Mock Draft 4.0

[MWOOD92]

FREE AGENCY:
Cardinals sign Carson Palmer as the starting QB.

THE DRAFT:
RD. 1 (07) – Chance Warmack OG, Alabama
Pretty obvious choice here. Safest pick IMO.

RD. 2 (38) – Matt Barkley QB, USC
Most people on this board will probably dislike this pick, but I believe this will be a smart choice for the future of the franchise. Carson Palmer doesn't have very many years left in the tank, so this move will allow Barkley to develop behind the former USC star.

RD. 3 (69) – Phillip Thomas FS, Fresno State
Safety is probably the weakest position on our defense, so drafting one will be important. Let him play alongside Johnson, with Bell mentoring and teaching Bowles system to our young safeties.

RD. 4 (103) – Tyrann Mathieu CB, LSU
Say whatever you want about his size, Mathieu plays much bigger than he is. He has plenty of talent and could instantly start as a nickel corner.

RD. 5 (140) – Chris Faulk OT, LSU
Following a torn ACL, his draft stock plummeted. He was one of the best tackles in the country at one point, but needs to prove that he has recovered and able to play at a high level.

RD. 6 (174) – Michael Williams TE, Alabama
Excellent as a red zone threat and a solid run blocker. He would be a great compliment to Housler in a double TE set.

RD. 6 (176) – Quanterus Smith OLB, W. Kentucky
Yet another talented prospect whose draft stock has fallen due to injury. Taking him in the 6th round will be a low risk, high reward scenario.

ALTERNATE PICKS:
RD. 1 (07) – Dion Jordan OLB, Oregon
RD. 2 (38) – Barrett Jones OC, Alabama
RD. 3 (69) – Larry Warford OG, Kentucky
RD. 4 (103) – Christine Michael RB, Texas A&M
RD. 5 (140) – Nico Johnson ILB, Alabama
RD. 6 (174) – Sean Renfree QB, Duke
RD. 6 (176) – Knile Davis RB, Arkansas

 

[Cardiac]

FREE AGENCY:
Cardinals sign Carson Palmer as the starting QB.

THE DRAFT:
RD. 1 (07) – Chance Warmack OG, Alabama
Pretty obvious choice here. Safest pick IMO.

I'm torn on this because upgrading the talent on the Oline is important. Taking an OG this early is not ideal, even for such a great talent.
I'd prefer your alternate pick of Dion Jordan.

RD. 2 (38) – Matt Barkley QB, USC
Most people on this board will probably dislike this pick, but I believe this will be a smart choice for the future of the franchise. Carson Palmer doesn't have very many years left in the tank, so this move will allow Barkley to develop behind the former USC star.

Why don't we also pick up Leinart since he is still a FA and make it a full USC QB roster. One of the 3 has to pay off....right....
For me give me the best Olineman still available.

RD. 3 (69) – Phillip Thomas FS, Fresno State
Safety is probably the weakest position on our defense, so drafting one will be important. Let him play alongside Johnson, with Bell mentoring and teaching Bowles system to our young safeties.

Agree with the pick but think Bell will get more playing time, especially early in the season.

RD. 4 (103) – Tyrann Mathieu CB, LSU
Say whatever you want about his size, Mathieu plays much bigger than he is. He has plenty of talent and could instantly start as a nickel corner.

Risk Reward type pick in the 4th is okay. I'd prefer a RB or TE if BPA allows.

RD. 5 (140) – Chris Faulk OT, LSU
Following a torn ACL, his draft stock plummeted. He was one of the best tackles in the country at one point, but needs to prove that he has recovered and able to play at a high level.

Me likey.

RD. 6 (174) – Michael Williams TE, Alabama
Excellent as a red zone threat and a solid run blocker. He would be a great compliment to Housler in a double TE set.

Works for me.

RD. 6 (176) – Quanterus Smith OLB, W. Kentucky
Yet another talented prospect whose draft stock has fallen due to injury. Taking him in the 6th round will be a low risk, high reward scenario.

cool beans.

ALTERNATE PICKS:
RD. 1 (07) – Dion Jordan OLB, Oregon
RD. 2 (38) – Barrett Jones OC, Alabama
RD. 3 (69) – Larry Warford OG, Kentucky
RD. 4 (103) – Christine Michael RB, Texas A&M
RD. 5 (140) – Nico Johnson ILB, Alabama
RD. 6 (174) – Sean Renfree QB, Duke
RD. 6 (176) – Knile Davis RB, Arkansas

First of all, thanks for the work and obviously a lot of thought put into this.

