Ken Somers Blog: We'll Probably Trade Down

[JeffGollin]

If another thread on this topic has started, I apologize.

Somers said that - reading between the lines of various conversations he's had with Rod Graves on the draft during the past week - leads him to believe that the Cards will definitely trade down. RG apparently feels that, by doing so, we can wind up with additional picks and maybe even an extra 2nd round pick.

Philosophically, I like the strategy. But executionally, I am very scared.

The danger is that we'll trade out of genuine franchise-player talent with our first pick in order to add a few more picks who project to being only average to decent, but not great.

Rod made the mistake of overestimating talent at #18 and #19 when we passed on Suggs, Trufant and Kevin Williams (The only redeeming thing about that draft was following - I think it was - Keim's advice to grab Q).

I agree that there will be 7 or 8 very good players still around when we draft at #5; but if Rod goes nuts and trades down more than 7- 8 notches, we'll be doomed.

We need a few more difference-makers on our rosters to put us over the top - we've already added enough grinders in free agency.

 

[CtCardinals78]

I think trading down is stupid UNLESS we trade down to 7-8 and get /levi Brown and a 2nd round pick, which is pretty much impossible.

 

[Zeno]

If Thomas or Peterson are on the board at #5 and we trade down this team is run by complete idiots.

 

[ItsInTheCards]

If another thread on this topic has started, I apologize.

Somers said that - reading between the lines of various conversations he's had with Rod Graves on the draft during the past week - leads him to believe that the Cards will definitely trade down. RG apparently feels that, by doing so, we can wind up with additional picks and maybe even an extra 2nd round pick.

Philosophically, I like the strategy. But executionally, I am very scared.

The danger is that we'll trade out of genuine franchise-player talent with our first pick in order to add a few more picks who project to being only average to decent, but not great.

Rod made the mistake of overestimating talent at #18 and #19 when we passed on Suggs, Trufant and Kevin Williams (The only redeeming thing about that draft was following - I think it was - Keim's advice to grab Q).

I agree that there will be 7 or 8 very good players still around when we draft at #5; but if Rod goes nuts and trades down more than 7- 8 notches, we'll be doomed.

We need a few more difference-makers on our rosters to put us over the top - we've already added enough grinders in free agency.

I disagree somewhat....there are still guys in the early to mid teens that would be great values and would certainly help the team....

guys like Lawrence Timmons, Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, Posluszny, Reggie Nelson, Carriker, Anderson, would all be solid options that could help the team quite a bit in addition to picking up an extra pick or two

there's a lot of talent to be had in the second and third, so any extra picks they could get would be even better

that said, I think its unlikely that they trade down at all. Not because they necessarily don't want to, but more because they have no partners

there were so many deals that were gonna happen last year, and nothing really came to fruition till the Cutler trade because teams value their picks these days big time. nobody wants to pay the price to move up

 

[JeffGollin]

I disagree somewhat....there are still guys in the early to mid teens that would be great values - like Lawrence Timmons, Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, Posluszny, Reggie Nelson, Carriker, Anderson...there's a lot of talent to be had in the second and third...

The 7 top guys I figure will be available when we pick at #5 include: L Brown, Landry, Okoye, Branch, Willis, Ginn and Nelson (plus either Thomas, Peterson or Quinn)

I'd put Adams, Carriker, J Anderson, Posluszny, D Harris, Meriweather and Staley one notch lower, While they may be talented (& I Iove Harris and Meriweather) - they're not quite as sure-fire talents as the top echelon and I'd rather have one great player from the first group than two decent ones from the second.

That's just my opinion. (Maybe it's a few players deeper depending on whose board it is) and you could turn out to be right. But I'd certainly be more apprehensive about our draft if we traded down; and feel we'd be taking an unecessary risk.

In terms of its overall development, this franchise is not good enough to afford a whiff in round one.

 

[TheCardFan]

Trading down with Joe Thomas on the board would be the exact duplicate of passing on Suggs for two scrubs.

If Thomas is gone, I can't fault them at all.

If they do trade down, I think they should take Patrick Willis.

 

[azmike74]

Screw you Kent Somers, we're taking BPA.

 

[CardShark]

I too wouldn't want them to trade any further than #7, but there is no incentive for anyone to move up 1 or 2 spots. So I would say keep the # 5 pick, but I wouldn't mind if they traded up into the first round to get a higher caliber of player. Does anyone really expect players chosen on day two to fill the holes we have? I don't think we are at the stage were we need as many players as we can get, but that we need starting calber players in four or five positions.

 

[corrado]

Trading down....

I think what Graves is attempting to say is that AFTER the Cards take their player at 5 they will try to trade down in rounds 2 and possibly but less likely in round 3 and/or 4.

I think this would be a wise move on their part to get extra draft picks. Last year if I recall there was alot of this kind of activity in rounds 2 to 4. If Thomas or AP is there when the Cards pick at 5 in round 1, I think this will be a really dumb move on their part and typical of how they can screw thing up. I like the idea of trading down for more picks but not in the 1st round and I am hoping that is what RG is alluding to and Somers is drawing the wrong conclusion.

 

[Evil Ash]

If another thread on this topic has started, I apologize.

Somers said that - reading between the lines of various conversations he's had with Rod Graves on the draft during the past week - leads him to believe that the Cards will definitely trade down. RG apparently feels that, by doing so, we can wind up with additional picks and maybe even an extra 2nd round pick.

Philosophically, I like the strategy. But executionally, I am very scared.

The danger is that we'll trade out of genuine franchise-player talent with our first pick in order to add a few more picks who project to being only average to decent, but not great.

