My final mock with free agency plans

[Cbus cardsfan]

Nothing much is going to change draft-wise between now and April 28. There may be a free agency period and I think, regardles of when it happens, the Cards will target these players in FA.
1-Ike Taylor-Horton gets a familiar face to help install his scheme and mentality.
2-Barrett Ruud- I'm assuming my 1st choice, Stephen Tulloch will not hit free agency, or be restricted. Ruud is a nice plan B.
3-I'd like Davin Joseph but he's probably in the same boat as Tulloch. They need someone and I hope it's not Faneca at LG. Carl Nicks is probably a pipe dream but you never know.

I also predict a 2012 first round pick to Philly for Kolb.

The draft:

1- Patrick Peterson is sitting there for the taking but Jerry Jones covets him and call and offers their 1st and 3rd and the Cards accept knowing the player they want will be there. With the 9th pick the Cards select, Robert Quinn. He steps in to play SOLB while Schoefield mans the WOLB.

2- Cameron Heyward, DE: his injury and not so great senior year has him available at 38 and the Cards snatch him up as 5 technique DE. Great value pick.

3a- James Brewer-OT: If they can get a little mean streak in this guy he could become a monster. He's as athletic and physically gifted as any OT in the draft at 6'8 323.

3b- DJ Williams-TE: Whiz decides to give the offense a pass receiving threat at TE that will give defenses nightmares trying to matchup with him.

4-Jerrell Powe-DT/NT: Depth at NT is an issue and Powe is a stout thick lower bodied NT that can spell Williams.

5-Steve Schilling-OG: I'm hoping Moffitt slides but that's not likely. Schilling is a nice alternative and could become a fixture at LG in a year, or so.

6a- Jeron Johnson-SS: Horton likes little guys that can hit and this guy is Bob Sanders-lite. He be a special teams fixture until he starts getting regular PT.

6b- Roy Helu-RB: another special teams demon that will make Jason Wright expendable. He will also provide nice backfield depth.

7- Lee Smith: TE- Whiz gets his blocking TE to hopefully ehlp out the run game. A young Becht.

 

[Seandonic]

Not exactly what I would do but if all of that happened I'd be very pleased.

Oh, and by the way...due to the compensatory pick, why don't you go ahead and add one more seventh round pick.

 

[Cards Czar]

Not exactly what I would do but if all of that happened I'd be very pleased.

Oh, and by the way...due to the compensatory pick, why don't you go ahead and add one more seventh round pick.

his 7th rounder pick is the comp pick.

 

[Seandonic]

Thank you for the correction Cards Czar, I just woke up and didn't realize that. I guess I was still dreaming.

 

[Mitch]

Good stuff, Columbus!

I thought Heyward came on very strong at the end last year and played stellar football---as did Von Miller---both of whom were bouncing back from injuries.

I am leery about Quinn---the talent is there---but the other concerns are legit, imo---and I think it will take him time to assimilate into the NFL games, especially after not having played a snap of football in a year and a half.

But---very intrigued with Brewer---especially if, like you said, he starts to play more aggressively in edge protection and stops his bad habit of reaching and playing too high.

Check this stat out on Helu: versus Missouri this year---28/305 yards.

 

[bg7brd]

If we traded with Dallas, there is a chance that Amakumara is there. We could take him at 9 and then use the acquired 3rd to trade back in to the first for Justin Houston.

 

[kerouac9]

As you can see from my mock draft below, we're on the same wavelength here.

Where does Barrett Ruud play in this defense? He's too small to play SILB, and we just spend a second-round pick on a WILB of the future?

Also: Kolb sucks. He's not better than a QB that you'd be able to get in the 2012 draft. Trading your first-round pick for him would be a huge mistake.

 

[Mitch]

If we traded with Dallas, there is a chance that Amakumara is there. We could take him at 9 and then use the acquired 3rd to trade back in to the first for Justin Houston.

Any way that we could wind up with Justin Houston is AOK with me. I know we both are very high on him, bg7brd. And it's interesting that you bring up Amakumara, because he looks like a better fit for Horton's defense than Peterson.

But three CBs who also fits the mold that we can get later in the draft: Davon House 6-0, 184, New Mexico St., Ras-I Dowling 6-2, 220, Virginia and Shareece Wright, 5-11, 182, USC.

CB Sleeper (made to order for Horton's system): Chris Culliver, 6-0, 197, South Carolina.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

As you can see from my mock draft below, we're on the same wavelength here.

Where does Barrett Ruud play in this defense? He's too small to play SILB, and we just spend a second-round pick on a WILB of the future?

Also: Kolb sucks. He's not better than a QB that you'd be able to get in the 2012 draft. Trading your first-round pick for him would be a huge mistake.