If we get Palmer then drafting a QB falls way down on the needs list IMO.

 

[schutd]

Agree. Stick with OL in 1 and 2, and look for Matt Scott later.

 

[az jam]

Like your draft but Barkley will go in the first round. Someone will take him there. Put in another qb like EJ Manuel or Mike Glennon. Both fit the Arians profile.

 

[MWOOD92]

First of all, thanks for the work and obviously a lot of thought put into this.

If we get Palmer then drafting a QB falls way down on the needs list IMO.

Not necessarily. Palmer is getting up in age and we couldn't expect him to play for too much longer. Hence why I decided to take Barkley and let him learn and develop. Palmer would be our "win now" QB, Barkley would be our "future" QB.

However, I definitely would not mind taking another OL like Barrett Jones in the second round.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

This would be a great draft. I really like it because it helps ensure that Stanton never throws a pass for us.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Good stuff, thanks for posting.


I do NOT get all the love Phillip Thomas is getting on this board.

Edit: For the sake of it, went back, did some reading/research. Guy was hurt during his college career, maybe that has something to do with it.

I dunno. Other safeties I would like to have.

 

[MWOOD92]

Good stuff, thanks for posting.


I do NOT get all the love Phillip Thomas is getting on this board.

Edit: For the sake of it, went back, did some reading/research. Guy was hurt during his college career, maybe that has something to do with it.

I dunno. Other safeties I would like to have.

Blame it on the so-called "East Coast bias" or the horrific leg injury that ended Thomas' 2011 season before it even began. For whatever reason, the playmaking free safety has not generated the national attention he has deserved throughout a terrific career with the Bulldogs.

Blessed with good physical traits and even more impressive instincts and toughness, Thomas has proven himself to be a natural playmaker over four starting seasons with the Bulldogs. He's responsible for producing 20 turnovers (13 interceptions, six forced fumbles, one fumble recovery) over his career and joined Alabama's Dee Milliner and Mississippi State's Johnthan Banks as a finalist for the 2012 Thorpe Award as the nation's top defender.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1692675/phillip-thomas

The only other safety I would take in the 3rd would be Shamarko Thomas.

 

[Cardiac]

Not necessarily. Palmer is getting up in age and we couldn't expect him to play for too much longer. Hence why I decided to take Barkley and let him learn and develop. Palmer would be our "win now" QB, Barkley would be our "future" QB.

However, I definitely would not mind taking another OL like Barrett Jones in the second round.

BA has stated that a QB doesn't really learn much sitting and developing. All the reps go to the #1 with a very small amount going to the #2 QB which would be Stanton (most likely).

Now with the increased coaching staff maybe the other QB's get needed work on fundamentals and Keim has stated he would like to draft a QB every year.

Thing is if Palmer is acquired it would probably mean he is our starter for the next 3 years or more and that's a long time to have Barkley sitting on the bench.

 

[MWOOD92]

BA has stated that a QB doesn't really learn much sitting and developing. All the reps go to the #1 with a very small amount going to the #2 QB which would be Stanton (most likely).

Now with the increased coaching staff maybe the other QB's get needed work on fundamentals and Keim has stated he would like to draft a QB every year.

Thing is if Palmer is acquired it would probably mean he is our starter for the next 3 years or more and that's a long time to have Barkley sitting on the bench.

True, but then again it could always pay off later on. Just look at Green Bay letting their 1st round QB sit on the bench for 3 years. Not saying Barkley is equivalent to Rodgers, but you never know.

Edit: Not to mention the possibility of Carson Palmer ending up to be a complete dud (like every other free agent QB we've signed). Barkley would be there to fill in.

 

[Cardiac]

True, but then again it could always pay off later on. Just look at Green Bay letting their 1st round QB sit on the bench for 3 years. Not saying Barkley is equivalent to Rodgers, but you never know.

Not saying it couldn't happen. Barkley may be a legit developmental QB. I just have this USC QB bias that I have trouble shaking.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I really like, and want, the Chris Faulk pick. FaulK and Warmack add alot of talent to the OL.

To no one's surprise, I don't want Barkley anywhere near this team.

