The more I think about it the more I'm ok with the picks

[Russ Smith]

Initially the only one I really liked on day 1 was Branch, but I'm coming around.

We can complain all we want that we should not have been forced to take an OT with the first pick, but that was reality on draft day, we HAD to get a Tackle. I would have taken Peterson but if we had, we would have had to trade up to get a tackle. I don't know if Brown will be great or not but if Grimm had him rated ahead of Thomas that is good enough for me.

I really like the Branch pick. Big talented kid who fell. We suddenly have a much stronger interior of our line with him and Watson who made an impact in short bursts last year. I don't know if they're serious about using him at DE now and then but it sure would make for a tough run defense. I think it's clear Whiz wanted to improve the run game, and improve at stopping the run game, the first 2 picks address that.

Buster is a hitter but he's short and didn't he have some sort of legal prolem in college? I get them all confused but I thought he was one of the questionable character guys on FSU? He'll be intriguing lots of undersized LB's have an impact in the NFL, the kid is tough as nails I know that.

I like Breaston as a KR and I don't know a thing about Patrick.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Scout.com's 2007 Top NFL Prospects

Offensive Tackles

1 Joe Thomas Wisconsin OT
2 Levi Brown Penn State OT

Scout.com's 2007 Top NFL Prospects

Middle Linebackers

1 Patrick Willis Ole Miss MLB
2 Brandon Siler Florida MLB
3 Buster Davis Florida State MLB

Scout.com's 2007 Top NFL Prospects

Defensive Tackles

1 Amobi Okoye Louisville DT
2 Alan Branch Michigan DT

Scout.com's 2007 Top NFL Prospects

Tight Ends

1 Greg Olsen Miami TE
2 Zach Miller Arizona St TE
3 Ben Patrick Delaware TE

 

[Shogun]

Buster is a hitter but he's short and didn't he have some sort of legal prolem in college? I get them all confused but I thought he was one of the questionable character guys on FSU? He'll be intriguing lots of undersized LB's have an impact in the NFL, the kid is tough as nails I know that.

Nope. You're probably thinking of AJ Nicholson.

 

[Russ Smith]

Nope. You're probably thinking of AJ Nicholson.

Ok thanks then I owe him an apology.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

The thought of having Watson and Branch beside each other makes me tingle with joy. I was just thinking a few days before the draft it would be cool if we could get Brown and Branch. As soon as I seen we had traded up I turned to my brothers and said I bet we are going after Branch.

I was happy with the Brown pick considering that Joe Thomas was off the board. In the third round I was hoping we would take a chance on Marcus Mcauley or Wade. But Buster Davis was good value there and most scouts say he will be another London Fletcher.

Mike Mayock said that Steve Breaston was rising during the week leading up to the draft. Kiper had Ben Patrick as a third round value. Graves has my faith again. It was a great weekend and I look forward to seeing the Cardinals fly this year.

The biggest shocker to me was Miami passing on Brady Quinn. That was a gift. Ted Ginn isnt even a number one receiver in my opinion. I thought Atlanta, Cleveland, San Fran, Carolina and the Cardinals had the best drafts.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Scout.com's 2007 Top NFL Prospects

Offensive Tackles

1 Joe Thomas Wisconsin OT
2 Levi Brown Penn State OT

Scout.com's 2007 Top NFL Prospects

Middle Linebackers

1 Patrick Willis Ole Miss MLB
2 Brandon Siler Florida MLB
3 Buster Davis Florida State MLB

Scout.com's 2007 Top NFL Prospects

Defensive Tackles

1 Amobi Okoye Louisville DT
2 Alan Branch Michigan DT

Scout.com's 2007 Top NFL Prospects

Tight Ends

1 Greg Olsen Miami TE
2 Zach Miller Arizona St TE
3 Ben Patrick Delaware TE

And Siler almost didn't get drafted. THere has to be something more to his knee injury that caused teams to pass on him. Kind of like Lance Mitchell dropping way down after his knee.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm dealing with it. I think that Alan Branch was a good pick, but we gave up too much to get him. He likely would have been there when we picked.

There's no changing the fact that our hand was forced after allowing Leonard Davis to leave in free agency. We had to take Levi Brown. It wasn't a good pick in and of itself (as Fitz and Leinart and even Rolle were), but it was a sound decision (as of right now).

This team is better now than it was four days ago. But I don't really think that this team is better now than it was four months ago, and that's the biggest problem. Graves is gambling a lot of his platinum-plated coaching staff, and I don't think that Whis is Belichek.

 

[Rats]

I'm dealing with it. I think that Alan Branch was a good pick, but we gave up too much to get him. He likely would have been there when we picked.

There's no changing the fact that our hand was forced after allowing Leonard Davis to leave in free agency. We had to take Levi Brown. It wasn't a good pick in and of itself (as Fitz and Leinart and even Rolle were), but it was a sound decision (as of right now).

This team is better now than it was four days ago. But I don't really think that this team is better now than it was four months ago, and that's the biggest problem. Graves is gambling a lot of his platinum-plated coaching staff, and I don't think that Whis is Belichek.

