Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Steve Keim faces a number of tough decisions in the weeks and months ahead. Each of us has our own opinions as to whether certain players should be re-signed or not. Each of us also has a sense of what positions to address via free agency, trades and the draft. Here are some of mine:
QB
* Carson Palmer---BA says that Palmer will return "with a vengeance." I believe BA and I believe in Palmer.
* Drew Stanton---MJ said he talked recently with Stanton and he wants to return. If that's the case, then that would imply that he concedes his days of vying for a starter's job have passed him by. MJ also said that #2 QBs these days are commanding $4M a year, which is just about what Stanton has been getting from the Cardinals the past three years. I think $4M is too much. So I feel conflicted about Stanton. I wish we had had a chance too see Matt Barkley play in our system, but because SK was willing to spend a draft pick on him, I think that he's they way to go at #2. My instinct tells me that he would be more accurate than Stanton anyway.
* Matt Barkley---my choice for #2 QB.
* Draft a #3---it's a fairly deep crop of QBs this year and I guy I like on Day 3 is Mississippi St.'s Dak Prescott (6-1, 230). Prescott is shorter than the ideal size, but he's tough, he's a leader and he has improved greatly as a passer. I think he eventually could develop into a solid #2 QB in this league. I also remain intrigued by Cardale Jones (6-5, 250, Ohio St.). Sure people will say he's Logan Thomas all over again, but I disagree. He's more accurate. He is a more willing and able runner, and man, he could help us prepare for taking on Cam Newton next year.
RB
* David Johnson---has earned the starting job. The sky is the limit on him.
* Andre Ellington---he is one of the reasons why when teams watch our tape they think the Cardinals can be soft. He is going to have to prove this year that he can stay healthy and focused---and he is going to have to start finishing off runs instead of diving like a QB to the turf.
* Stepfan Taylor---is solid on STs, but BA is loathe to play him in the offense. Maybe he sticks another year, but not if the Cardinals can add a couple of RBs who BA would be confident in playing.
* Kerwynn Williams---I thought he would play better than he did. He looked a little too anxious. He would have to be considered a long-shot at this point.
* Chris Johnson---what I loved about CJ was his toughness and thank goodness he set the bar for David Johnson because Ellington sure wasn't going to do that. I would like to re-sign him. He knows that it takes 2-3 RBs to carry the load these days. As long as he is one of them, i don't think he would care who starts. The question is money. I would offer him $2M-$2.4M with added incentives.
* Marion Grice---he was hobbled during TC last year. He's got good size and talent---can he be a sleeper?
* Robert Hughes---I would have kept him over Stepfan Taylor because of his versatility. And while BA says he hates using a FB, he does use a FB in short yardage situations. Thus, Hughes, if highly motivated, could make his case.
* UFA---my two favorites are Chris Ivory (Jets) and Lamar Miller (Dolphins). It's likely that they will command more money than what we would be willing to offer them.
WR
* Larry Fitzgerald---I would tack on another year at $11M to his contract. Carson Palmer is signed for 2 more years---it makes sense to keep Larry signed for two more years as well.
* Michael Floyd---to me he remains an enigma due to the fact that he always seems to be hampered by injuries and while he shows up big in some games, he disappears in others. I think his $7.2M salary is too high. But, then I again I wonder if he will finally have a breakout year, so I am leaning toward keeping him on at the salary if we can't sign him to a cap friendly long-term deal. I would also be curious to see if this time around some team could offer the Cardinals a trade package that would make sense, especially if at this point he is asking for Fitz-type money.
* John Brown---he could have had an even bigger year if Carson Palmer threw the deep passes earlier so that Brown wouldn't have to slow down. This year Brown needs to learn how to fight his way back to the ball on passes that are thrown a little to late.
* J.J. Nelson---this is a big off-season for him in terms of getting stronger and refining his route running. The talent and the desire are there.
* Jaron Brown---wasn't quite the STs player he was in previous years. But, I really believe he could be a poor man's Michael Floyd if he gets in tip-top shape.
* Brittan Golden---played hard on STs and is tough-nosed. But didn't factor into the offense or as a returner.
