USA Today
USA Today Grades the NFL Draft
By Jarrett Bell
Four Stars – Poised for marquee billing (one of eight teams with four stars)
Arizona Cardinals
“Dennis Green & Co. have done it again. After Matt Leinart fell into the Cardinals’ lap, they landed another big body for the O-line (Deuce Lutui) and a couple of prospects who could blossom into huge talents in TE Leonard Pope and DT Gabe Watson.”
Dallas Morning News
Gosselin’s Grades
By Rick Gosselin
Cardinals – A (one of only two A’s given)
“Leinart, Lutui, Pope and Watson were all first-day values that slid right to the Cardinals. Leinart couldn’t pick a better situation. The perfect weather conditions won’t challenge his arm and he has two great wideouts.”
FOX Sports.com
Grading the 2006 NFL Draft
By John Czarnecki
Arizona: Denny Green got his quarterback of the future — USC's Matt Leinart — by simply sitting and waiting a couple hours. If Kurt Warner goes down this season, Leinart has enough moxie and talent to step in and help out immediately. Leinart was the most-ready quarterback in the draft and now he has a chip on his shoulder, having lost at least $10 million in bonus money by dropping all the way to the 10th overall pick. Another Trojan, guard Taitusi Lutui, could push for a starting spot as long as he keeps his weight in check. They took two two-gap defensive tackles in Gabe Watkins and Jonathan Lewis that should help the line rotation and bring some depth to the defense. Grade: A
Fox Sports.com
Looking Back at the Draft
By Adam Schein
Best Draft:
Arizona
Christmas came early for Dennis Green and the Cardinals when teams inexplicably passed up Matt Leinart, one of the biggest winners in the history of college football. Leinart can make every throw and will thrive with Arizona's incredible wide receivers and Edgerrin James. And he will learn everything he needs to know about the position from a willing mentor in Kurt Warner. Leinart is going to eventually make the Cardinals into a winner. He will be a Pro Bowler.
Green and Rod Graves then backed up the heist of Leinart brilliantly. In round 2, they nabbed Leinart's USC teammate Deuce Lutui. The 6'4, 333 pound guard fills a major need and could start immediately. And there are some teams that had sure-handed Leonard Pope as the second or third best tight end in the draft. He was a great pick in the third round.
And look; Gabe Watson has some ‘dog' in him. He told me on the air that his rep for taking plays off was legit in Michigan, because, and I quote, ‘Some times the drives were long'. You can't make that up. But nobody would've been surprised if Watson went in round 2. When motivated, he can be a dominating force. And Arizona needed depth at the defensive tackle position. And the Cardinals also got just that as well in the 6th round with the underrated Jonathan Lewis from Virginia Tech, who started over 40 games in his college career.
FoxSports.com
Breaking Down Day 1 of the NFL Draft
By Adam Schein
Best picks in Round 1
Cardinals steal Matt Leinart: Merry Christmas to Denny Green, Rod Graves and the rest of the Arizona brass, as the best quarterback in the draft inexplicably fell to No. 10. We talked to Leinart on the air. The former USC star can't wait to learn from Kurt Warner and eventually play with Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Edgerrin James. And he now has a huge chip on his shoulder. A lot of teams will rue the day they passed on the QB. Leinart is a winner and makes every throw. He is going to be a Pro Bowler and responsible for eventually making the Cardinals a winner. And that's a major accomplishment. I'm stunned he fell to 10.
FoxSports.com
Best and Worst of the First Round
By Michael David Smith
Best Pick:
Arizona Cardinals: Matt Leinart, QB, USC. The Cardinals already had the best pair of young receivers in football — Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Now they add the quarterback who will throw them the ball for the next decade. Dennis Green finally has the Cardinals moving in the right direction.
ESPN.com
Breaking Down the Draft, Pick-By-Pick
By Scouts, Inc.
10. Arizona Cardinals
The pick: Matt Leinart, QB, USC
Scouts take: Talk about getting the most bang for your buck. Few experts thought Leinart would slip this far, and although Arizona has more urgent needs, incumbent QB Kurt Warner has had problems staying healthy and isn't getting any younger. Improving the depth behind Warner and drafting an heir apparent makes sense. Leinart doesn't have elite arm strength or mobility, but he has the poise, smarts and accuracy to develop into an excellent starter. He also is a student of the game who will benefit a great deal from playing behind Warner, a two-time league MVP. Another aspect of this selection to consider is that Leinart has an opportunity to grow and mesh with a young and talented receiving corps.
ESPN.com
Breaking Down the Third Round
By Scouts, Inc.
It's hard to believe Georgia TE Leonard Pope (pick No. 72) slipped so far, and it makes us wonder if there is something teams discovered that scared so many of them away. In any case, Arizona appears to have gotten him for a steal. Pope has good speed, excellent size and is a powerful open-field runner who can produce after the catch. He also has an excellent opportunity to develop good chemistry with Matt Leinart, whom the Cardinals took in the first round.
ESPN.com
Williams Right Fit for Texans
Reviewing the big stories from round one of the NFL Draft
By Michael Smith
Speaking of blessings, Matt Leinart should thank his lucky desert stars that he fell to the Arizona Cardinals. Think Ben Roethlisberger has any regrets about falling to 11 two years ago? Leinart will make his money.
