Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
According to Kent Somers, the Fitz deal has not yet been approved by the NFL, and thus the Cards can't sign LB Brandon Chillar until the deal is approved. Somers indicates that Chillar has offers from other teams, but he wants to ink a deal with the Cardinals, and has been waiting to do so.
What intrigues me about this scenario is how the Cards feel Chillar fits in. Is he insurance in the case that Chike Okeafor doesn't hold up? Chillar will obviously want starter's money, but right now he wouldn't start on this team.
Plus...when you take a look at my St. Patty's Day mock...when I look into my shamrock studded crystal ball, I have the Cardinals pouncing on one of the bettter OLB/DE porspects in this draft, which would make signing Chillar moot...although, if the Cards think Chillar could play WILB beyond 2008, if they cannot re-sign Karlos Dansby to an extension, then signing him would make more sense. But, having watched Chillar closely on tape, he does not strike me as particularly gifted inside LB...but rather a fairly athletic player to have on the perimeter.
Once the Fitz deal clears, and Somers says that there's every reason to believe it will, there are still some free agents out there that I find intriguing, and adding a few of them could allow the Cards to draft the best players available.
Free agents I'm intigued with:
1. RB Musa Smith (Baltimore). 26 years old...(6-0, 232, 5, Georgia)...has size and an impressive burst, but has been set back by injuries...if he could be inked to an incentive laden contract, he could be a gem.
2. WR Robert Ferguson (Vikings). 28 years old...(6-1, 210, 7, Texas A&M). He too has been hampered by injuries, but the talent is there, and he could be the perfect replacement for BJ.
3. DE (3-4 DE) Josh Thomas (Colts)...(6-5, 271, 4, Syracuse). This kid is versatile and he has pass rushing skills, inside and out. Would allow the Cardinals comfortable depth behind Dockett and Smith.
4. CB Andre Dyson (Jets)...29 years old...(5-10, 183, 7, Utah)...a player who also has been hampered by injuries, which is why the Cards could get him, like the others, on an incentive laden deal at an area of real need.
5. QB Brian St. Pierre (Steelers)...28 years old...(6-3, 230, 5, Boston College). Knows the sytem like the back of his hand...and has pocket presence. Perfect fit.
The Draft:
1. (#16) CB Dom Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee St....(6-2, 184, 4.3, 4.1, 17 reps). A big, athletic corner, who can flat-out break on the ball. His lack of experience at a high level of college competition wil cause him to fall to #16...at which point the Cardinals will and should pounce on him. Will have the luxury of playing the nickel in his first year and will provide the Cards with insurance in case they cannot re-sign RCB Eric Green beyond this year.
2. (#50) DE/OLB Cliff Avril, Purdue...(6-3, 253, 4.5, 4.5, 27 reps). While taking Quentin Groves or Derrick Harvey at #16 was extremely tempting, the Cards land an equally impactful edge player in Avril. With Berry and Okeafor's tenure coming quickly to an end, adding Avril here, in addition to signing UFA Travis LaBoy, is smart.
3. (#81) G/T Mike McGlynn, Pittsburgh...(6-4, 311, 5.3, 4.7, 30 reps)...The Cards would like to wait until round 4 to take McGlynn, but cannot risk it, because they like him for their system as much an any offensive linemen in this draft.
4. (#115 app.) RB Allen Patrick, Oklahoma...(6-0, 190, 4.4, 4.3, 18). This kid played very well the last two years under extreme duress and has the combination of speed and suddneness Whiz wants.
5. (#152 app.) WR Will Franklin, Missouri...(6-1, 214, 4.3)...gifted WR who is flying under the radar. He's the speed threat this offense needs.
6. (#190 app.) DT Lionel Dotson, Arizona...(6-4, 296, 4.7)...after signing Josh Thomas for depth, the Cardinas land a promising young interior player here.