Rod made the mistake of overestimating talent at #18 and #19 when we passed on Suggs, Trufant and Kevin Williams (The only redeeming thing about that draft was following - I think it was - Keim's advice to grab Q).

I agree that there will be 7 or 8 very good players still around when we draft at #5; but if Rod goes nuts and trades down more than 7- 8 notches, we'll be doomed.

We need a few more difference-makers on our rosters to put us over the top - we've already added enough grinders in free agency.

Actually according to his blog the Cards are happy where they are at with the 5th pick. However if they did do a trade on draft day it would be a trade down not up.

 

[CardinalChris]

If another thread on this topic has started, I apologize.

Somers said that - reading between the lines of various conversations he's had with Rod Graves on the draft during the past week - leads him to believe that the Cards will definitely trade down. RG apparently feels that, by doing so, we can wind up with additional picks and maybe even an extra 2nd round pick.

Philosophically, I like the strategy. But executionally, I am very scared.

The danger is that we'll trade out of genuine franchise-player talent with our first pick in order to add a few more picks who project to being only average to decent, but not great.

Rod made the mistake of overestimating talent at #18 and #19 when we passed on Suggs, Trufant and Kevin Williams (The only redeeming thing about that draft was following - I think it was - Keim's advice to grab Q).

I agree that there will be 7 or 8 very good players still around when we draft at #5; but if Rod goes nuts and trades down more than 7- 8 notches, we'll be doomed.

We need a few more difference-makers on our rosters to put us over the top - we've already added enough grinders in free agency.

We need 2 things. An OT and a playmaker on defense. Trading too far down will take us out of both.

 

[Evil Ash]

http://www.azcentral.com/blogs/index.php?blog=194&blogtype=Sports

Draft update
04/19/2007 02:05 PM

I just talked to vice president of football operations Rod Graves for some draft stories that will appear in the newspaper throughout the week, beginning Sunday. Graves chose his words carefully, but it's clear if the Cardinals are going to make a trade, it will be to move down, not up, on draft weekend.

"We're in a great spot at No. 5," he said. "There is some attractiveness in the fact that by moving down several spots we can still get an excellent football player and be in the position to possibly pick up a second round pick or multiple picks."

 

[azdad1978]

RG is a moron if he didn't learn from the fiasco he did trading down a couple of years ago. What a great way for the fans at the draft party to boo them out of the building.

 

[Duckjake]

RG is a moron if he didn't learn from the fiasco he did trading down a couple of years ago. What a great way for the fans at the draft party to boo them out of the building.

If the Cards had selected Jeff Faine and Larry Johnson we'd be talking about what a great draft 2003 was instead of calling it a fiasco. Johnson and Pace were desperation selections and those will cost you almost every time.

But I guess we should be thankful the Cards didn't take Boller or Grossman.

 

[Second Deck]

If Thomas or Peterson are on the board at #5 and we trade down this team is run by complete idiots.

My feelings exactly Zeno. Why we would we want Suggs when we can get Johnson and Pace. I do not trust Graves at all.

 

[D-Dogg]

If we traded down and got Staley, I don't know how upset I'd be. I'd rather we just stay where we are and take somebody, even Levi.

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

http://www.azcentral.com/blogs/index.php?blog=194&blogtype=Sports

Nowhere in this does it say we probably or definitely will trade down- ya'll are making some big assumptions from this tiny piece of writing. Of course the Cardinals won't trade up. I think people are reading WAY too much into this blog entry.

 

[earthsci]

Nowhere in this does it say we probably or definitely will trade down- ya'll are making some big assumptions from this tiny piece of writing. Of course the Cardinals won't trade up. I think people are reading WAY too much into this blog entry.

...it's clear if the Cardinals are going to make a trade, it will be to move down...

 

[Zeno]

Graves chose his words carefully, but it's clear if the Cardinals are going to make a trade, it will be to move down, not up, on draft weekend.

That doesn't say he thinks the Cards will trade down that says that if the Cards trade it won't be up.

Either way its a beat writer from the Cards and not someone who actually makes those decisions saying it. I'll relax until the Cards are on the clock (I'm still hoping I can fool my wife in to being near a TV when the Cards are on the clock--I'm sure they have ESPN in Puerto Rico).

 

[vinnymac]

I love the idea of trading down to get more picks. I would love to get Carriker and a couple of 2nd round picks. Can you imagine getting OLB Durant and Bradley. 3 playmakers on defense in the first 2 rounds. This is dreaming of course, but anything could happen.

 

[B-Dogg]

my gut feeling is that Adrian Peterson falls to us and we draft him and trade his draft rights to the Bills... And we take Landry, Anderson, Branch, or Brown whomever is still there out of that group... just a gut feeling nothing more...

 

[Cheesebeef]

ooooohhhhh man! I can't wait to see how this pick turns out - I'm predicting the highest form of comedy.

 

[Jetstream Green]

For better or worse

or much rather worse for Leinart's sake. I have a feeling that we will trade down regardless of who is still there at 5 and draft Willis. Don't ask me why it appears they have so much confidence in Ross...but it seems they do?

 

[Jetstream Green]

Something tells me also that this draft could turn into a comedy hit, can you see Richard Pryor as Graves and Gene Wilder as Whis...it would be great.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Something tells me also that this draft could turn into a comedy hit, can you see Richard Pryor as Graves and Gene Wilder as Whis...it would be great.

you are the man Jet - anyone who recognizes the greatness of the comic duo of Pryor and Wilder is aces in my book!