I had Jah Reid in the mock and ended putting Schilling in his place only because he's a natural guard. I like Reid as a prospect though.

 

[overseascardfan]

I just can't bring myself to get on the Robert Quinn train. Just too many negatives: 270 might be a little big to play OLB, has no experience at OLB, last played over a year ago and showed bad judgement and character by involving himself with agents. You can say hey the kid is young and made a mistake but he knew waht he was doing and it ended up hurting him and his team for a few hundred bucks, no very smart.

I hope Bowers, Fairley, Gabbert & Peterson are the top 4 picks so there will be no reason for ARZ to pass on Von Miller.

 

[lobo]

Nothing much is going to change draft-wise between now and April 28. There may be a free agency period and I think, regardles of when it happens, the Cards will target these players in FA.
1-Ike Taylor-Horton gets a familiar face to help install his scheme and mentality.
2-Barrett Ruud- I'm assuming my 1st choice, Stephen Tulloch will not hit free agency, or be restricted. Ruud is a nice plan B.
3-I'd like Davin Joseph but he's probably in the same boat as Tulloch. They need someone and I hope it's not Faneca at LG. Carl Nicks is probably a pipe dream but you never know.

I also predict a 2012 first round pick to Philly for Kolb.

Well thought out. I could have stopped after the word Kolb. I am convinced that you and I are the biggest Kolb fans on the board. I am a little concerned that Iggles may decide to keep an unhappy Kolb for another year and take the big swing at the championship. Unless I am looking at this in an obtuse way giving up a 1 next year for him would be a no brainer. There is a groundswell of talk that Cards are in fact favorites to get him if Iggles give him up. As I mentioned before we will have 70% of the contributors unhappy. Good enough to take McNabb's job last year, good enough to be thought of as QBOF for Iggles who have the personnel to know quarterbacks. What more can you ask for. Anytime I saw him play I really liked what I saw. Smart, high football IQ, makes all the throws.

 

[Krangodnzr]

From what I've read about Powe, he doesn't have the mental capacity to be a very good pro player. He struggles to understand basic football schemes and will likely struggle with that his entire career.

I don't get the fascination with bringing in a LG. We have one, his name is Rex Hadnot and he's a pretty good player. I also doubt very highly that we use a high pick on LT; I would love for us to, but the writing is on the wall with Whisenhunt's comments on Levi Brown. I think that the staff honestly thinks that Brown will be better this year and I doubt we use a high pick to address a position that they believe will be strong.

Lee Smith IMO won't last until that late in the draft, and I think if you want him you may have to draft him in the midrounds.

I love picking Robert Quinn and taking Cameron Heyward in #2 is intriguing. We'll likely need some DE depth and Heyward would be a great addition since he wouldn't be required to play lots of downs early on.

I still can't get past the fact that I think this team would be so much better playing a 4-3 defense. IMO Calais Campbell was playing very well as a LE, and Dockett wouldn't be nearly the liability he is against the run playing next to Dan Williams and a true LE. Maybe if you take Quinn and when the Whisenhunt regime is axed, we'll get a coach that runs a 4-3 and we'll have all the components on the roster already.

 

[Krangodnzr]

As you can see from my mock draft below, we're on the same wavelength here.

Change a few of your picks and I'd love your mock.

I don't see a reason to draft Quinn AND Brooks Reed. Both are projection players and depending on what we do with Porter, I don't see enough roster spots to carry Reed.

I'm more of a fan of Nate Irving than Mason Foster, but I could live with Foster he's a distinguished enough player in his own right.

Not a fan of Jerrell Powe as I explained above; just because he looks the part doesn't mean he'll be good. IMO there aren't any great NT prospects in this draft, most are just fat guys lacking motivation.

 

[kerouac9]

I don't really get the Justin Houston love. He seems to have some of the same problems as Von Miller: Good speed, no moves. If anything, Houston is a little less explosive with speed and has a little more change of direction ability than Von Miller has shown on tape, but I don't get him as a Top 15 prospect. I think if we weren't desperate for a pass rusher we wouldn't even be thinking about this guy.

From what I've read about Powe, he doesn't have the mental capacity to be a very good pro player. He struggles to understand basic football schemes and will likely struggle with that his entire career.

I don't get the fascination with bringing in a LG. We have one, his name is Rex Hadnot and he's a pretty good player. I also doubt very highly that we use a high pick on LT; I would love for us to, but the writing is on the wall with Whisenhunt's comments on Levi Brown. I think that the staff honestly thinks that Brown will be better this year and I doubt we use a high pick to address a position that they believe will be strong.

Lee Smith IMO won't last until that late in the draft, and I think if you want him you may have to draft him in the midrounds.