* Jaxson Shipley---I thought he should have been promoted from the PS to return punts. Clearly, Patrick Peterson is still tepid about his role as a return man. Again, when stuff like that shows up on tape, teams sense the Cardinals can be soft.
* UFA---while it seems unlikely that SK will try to add a WR in FA, a versatile WR that fits our offense very well is Muhammed Sanu (6-2, 210, Bengals). If Sk were to trade Floyd---Sanu would be a splendid addition.
* Draft---the player who is very Muhammed Sanu-like in this draft is Ohio St.'s Braxton Miller (6-2, 215). The coverted QB showed he is a multi-dimensional playmaker at WR, both in receiving and in running the ball.
OL
* Jared Veldheer---like the team in general, he faded some down the stretch. It will be important for him to return 'with a vengeance" as well.
* Mike Iupati---the shoulder issues were legit, but he toughed it out. It would be a boon if he emerges as a leader of the offensive line.
* Jonathan Cooper---apparently he is a high maintenance player in a system that requires the players to manifest a command of the details. Plus, he tends to lose leverage and winds up losing his balance a lot more than what the coaches would like. I do not believe for one second that BA and the coaches are penciling him in as a 2016 starter. And for those of us who were wondering whether the coaches would kick him over to center---if he needs to be debriefed and re-instructed every week for the next game plan at guard---just imagine what that would be like at center where he would have to make the protection calls. One has to wonder if any other team would want to acquire him in a trade---but at his salary, at this point, trading him would seem moot.
* D.J. Humphries---he is penciled in at RT. Actually he is penned in at RT. That has been the plan and the coaches are sticking with it. BA felt he could have played him the second half of the year. He's got the size, feet and athleticism to be be very good.
* Earl Watford---I thought he was outplaying Massie at the beginning of the year. This could be his breakout year, if he gets a chance to win the RG spot, or if he is needed to play RT again.
* A.Q. Shipley---while I do not think BA and HG have him penciled in as the starter, he proved he could play at a solid level when called upon later in the year when Sendlein was ailing. Ideally, they like him as the backup C/G swing player.
* UFA's Lyle Sendlein and Ted Larsen---played hard and at times very solidly. However, Sendlein, at his age and experience, is having trouble holding up physically. And Larsen is a tad on the smallish size---and he did not beat out Shipley as the second center, so that would suggest that he will be elsewhere next year.
* UFA Gs---the three guards whom I think will receive strong attention from Steve Keim are: Alex Boone (6-8, 300, 28, 49ers); Ramon Foster (6-6, 325, 30, Steelers) and Mike Harris (6-5, 318, 27, Vikings).
* Draft---the focus here likely will be on the center position---and they will want to position themselves to take Ryan Kelly (6-4, 297, Alabama) or Nick Martin (6-5, 295, Nortre Dame). Steve Keim will want to take a pass rusher at #29---but if he wants Kelly or Martin, he may have to trade up in Round 2, or sit at #61 and hope that one of them falls into their lap.
TE
* Darren Fells---has emerged as the team's most reliable TE.
* Troy Niklas---has much to prove, especially in terms of staying healthy and in improving his run blocking and receiving skills.
* Gerald Christian---has some versatility as an TE/H-Back and the coaches seem to like him a lot.
* Ifeanyi Momah---if he can stay healthy this time around, he has a decent chance to contribute.
* UFA---Jermaine Gresham seemed for a while (at least) to win the favor of Carson Palmer, but not sure about what the coaches think. He underperformed at the salary of $3M. Chances are that BA might prefer to make a pitch to acquire one if the Colts' UFA TEs, Dwayne Allen (6-3, 265, 25) or Coby Fleener (6-6, 251, 27).
* Draft TEs---can't see SK drafting a TE on Day 1 or 2. But if Nick Vannett (6-6, 260. Ohio St.) or Glenn Gronkowski (6-3, 243, Kansas St.) are available on Day 3, one of them might be enticing.
The way I see the draft going right now:
1. Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky or Carl Nassib, Penn. St.
2. Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama or Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame
3. Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor or Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU
QB
* Carson Palmer---BA says that Palmer will return "with a vengeance." I believe BA and I believe in Palmer.
* Drew Stanton---MJ said he talked recently with Stanton and he wants to return. If that's the case, then that would imply that he concedes his days of vying for a starter's job have passed him by. MJ also said that #2 QBs these days are commanding $4M a year, which is just about what Stanton has been getting from the Cardinals the past three years. I think $4M is too much. So I feel conflicted about Stanton. I wish we had had a chance too see Matt Barkley play in our system, but because SK was willing to spend a draft pick on him, I think that he's they way to go at #2. My instinct tells me that he would be more accurate than Stanton anyway.
* Matt Barkley---my choice for #2 QB.
* Draft a #3---it's a fairly deep crop of QBs this year and I guy I like on Day 3 is Mississippi St.'s Dak Prescott (6-1, 230). Prescott is shorter than the ideal size, but he's tough, he's a leader and he has improved greatly as a passer. I think he eventually could develop into a solid #2 QB in this league. I also remain intrigued by Cardale Jones (6-5, 250, Ohio St.). Sure people will say he's Logan Thomas all over again, but I disagree. He's more accurate. He is a more willing and able runner, and man, he could help us prepare for taking on Cam Newton next year.
RB
* David Johnson---has earned the starting job. The sky is the limit on him.
* Andre Ellington---he is one of the reasons why when teams watch our tape they think the Cardinals can be soft. He is going to have to prove this year that he can stay healthy and focused---and he is going to have to start finishing off runs instead of diving like a QB to the turf.
* Stepfan Taylor---is solid on STs, but BA is loathe to play him in the offense. Maybe he sticks another year, but not if the Cardinals can add a couple of RBs who BA would be confident in playing.
* Kerwynn Williams---I thought he would play better than he did. He looked a little too anxious. He would have to be considered a long-shot at this point.
* Chris Johnson---what I loved about CJ was his toughness and thank goodness he set the bar for David Johnson because Ellington sure wasn't going to do that. I would like to re-sign him. He knows that it takes 2-3 RBs to carry the load these days. As long as he is one of them, i don't think he would care who starts. The question is money. I would offer him $2M-$2.4M with added incentives.
* Marion Grice---he was hobbled during TC last year. He's got good size and talent---can he be a sleeper?
* Robert Hughes---I would have kept him over Stepfan Taylor because of his versatility. And while BA says he hates using a FB, he does use a FB in short yardage situations. Thus, Hughes, if highly motivated, could make his case.
* UFA---my two favorites are Chris Ivory (Jets) and Lamar Miller (Dolphins). It's likely that they will command more money than what we would be willing to offer them.
WR
* Larry Fitzgerald---I would tack on another year at $11M to his contract. Carson Palmer is signed for 2 more years---it makes sense to keep Larry signed for two more years as well.
* Michael Floyd---to me he remains an enigma due to the fact that he always seems to be hampered by injuries and while he shows up big in some games, he disappears in others. I think his $7.2M salary is too high. But, then I again I wonder if he will finally have a breakout year, so I am leaning toward keeping him on at the salary if we can't sign him to a cap friendly long-term deal. I would also be curious to see if this time around some team could offer the Cardinals a trade package that would make sense, especially if at this point he is asking for Fitz-type money.
* John Brown---he could have had an even bigger year if Carson Palmer threw the deep passes earlier so that Brown wouldn't have to slow down. This year Brown needs to learn how to fight his way back to the ball on passes that are thrown a little to late.
* J.J. Nelson---this is a big off-season for him in terms of getting stronger and refining his route running. The talent and the desire are there.
* Jaron Brown---wasn't quite the STs player he was in previous years. But, I really believe he could be a poor man's Michael Floyd if he gets in tip-top shape.
* Brittan Golden---played hard on STs and is tough-nosed. But didn't factor into the offense or as a returner.
* Jaxson Shipley---I thought he should have been promoted from the PS to return punts. Clearly, Patrick Peterson is still tepid about his role as a return man. Again, when stuff like that shows up on tape, teams sense the Cardinals can be soft.
