The re-signing of Browning and signing of Sweat opens up the Cards board, because there are now more roles that a potentially new edge rusher can occupy, depending on how they shuffle the personnel. Allow me to give a short explanation:
In base-defense the Cards use a 4-3 defense, where one of the edge rushers is a “traditional” edge rusher, while the other is kind of a hybrid between a defensive tackle and a defensive end. Usually, Rallis goes to a nickel-defense (called a Penny-defense) as soon as possible, and here they deploy five defensive linemen. The bigger defensive end in base-defense now moves inside to what you could call a defensive tackle-role (it is called a 4i-role), while a new edge rusher will be deployed to the outside of him. Sometimes it can be a SAM linebacker moving down to the defensive line, or it can be a rotational guy (typically lighter and faster than the one in base-defense). This is the role that made Haason Reddick into one of the NFLs best edge rushers under Gannon, and with the Cards it will probably be filled by Browning. The role of hybrid DT and EDGE in base-defense and moving to 4i in nickel-defense will be occupied by Darius Robinson, and probably Dante Stills (or LJ Collier) will be his backup at the 4i-role in nickel. In nickel, the more traditional EDGE from base defense will slide a bit to the outside in a so-called wide 9-role. This guy usually will not be substituted between the two schemes, and that is likely the role where Sweat is expected to be deployed. Now, here is where they will have several options in the draft, and it depends primarily on B.J. Ojulari. If he is used as the traditional EDGE in both defenses, as the backup to Sweat, then they need someone on the other side in the Penny-defense, and thus, likely make Browning into a backup at SAM. If Ojulari plays the SAM-role in Penny-defense, they will need another guy as the traditional EDGE in both base and nickel, as a rotational player with Sweat. Zaven Collins or Xavier Thomas is an option for either role, but I simply don’t think they are good enough.
I will just quickly add here that anyone that questions if Ojulari will be depended on this season are most likely kidding themselves.
I hope that all of that write-up makes sense and explains the most likely possibilities. Ossenfort has shown that he makes scheme- and role specific draft selections (whereas, for example, Keim mostly took good players and then left it up to the coaches to make them fit in), so it makes sense to me to target the most exposed positions. Along the same lines, Gannon has a preferred type of players which the Cards board also reflects.
You could argue that it would make the most sense to draft the Penny-defense EDGE because he would be the primary guy in that role, but Gannon and Rallis like to have a big rotation on the defensive line, so even a backup to Sweat would likely get a lot of playing time. Another element is that top players in any of the two roles are more than welcome.
Like the previous months, I don’t even consider an offensive pick (first offensive player ranked – Donovan Jackson, guard – is not until #8), and I have left out Abdul Carter and Mason Graham because I consider them close to locks to be drafted in the top 10. The five I have listed are the only five I would be comfortable drafting at #16.
Oh, and one last note: I have not included James Pearce, even though I think that the scheme-fit is clear, and his potential is huge. The reason is the rumors of character concerns, and how it could easily make Ossenfort stay away. I think he will.
1 – Shemar Stewart, edge rusher, Texas A&M
Let me start by noting that I only have Stewart listed here because stranger things have happened than a likely top 10-pick falling to #16. In reality it would be very surprising to me.
What can I tell you that I haven’t already done in my previous rankings? Well, maybe that I often put on game tape of Stewart simply for joy. He is that promising.
I would consider trading up to bank on greatness with Stewart.
2 – Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge rusher, Boston College
Best bend in the draft, and overall great athleticism and developmental potential. Technique-wise he is playing like a veteran, and he can absolutely be a force as a pass rusher as a rookie in the Penny-defense edge rush-role, and later probably turn into more of an everydown player.
3 – Mykel Williams, edge rusher, Georgia
Understand that he played all the season injured, and most of the season out of position. Hence his lack of production. And he is not even 21 yet, so there is a ton of developmental potential. His scheme-fit is obvious.
4 – Kenneth Grant, nose tackle, Michigan
I find it is very hard to justify using a first-round pick on a DT in the Cards’ scheme, but it is realistic to expect that Grant could become a playmaking NT-monster in the mold of Vita Vea or Dexter Lawrence. And don’t ignore his impressive abilities to both move laterally and chase down ballcarriers from behind. Two very undervalued – yet essential – characteristics in a lineman in Rallis’ defense. Remember that Gannon wanted almost exactly this type of player for his defense while he was with the Eagles.
5 – Will Johnson, cornerback, Michigan.
I like to look at mock drafts by the most credible journalists because those guys know things. They talk to the teams, so I can use their mock drafts to get a feel for how players are viewed by the only relevant people (the team’s decision makers). The tendency is that Johnson could slide further than expected because teams don’t know about his speed, and if he falls all the way to #16, you need to consider him. He is scheduled to have his own pro day, but who knows if that will ever happen.