I love picking Robert Quinn and taking Cameron Heyward in #2 is intriguing. We'll likely need some DE depth and Heyward would be a great addition since he wouldn't be required to play lots of downs early on.

I still can't get past the fact that I think this team would be so much better playing a 4-3 defense. IMO Calais Campbell was playing very well as a LE, and Dockett wouldn't be nearly the liability he is against the run playing next to Dan Williams and a true LE. Maybe if you take Quinn and when the Whisenhunt regime is axed, we'll get a coach that runs a 4-3 and we'll have all the components on the roster already.

Lee Smith is rated as the 180th player in the draft according to THR. It depends on how desperate teams are for a TE.

I think Campbell if he can get back down to 290 or less he can go back to being a good DE, but I'm not sure how you can say anything about him as a LE when he's played essentially his entire career as a 3-4 DE, and has been very good at that. If we kept Alan Branch as a rotational DT with Williams, I'd be with you on transitioning back to a 4-3 and drafting Bowers.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I don't really get the Justin Houston love. He seems to have some of the same problems as Von Miller: Good speed, no moves. If anything, Houston is a little less explosive with speed and has a little more change of direction ability than Von Miller has shown on tape, but I don't get him as a Top 15 prospect. I think if we weren't desperate for a pass rusher we wouldn't even be thinking about this guy.

I think some of the draft paradigms are changing since so many teams have switched to 3-4 or at a minimum are showing 3-4 looks. A lot of those old school tweener defensive ends that the Steelers used to scoop up in the 4th round are now going much higher.

And again as I've pointed out on numerous occasions, teams draft for need quite a bit, and more often than not draft for need at the top of the draft. With so many teams needing 3-4 OLBs, you'll see them go higher than ever.

Lee Smith is rated as the 180th player in the draft according to THR. It depends on how desperate teams are for a TE.

And we wait until what, #248 to take him? I can see him going higher than that, we've see quite a few jumbo sized Tight Ends that were worse prospects than Smith go higher. I think if you like a prospect a lot, take him higher than you expect to make sure you get him.

I think Campbell if he can get back down to 290 or less he can go back to being a good DE, but I'm not sure how you can say anything about him as a LE when he's played essentially his entire career as a 3-4 DE, and has been very good at that. If we kept Alan Branch as a rotational DT with Williams, I'd be with you on transitioning back to a 4-3 and drafting Bowers.

IMO Campbell played his best games last year at LE in the 4-3. That's what I'm basing that opinion on, not pure conjecture. But yeah we would have issues with the transition, just like we're having issues fielding a competent 3-4 package.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

As you can see from my mock draft below, we're on the same wavelength here.

Where does Barrett Ruud play in this defense? He's too small to play SILB, and we just spend a second-round pick on a WILB of the future?

somebody like him may HAVE to play SILB. There's no one else really available unless Tulloch hits the market. I doubt Whiz is going to have a rookie step in and play. I would like Sheppard but he's no sure thing. I doubt Hayes is back, at least to anything significant. I think that is one position the Cards are going to have a hard time filling this year, at least Ruud has had some production and they try him there and see what happens. He can't really be any worse than what was out there last year.

 

[kerouac9]

somebody like him may HAVE to play SILB. There's no one else really available unless Tulloch hits the market. I doubt Whiz is going to have a rookie step in and play. I would like Sheppard but he's no sure thing. I doubt Hayes is back, at least to anything significant. I think that is one position the Cards are going to have a hard time filling this year, at least Ruud has had some production and they try him there and see what happens. He can't really be any worse than what was out there last year.

I don't know. They have Paris Lenon. If Barrett Ruud were good the Bucs wouldn't be letting him go. Don't spend money just to spend it.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Not a fan of Jerrell Powe as I explained above; just because he looks the part doesn't mean he'll be good. IMO there aren't any great NT prospects in this draft, most are just fat guys lacking motivation.

The NT I like, but the Cards probably don't even have him on their board is Kenrick Ellis. He's massive at 6'5 340+, can move, and make plays. The problem is that he got kicked out of South Carolina for multiple failed drug tests.

Another questionable character I would love to see is CB Jimmy Smith. But I can see the Cards not looking at him either because of off field issues.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I don't know. They have Paris Lenon. If Barrett Ruud were good the Bucs wouldn't be letting him go. Don't spend money just to spend it.

I can't stand Paris Lenon. His numbers say he had a decent year but I think he's pretty bad. He'll probably be the starter again, though.

Ruud has put up 100+ tackles the last 4 years. Not sure why TB is letting him go. Maybe they have other guys that needed taken care of. I know their owner isn't interested in spending any kind of money. Not saying Ruud is any kind of game changer, or savior, but he's solid, the Cards need someone and he may be the best ILB available.