us anyway.