His long speed is less important in Rallis’ heavy zone defense, and Johnson would immediately become a franchise cornerstone.
In base-defense the Cards use a 4-3 defense, where one of the edge rushers is a “traditional” edge rusher, while the other is kind of a hybrid between a defensive tackle and a defensive end. Usually, Rallis goes to a nickel-defense (called a Penny-defense) as soon as possible, and here they deploy five defensive linemen. The bigger defensive end in base-defense now moves inside to what you could call a defensive tackle-role (it is called a 4i-role), while a new edge rusher will be deployed to the outside of him. Sometimes it can be a SAM linebacker moving down to the defensive line, or it can be a rotational guy (typically lighter and faster than the one in base-defense). This is the role that made Haason Reddick into one of the NFLs best edge rushers under Gannon, and with the Cards it will probably be filled by Browning. The role of hybrid DT and EDGE in base-defense and moving to 4i in nickel-defense will be occupied by Darius Robinson, and probably Dante Stills (or LJ Collier) will be his backup at the 4i-role in nickel. In nickel, the more traditional EDGE from base defense will slide a bit to the outside in a so-called wide 9-role. This guy usually will not be substituted between the two schemes, and that is likely the role where Sweat is expected to be deployed. Now, here is where they will have several options in the draft, and it depends primarily on B.J. Ojulari. If he is used as the traditional EDGE in both defenses, as the backup to Sweat, then they need someone on the other side in the Penny-defense, and thus, likely make Browning into a backup at SAM. If Ojulari plays the SAM-role in Penny-defense, they will need another guy as the traditional EDGE in both base and nickel, as a rotational player with Sweat. Zaven Collins or Xavier Thomas is an option for either role, but I simply don’t think they are good enough.
I will just quickly add here that anyone that questions if Ojulari will be depended on this season are most likely kidding themselves.
I hope that all of that write-up makes sense and explains the most likely possibilities. Ossenfort has shown that he makes scheme- and role specific draft selections (whereas, for example, Keim mostly took good players and then left it up to the coaches to make them fit in), so it makes sense to me to target the most exposed positions. Along the same lines, Gannon has a preferred type of players which the Cards board also reflects.
You could argue that it would make the most sense to draft the Penny-defense EDGE because he would be the primary guy in that role, but Gannon and Rallis like to have a big rotation on the defensive line, so even a backup to Sweat would likely get a lot of playing time. Another element is that top players in any of the two roles are more than welcome.
Like the previous months, I don’t even consider an offensive pick (first offensive player ranked – Donovan Jackson, guard – is not until #8), and I have left out Abdul Carter and Mason Graham because I consider them close to locks to be drafted in the top 10. The five I have listed are the only five I would be comfortable drafting at #16.
Oh, and one last note: I have not included James Pearce, even though I think that the scheme-fit is clear, and his potential is huge. The reason is the rumors of character concerns, and how it could easily make Ossenfort stay away. I think he will.
1 – Shemar Stewart, edge rusher, Texas A&M
Let me start by noting that I only have Stewart listed here because stranger things have happened than a likely top 10-pick falling to #16. In reality it would be very surprising to me.
What can I tell you that I haven’t already done in my previous rankings? Well, maybe that I often put on game tape of Stewart simply for joy. He is that promising.
I would consider trading up to bank on greatness with Stewart.
2 – Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge rusher, Boston College
Best bend in the draft, and overall great athleticism and developmental potential. Technique-wise he is playing like a veteran, and he can absolutely be a force as a pass rusher as a rookie in the Penny-defense edge rush-role, and later probably turn into more of an everydown player.
3 – Mykel Williams, edge rusher, Georgia
Understand that he played all the season injured, and most of the season out of position. Hence his lack of production. And he is not even 21 yet, so there is a ton of developmental potential. His scheme-fit is obvious.
4 – Kenneth Grant, nose tackle, Michigan
I find it is very hard to justify using a first-round pick on a DT in the Cards’ scheme, but it is realistic to expect that Grant could become a playmaking NT-monster in the mold of Vita Vea or Dexter Lawrence. And don’t ignore his impressive abilities to both move laterally and chase down ballcarriers from behind. Two very undervalued – yet essential – characteristics in a lineman in Rallis’ defense. Remember that Gannon wanted almost exactly this type of player for his defense while he was with the Eagles.
5 – Will Johnson, cornerback, Michigan.
I like to look at mock drafts by the most credible journalists because those guys know things. They talk to the teams, so I can use their mock drafts to get a feel for how players are viewed by the only relevant people (the team’s decision makers). The tendency is that Johnson could slide further than expected because teams don’t know about his speed, and if he falls all the way to #16, you need to consider him. He is scheduled to have his own pro day, but who knows if that will ever happen.
His long speed is less important in Rallis’ heavy zone defense, and Johnson would immediately become a franchise cornerstone.
