I don't see GM Keim using our first round pick on a TE. IMO it will either be an OT or DE/OLB.
Like using a top 10 pick on a guard?
Something that I hope most folks on this board get is that Jim Dray registered the 3rd highest percentage of snaps of all backs and wide receivers for the Cardinals this season playing 63% of all offensive snaps.
Fitzgerald - 92%
Michael Floyd - 85%
Jim Dray - 63%
Andre Roberts - 57%
Rob Housler - 48% (despite missing 4 games due to injury)
When your top two TEs are playing 63% and 48% of snaps, that is a priority position to upgrade in the offseason. Keim and Arians will address TE in the draft, possibly early and possibly drafting multiple players.
Snap % is a stat that I really see smart GMs using when spending money in FA and for the early rounds of the draft. How many opportunities are those players going to get to impact the game? That should definitely drive where we are spending our money and how we are investing our high draft picks.
Using this formula, what players could be upgraded to get the most impact...
LT - Bradley Sowell/Levi Brown - 100%
SS - Yerimiah Bell - 99%
LG - Daryn Colledge - 94%
OLB - John Abraham - 79% (I mention because we will eventually have to replace him due to age)
TE1 - Jim Dray - 63%
FS - Rashad Johnson - 55%
FYI - no RB logged even 50% of offensive snaps.
So, with either the draft or free agency, our needs appear to be LT, LG, SS, OLB, TE and FS. However, Cooper is expected to fill the LG need and Mathieu helps alleviate some FS and 3CB snaps. Therefore top offseason needs are probably LT, SS, OLB and TE.
snap stats courtesy of footballoutsiders.com