* UFA---while it seems unlikely that SK will try to add a WR in FA, a versatile WR that fits our offense very well is Muhammed Sanu (6-2, 210, Bengals). If Sk were to trade Floyd---Sanu would be a splendid addition.
* Draft---the player who is very Muhammed Sanu-like in this draft is Ohio St.'s Braxton Miller (6-2, 215). The coverted QB showed he is a multi-dimensional playmaker at WR, both in receiving and in running the ball.
OL
* Jared Veldheer---like the team in general, he faded some down the stretch. It will be important for him to return 'with a vengeance" as well.
* Mike Iupati---the shoulder issues were legit, but he toughed it out. It would be a boon if he emerges as a leader of the offensive line.
* Jonathan Cooper---apparently he is a high maintenance player in a system that requires the players to manifest a command of the details. Plus, he tends to lose leverage and winds up losing his balance a lot more than what the coaches would like. I do not believe for one second that BA and the coaches are penciling him in as a 2016 starter. And for those of us who were wondering whether the coaches would kick him over to center---if he needs to be debriefed and re-instructed every week for the next game plan at guard---just imagine what that would be like at center where he would have to make the protection calls. One has to wonder if any other team would want to acquire him in a trade---but at his salary, at this point, trading him would seem moot.
* D.J. Humphries---he is penciled in at RT. Actually he is penned in at RT. That has been the plan and the coaches are sticking with it. BA felt he could have played him the second half of the year. He's got the size, feet and athleticism to be be very good.
* Earl Watford---I thought he was outplaying Massie at the beginning of the year. This could be his breakout year, if he gets a chance to win the RG spot, or if he is needed to play RT again.
* A.Q. Shipley---while I do not think BA and HG have him penciled in as the starter, he proved he could play at a solid level when called upon later in the year when Sendlein was ailing. Ideally, they like him as the backup C/G swing player.
* UFA's Lyle Sendlein and Ted Larsen---played hard and at times very solidly. However, Sendlein, at his age and experience, is having trouble holding up physically. And Larsen is a tad on the smallish size---and he did not beat out Shipley as the second center, so that would suggest that he will be elsewhere next year.
* UFA Gs---the three guards whom I think will receive strong attention from Steve Keim are: Alex Boone (6-8, 300, 28, 49ers); Ramon Foster (6-6, 325, 30, Steelers) and Mike Harris (6-5, 318, 27, Vikings).
* Draft---the focus here likely will be on the center position---and they will want to position themselves to take Ryan Kelly (6-4, 297, Alabama) or Nick Martin (6-5, 295, Nortre Dame). Steve Keim will want to take a pass rusher at #29---but if he wants Kelly or Martin, he may have to trade up in Round 2, or sit at #61 and hope that one of them falls into their lap.
TE
* Darren Fells---has emerged as the team's most reliable TE.
* Troy Niklas---has much to prove, especially in terms of staying healthy and in improving his run blocking and receiving skills.
* Gerald Christian---has some versatility as an TE/H-Back and the coaches seem to like him a lot.
* Ifeanyi Momah---if he can stay healthy this time around, he has a decent chance to contribute.
* UFA---Jermaine Gresham seemed for a while (at least) to win the favor of Carson Palmer, but not sure about what the coaches think. He underperformed at the salary of $3M. Chances are that BA might prefer to make a pitch to acquire one if the Colts' UFA TEs, Dwayne Allen (6-3, 265, 25) or Coby Fleener (6-6, 251, 27).
* Draft TEs---can't see SK drafting a TE on Day 1 or 2. But if Nick Vannett (6-6, 260. Ohio St.) or Glenn Gronkowski (6-3, 243, Kansas St.) are available on Day 3, one of them might be enticing.
The way I see the draft going right now:
1. Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky or Carl Nassib, Penn. St.
2. Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama or Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame
3. Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor or Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU
wtf. Shipley was a pretty good return man down in Austin & a very underrated WR. Hope he gets a legit chance. 