7. (#238 app.) LB Bryan Kehl, BYU...(6-2, 242, 4.6)...playmaking inside linebacker who could excel on special teams while backing up on the inside.
Shamrocks for all!
Go Cards!
What intrigues me about this scenario is how the Cards feel Chillar fits in. Is he insurance in the case that Chike Okeafor doesn't hold up? Chillar will obviously want starter's money, but right now he wouldn't start on this team.
Plus...when you take a look at my St. Patty's Day mock...when I look into my shamrock studded crystal ball, I have the Cardinals pouncing on one of the bettter OLB/DE porspects in this draft, which would make signing Chillar moot...although, if the Cards think Chillar could play WILB beyond 2008, if they cannot re-sign Karlos Dansby to an extension, then signing him would make more sense. But, having watched Chillar closely on tape, he does not strike me as particularly gifted inside LB...but rather a fairly athletic player to have on the perimeter.
Once the Fitz deal clears, and Somers says that there's every reason to believe it will, there are still some free agents out there that I find intriguing, and adding a few of them could allow the Cards to draft the best players available.
Free agents I'm intigued with:
1. RB Musa Smith (Baltimore). 26 years old...(6-0, 232, 5, Georgia)...has size and an impressive burst, but has been set back by injuries...if he could be inked to an incentive laden contract, he could be a gem.
2. WR Robert Ferguson (Vikings). 28 years old...(6-1, 210, 7, Texas A&M). He too has been hampered by injuries, but the talent is there, and he could be the perfect replacement for BJ.
3. DE (3-4 DE) Josh Thomas (Colts)...(6-5, 271, 4, Syracuse). This kid is versatile and he has pass rushing skills, inside and out. Would allow the Cardinals comfortable depth behind Dockett and Smith.
4. CB Andre Dyson (Jets)...29 years old...(5-10, 183, 7, Utah)...a player who also has been hampered by injuries, which is why the Cards could get him, like the others, on an incentive laden deal at an area of real need.
5. QB Brian St. Pierre (Steelers)...28 years old...(6-3, 230, 5, Boston College). Knows the sytem like the back of his hand...and has pocket presence. Perfect fit.
The Draft:
1. (#16) CB Dom Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee St....(6-2, 184, 4.3, 4.1, 17 reps). A big, athletic corner, who can flat-out break on the ball. His lack of experience at a high level of college competition wil cause him to fall to #16...at which point the Cardinals will and should pounce on him. Will have the luxury of playing the nickel in his first year and will provide the Cards with insurance in case they cannot re-sign RCB Eric Green beyond this year.
2. (#50) DE/OLB Cliff Avril, Purdue...(6-3, 253, 4.5, 4.5, 27 reps). While taking Quentin Groves or Derrick Harvey at #16 was extremely tempting, the Cards land an equally impactful edge player in Avril. With Berry and Okeafor's tenure coming quickly to an end, adding Avril here, in addition to signing UFA Travis LaBoy, is smart.
3. (#81) G/T Mike McGlynn, Pittsburgh...(6-4, 311, 5.3, 4.7, 30 reps)...The Cards would like to wait until round 4 to take McGlynn, but cannot risk it, because they like him for their system as much an any offensive linemen in this draft.
4. (#115 app.) RB Allen Patrick, Oklahoma...(6-0, 190, 4.4, 4.3, 18). This kid played very well the last two years under extreme duress and has the combination of speed and suddneness Whiz wants.
5. (#152 app.) WR Will Franklin, Missouri...(6-1, 214, 4.3)...gifted WR who is flying under the radar. He's the speed threat this offense needs.
6. (#190 app.) DT Lionel Dotson, Arizona...(6-4, 296, 4.7)...after signing Josh Thomas for depth, the Cardinas land a promising young interior player here.
7. (#238 app.) LB Bryan Kehl, BYU...(6-2, 242, 4.6)...playmaking inside linebacker who could excel on special teams while backing up on the inside.
Shamrocks for all!
Go Cards!
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