K9, you have to think that the Defensive side of the ball is going to be much improved. Adding a spaceeater and getting Berry back healthy??? seems to be what was needed along with an up and coming Cb in Hood. I think that with these upgrades we are better on that side of the ball. Maybe not leaps and bounds better but not rated in the lower 1/3 of the league. If they play to potential they should be better with there depth. Who knows what will happen on the OLINE now that it has been shuffled. It got better as the season went on last year but it looks like a total revamp again this season so I have serious doubts on it. Our skill positions need to perform better and special teams seems to be more improved over last years squad.

 

[AZCB34]

I disliked the trade up for Branch. I think the Cards fail to get Branch to play up to his real ability...or even very close to it. This, to me, was a bad choice.

Brown...an expected pick and I said as much right before the draft.

I like Buster but I cannot forsee how he is much more than a special teamer and a very situational guy.

Breaston will end the JJ Arrington experiment.

Patrick is training camp fodder and is worse than Pope from what I have read. Neither can block and Pope is almost certainly a better TE. This is exactly why I preferred the Cards staying put in the 2nd round and they would have most likely had the chance to snag Zach MIller who would have instantly been the best TE on the roster.

 

[Second Deck]

I certainly did not think big was worth 49mil or whatever the Felons paid him. I also think in the end Levi will be a better pick than Thomas. It must be something with the Wisconsin thing and Wendall, Dayne,etc that do not seem to perform well in the pros.

I did not watch a lot of Michigan football but was very surprised to see Branch drop to the second round. Think we were very lucky to get him and should really help on the inside. I thought Watson played with a lot of enthusiasm last year. Just hope Berry can stay healthy so we have a pass rush.

 

[Ryanwb]

Buster Davis was an absolute steal... When they took Branch over Poz, I was livid

 

[AZCB34]

Buster Davis was an absolute steal... When they took Branch over Poz, I was livid

Me too...and by taking Branch they missed out on the guy that, in the end will be the best TE in this class in Miller.

I like Davis alot I just worry his size may prevent him from being a huge playmaker even though he certainly has that in him.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Buster Davis was an absolute steal... When they took Branch over Poz, I was livid

Poz is not a 3-4 player. That's the only reason they passed on him.

 

[slanidrac16]

I'll tell you what I REALLY liked about this draft.

The organization went and got the guys they wanted. Every year the Patriots move up, move down and everything else to get the guy THEY want. Not the highest rated guy. and not the BPA as evrybody else sees it.

Would Branch had been there at 38? Maybe , maybe not. The fact that the Cardinals wanted him and made a move to get him shows me some conviction on their part.

That alone is a major step forward.

 

[football karma]

Here is the thing on Branch (and BTW-- I posted this pre-draft)

Right after the season ended -- everybody --Mayock, Kiper, PFW, Scouts, inc -- had him as the best DT out there, and a potential top 10 pick --

all this based on watching tape.

Suddenly, he posts some mediocre results at the combine and at pro-day -- and he becomes the underachieving, lazy guy.

One of two things have happened:

1. Either pro-teams fell victim to the paralysis by over analysis, or
2. The amateurs (kiper, et al) over rated him, and now have to explain why he went well later than they predicted

I suspect its a little of both.

 

[Russ Smith]

Here is the thing on Branch (and BTW-- I posted this pre-draft)

Right after the season ended -- everybody --Mayock, Kiper, PFW, Scouts, inc -- had him as the best DT out there, and a potential top 10 pick --

all this based on watching tape.

Suddenly, he posts some mediocre results at the combine and at pro-day -- and he becomes the underachieving, lazy guy.

One of two things have happened:

1. Either pro-teams fell victim to the paralysis by over analysis, or
2. The amateurs (kiper, et al) over rated him, and now have to explain why he went well later than they predicted

I suspect its a little of both.

That stuff works both ways FWIW. I was reading some stuff about Marshawn Lynch post draft and why Buffalo didn't move down instead of taking him at 12. I realize everyone says this but the consensus was if they'd gone down he would have been gone because when Peterson got drafted, Lynch became the player teams were trying to move up to get.

Many Cal fans think the Packers were planting rumors to try and ensure Lynch was there at 16 because they didn't want to give up a pick to move up.

With Branch you had the opposite, people thought he was a good player until they saw his combine and workout numbers and then suddenly "he' s not all that productive." Because he didn't have Watson this year and got doubled on every down. He's better than Watson but when they were together, teams had to pick their poison and it freed up both guys, without Gabe, they doubled Branch.

So much of the pre draft stuff is hype or outright madeup.

 

[lobo]

The biggest shocker to me was Miami passing on Brady Quinn. That was a gift. Ted Ginn isnt even a number one receiver in my opinion. I thought Atlanta, Cleveland, San Fran, Carolina and the Cardinals had the best drafts.[/quote]

And well it should have been. Ginn is not a good receiver!! He was not ever the first option Smith had. And on top of it his injury will keep him off the field until June/July.

I bet the people in Miami are really going nuts! They better get that Trent Green deal done real soon.