Say We Lose Fitz-----

[Catfish]

-----as well as Dockett, Cromartie, Abraham, Kelley, and Ginn and Faniaca. Actually that might not be a terrible thing. That would clear a lot of cap space and freedom to work the off-season for Keim and BA. It could also set up our salary commitments into a manageable package for the Front Office. Let's see how we could try to recover.

FREE AGENCY:

1. Re-Sign DAN WILLIAMS, NT, Cards, 28 yrs, anchors our 'D'.

2. Sign PERNELL MCPHEE, DE/OLB, Ravens, 26 yrs.

3. Sign JUSTIN DURANT, OLB/ILB, Cowboys, 29 yrs

This anchors our Defense, and gives Bettcher the flexibility to stop the run, rush the QB, and defense TE's up the slot.

4. Sign STEFEN WISNIEWSKI, C, Raiders, 26 yrs.

5. Sign ORLANDO FRANKLIN, G/OT, Broncos, 27 yrs.

This fixes our O-line needs and gives us Sendlein, to compete with Larsen for the starting RG, and the other to match with Cooper, Watford, and Sowell for depth.


THE DRAFT:

1. JAELEN STRONG, WR, ASU, 6-3, 215, 4.64 forty, (Fitz' replacement)

2. BEDNARIK MCKINNEY, ILB/OLB, Miss St., (developmental depth)

3. T J YELDON, RB, 'Bama, 6-2, 221, 4.42 forty (load carrier)

4. TYLER LOCKETT, WR/KR/PR, K-State, 5-10, 181, (ST's & WR depth)

5. CRAIG MAGER, CB, Tex. St. 5-11, 195, 4.45 forty (development/depth)

6. CODY FAJARDO, QB, Nevada, 6-2, 215, 4.72 forty, (developmental)

7. ANDRE DEBOSE, WR, Fla, 6-0, 190, 4.38 forty, (flyer/ST'er)

FAJARDO'S STATS:
2014 had 60% completions for 2498 yds, 18 TD's, 11 ints.
2013 had 68% completions for 13 TD's, 3 ints.
2012 had 67% completions for 2786 yds, 20 TD's, 9 ints.

Note on Debose, Florida's Quarterbacking was so atrocious that NO receiver had any real stats to report. Could be a find, who knows?

 

[Jetstream Green]

If we lose him, I would roll the dice with the head case and talent... Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

 

[BigRedMO]

If we lose him, I would roll the dice with the head case and talent... Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

You betcha.

 

[Finito]

No wide receivers in round one in my opinion. It's a secondary position. With the new rules average WR will look better than they are

 

[HoodieBets]

I think we need to sign a FA obviously none of the top guys but someone like crabtree or denarius moore would look good here

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

No wide receivers in round one in my opinion. It's a secondary position. With the new rules average WR will look better than they are

I don't know about that. I saw Bill Polian the other day on TV ranking the offensive positions and it went:
1-QB
2-LT
3-#1 WR
4-RB

With today's passing rules, I agree with him.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

I am in favor of letting Fitz go either by release or trade. We need the cap space

I like your FA list Catfish

 

[overseascardfan]

I think ARZ would have to address their starting CB spot opposite PP, quicker than Round 5, I would say Round 2 as we would just have Bethel & Powers which is not good considering Powers is better suited for nickel back. I would love to have Peters in Round 2 but I don't think he makes it out the Top 20 so I would nab either Jalen Collins, Alex Carter or Doran Grant in Round 2. Also think we would need another pass rusher in addition to McPhee. I would rather sign a FA WR and draft a pass rusher Round 1.

I will say I like your other FA signings, Durant, Franklin & Wisniewski.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

Hey! Catfish...

Very interesting...The thing is, I honestly don't have that over-whelming feeling of paranoia surrounding all-things-related-to-Cardinals football that used to accompany me everywhere I went like a shadow on the sidewalk on a sunny day. I feel very secure in knowing that GOOD football decisions are going to be made in the days ahead. For we, the fans, all this speculation is FUN! ...and something to now be simply enjoyed.

MARK IN SC

BASKING IN THE FRIGID SOUTH!

GOOD LORD...it's 44 DEGREES OUT THERE TODAY!

 

[Garthshort]

McKinney in the 2nd round? Most mocks have him going before we pick in the 1st round.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Nah nah, that whole one does not need a actual stud because of the CB rules is total bunk, because a great WR with those rules can destroy a defense, one must look past the norm and take advantage of the situation... why settle for what is given when you can take more man

 

[Catfish]

I followed the actions taken by Keim in the previous two free agency periods, and set up the draft by using free agency to fill holes and provide starting talent. That lets us use the draft to take BPA at each position, (that compliments our roster).

Thus, Jaelen Strong, was my selection for #1 in that he is the BPA with the talent, athleticism, and skill set most approximating what we lost in Fitzgerald. That is not to say that he will develop like Fitz did, but that he has the tools to do so, and has shown that he can use them.

By using FA to round out our defense, BA has the talent and skills available to stop the run, set the edge, rush the QB, and defend the slot. Thus we can add BPA at any defensive position on the defense with any selection.

By fixing the O-line in free agency, we have now got the ability to protect Palmer, AND open holes for the run game. Thus we can take BPA at any position that compliments the play makers that we already have. Strong can have the luxury of learning what our coaches can teach such as the fine points of route running etc., and we still have Floyd and John Brown to be our 1 and 2 WR's, while Juron Brown can be our slot receiver. We already have Fells, and now a healthy (TE from Notre Dame whose name I can't recall right now), to block AND receive passes. So adding offensive play makers is what I did with the draft.

Yeldon from 'Bama is the big back to carry the load for Ellington, leaving him to become a threat out of the backfield to either run, or receive when he is in the lineup. Do not forget that the O-line is capable of opening holes at any time by having signed Wisniewski and Franklin. Our O-line should be top ten, and maybe even top five in the league.

Lockett from K-State is the athletic KR/PR/WR that we need on ST's to replace a non-functioning Ginn. He is also a complimentary threat to provide depth at WR.

Debose is the burner to stretch the field.

McKinney provides flexible depth at LB to learn from Bettcher and become another weapon for him to use in his scheming.

Mager has the size, athleticism, and skill set to develop into yet another very good CB for our secondary. He is from a small school, but so was Aneas Williams. He shocked coaches at the Senior Bowl with his command of the CB position.

One look at Fajardo's stats for is three years at Nevada, should show that he is a good candidate to push Logan Thomas as a developmental QBOF.

 

[Catfish]

Very interesting...The thing is, I honestly don't have that over-whelming feeling of paranoia surrounding all-things-related-to-Cardinals football that used to accompany me everywhere I went like a shadow on the sidewalk on a sunny day. I feel very secure in knowing that GOOD football decisions are going to be made in the days ahead. For we, the fans, all this speculation is FUN! ...and something to now be simply enjoyed.

MARK IN SC

BASKING IN THE FRIGID SOUTH!

GOOD LORD...it's 44 DEGREES OUT THERE TODAY!

Hey Mark, It was in the 80's here today, and I am loving it.

I feel much like you do concerning our Front Office and what they will do to keep pushing us to get better. I can't imagine having to endure some of our off-seasons, (previous to Keim and BA). I keep myself occupied with attempting to do what I feel that they might do to make us better in the off seasons. It is fun for an old man like me, and is good therapy for an old mind as well.

I am comfortably awaiting the free agency period to start, yet anxious to see what will happen to get our financial situation under control. Then we can approach the draft, and see if we can get ahold of some valuable depth who can learn from BA's staff.