I think the Cards 2nd round pick may be a safety. Eric Reid and Cyprien are possible.

Barrett Jones may be available in the 3rd round but I'd like to see the pass rush addressed at this point. Jamie Collins or even Sam Montgomery could be there.

I like the rest of the picks but think Renfree may be in play as a late rounder.

 

[MWOOD92]

Not saying it couldn't happen. Barkley may be a legit developmental QB. I just have this USC QB bias that I have trouble shaking.

Yep a lot of people feel that way. I know I did. But for some reason I feel like Barkley will be the one to break that USC QB mold. Who knows!

I'm at the point where picking up a QB in free agency isn't enough.

We signed Derek Anderson so that we wouldn't have to use a high draft pick on a QB.

We signed Kevin Kolb so that we wouldn't have to use a high draft pick on a QB.

So if we were to sign Carson Palmer, and he ends up not being as advertised... then what? Basically the same old cycle again and again.

 

[Finito]

I'd be fine with Barkley I don't think he's anything like lienart, that triple overtime game against Andrew luck and stanford was one of the greatest games I've ever seen. Him and luck went toe to toe that night. You never seen lienart put on a performance like that just take a team on his back.

I think lane kiffen had allot to do with Barkley falling off this year. People forget Carson Palmer was really really good before he got hurt and Sanchez was a very solid QB before this year look at his playoff record the jets just look like a bad situation all together

 

[Garthshort]

MWOOD92, I hate the Barkley pick if we get Palmer. We just have too many other needs. However, if Barkley is the real deal, I'll tip my hat to you. Thanks for all your work.

 

[PJ1]

Good stuff but just afraid of Barkley. The rest of the draft would be great. Many needs addressed with this draft.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

So, this is a done deal? This is who we are taking?

 

[Cardiac]

Yep a lot of people feel that way. I know I did. But for some reason I feel like Barkley will be the one to break that USC QB mold. Who knows!

I'm at the point where picking up a QB in free agency isn't enough.

We signed Derek Anderson so that we wouldn't have to use a high draft pick on a QB.

We signed Kevin Kolb so that we wouldn't have to use a high draft pick on a QB.

So if we were to sign Carson Palmer, and he ends up not being as advertised... then what? Basically the same old cycle again and again.

My recollection of the DA signing was that we needed a back up for ML(the whiny brat USC QB who has failed) and not as an answer to the QB position.

IMO Kolb was traded for because our draft position didn't allow us to get an elite prospect and the team was seriously just a good to solid QB from being in the playoffs.

Carson Palmer gives us a legit starting caliber QB and allows us not to reach for a QB in the early rounds.

I want a pass rushing OLBer, OT(rd 1) or OG (rd2) and a Safety in the top three rds this year. Now BPA may change that and a TE would also be a strong choice. QB, in this years draft, is a distant 5th option for me.

 

[Bodha]

Id like to use our 1st 2 picks on Olineman. This years class is stacked. We could very well find 2 pro bowl caliber linemen in the 1st 2 rounds. No reason to take Barkely in the 2nd round, hes not a franchise QB.


1st round Fisher or Warmack.
2nd round Warford or maybe Fluker or Schwenke

Good stuff, thanks for posting.


I do NOT get all the love Phillip Thomas is getting on this board.

Edit: For the sake of it, went back, did some reading/research. Guy was hurt during his college career, maybe that has something to do with it.

I dunno. Other safeties I would like to have.

Ive been high on him way before everyone else started talking him up.


PT has an Ed Reed like Ball Hawk ability. In this passing league, turn overs = wins and hes a turnover factory.

 

[52brandon]

I'd be pretty happy with that draft. Barkley is a good QB. I expect him to go before we pick in round #2 though

 

[cardpa]

Id like to use our 1st 2 picks on Olineman. This years class is stacked. We could very well find 2 pro bowl caliber linemen in the 1st 2 rounds. No reason to take Barkely in the 2nd round, hes not a franchise QB.


1st round Fisher or Warmack.
2nd round Warford or maybe Fluker or Schwenke


I totally agree that the Oline should be the priority in the first two rounds. Solidifying the Oline would solve a lot of offensive problems and would resolve the long term problem with the offense. A solid Oline improves everything else on offense. A better run game and better pass protection. The results will be more points scored and more ball possession which equates to less time for the defense to be on the field.