And as smart as he already is, he gets to learn behind Kurt Warner and eventually play with Edgerrin James, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald. Arizona's a great spot for him, not to mention he gets to stay out West.
ESPN.com
Cardinals Gain is Leinart’s Loss
By John Clayton
The Winners:
Arizona Cardinals: Normally, the Cardinals are the bad luck team. Twice this offseason they struck gold. They headed into free agency without the intention of paying big money for a running back. But with a surprising $17.5 million increase in the salary cap, the Cardinals were able to sign Edgerrin James. Then, Matt Leinart was gift-wrapped for them at No. 10. Arizona coach Dennis Green rated Leinart among the top five players in the draft. He said the selection was similar to 1999 when Green was with the Vikings and selected Daunte Culpepper, whom he rated as the No. 1 quarterback in that draft. "We really had him ranked as one of the top five players,'' Green said. Green doesn't have to rush Leinart. Kurt Warner is the starting quarterback, and even though Leinart is the most ready to play of the rookie QBs, he has the luxury to sit and learn. Green loves the fact Leinart throws a very catchable ball, and he knows he won't have a problem preparing a left-handed quarterback. After all, Green coached Steve Young.
ESPN.com
Team-by-Team Grades for 2006 NFL Draft
By Mel Kiper, Jr.
Arizona Cardinals:
GRADE: B (no A’s were given)
I give them an A for the first day and a C for the second day. The Cardinals' QB of the future, Matt Leinart, fell into their lap at No. 10 (I had Leinart as the third best player in the draft). Guard Taitusi "Deuce" Latui (second round) and TE Leonard Pope (third round) were great picks. Defensive tackle Gabe Watson underachieved at Michigan, and I wonder if coach Denny Green will be able to motivate him. OLB Brandon Johnson and DT Jon Lew could be good backups. The Cardinals didn't address the offensive line on the second day -- I thought they would come away with one or two more offensive linemen.
SI.com
Winners and Losers
By Don Banks
Winners
Matt Leinart. True, he dropped to No. 10 and that will cost him a bunch of money in terms of his signing bonus. But in terms of where he went, once he cleared the top four, he could have done far worse. Arizona, you say? Yes, Arizona. One, Leinart doesn't have to play right away with Kurt Warner on hand. Two, Warner is a pretty generous veteran when it comes to helping younger quarterbacks (see Marc Bulger and Eli Manning). Lastly, having Edgerrin James in the backfield makes any quarterback look better.
SI.com
Snap Judgements
By Don Banks
I know a lot of people, me included, expected the Arizona Cardinals to be a turnaround team in 2005. Didn't happen. But with a new stadium opening in Glendale this season, and eventual starters picked up with their first four selections -- quarterback Matt Leinart, guard Deuce Lutui, tight end Leonard Pope and defensive tackle Gabe Watson -- there's another wave of optimism building. The Cardinals upgraded on multiple fronts this weekend.
Sportingnews.com
Grading the 2006 Draft
By Dan Pompei
Arizona Cardinals -- A
QB Matt Leinart at No. 10 was one of the best value picks because he had the pedigree to be chosen first. The Cardinals got value with each selection.
Houston Chronicle
Grading the NFC
By John McClain
Arizona Cardinals
Grade: B-plus
Outlook: Dennis Green couldn't believe his good fortune when QB Matt Leinart dropped into his lap. Leinart's college teammate, G Taitusi Latui, is the tough blocker who should help Edgerrin James. At 6-8, TE Leonard Pope is a terrific target who can stretch the field. Gabriel Watson could help off the bench as a rookie.
Yahoo Sports
Day 1 Winners and Losers
By Charles Robinson
“After landing what was thought to be one of the best draft classes last season, Green shot to the top of the charts again this year. Not only did he land Mr. Golden Boy, Matt Leinart, but he also added massive guard Deuce Lutui in the second. For good measure, he pounced on Leonard Pope in the third round – a player some teams had rated as the No. 1 tight end.”
USA Today Grades the NFL Draft
By Jarrett Bell
Four Stars – Poised for marquee billing (one of eight teams with four stars)
Arizona Cardinals
“Dennis Green & Co. have done it again. After Matt Leinart fell into the Cardinals’ lap, they landed another big body for the O-line (Deuce Lutui) and a couple of prospects who could blossom into huge talents in TE Leonard Pope and DT Gabe Watson.”
Dallas Morning News
Gosselin’s Grades
By Rick Gosselin
Cardinals – A (one of only two A’s given)
“Leinart, Lutui, Pope and Watson were all first-day values that slid right to the Cardinals. Leinart couldn’t pick a better situation. The perfect weather conditions won’t challenge his arm and he has two great wideouts.”
FOX Sports.com
Grading the 2006 NFL Draft
By John Czarnecki
Arizona: Denny Green got his quarterback of the future — USC's Matt Leinart — by simply sitting and waiting a couple hours. If Kurt Warner goes down this season, Leinart has enough moxie and talent to step in and help out immediately. Leinart was the most-ready quarterback in the draft and now he has a chip on his shoulder, having lost at least $10 million in bonus money by dropping all the way to the 10th overall pick. Another Trojan, guard Taitusi Lutui, could push for a starting spot as long as he keeps his weight in check. They took two two-gap defensive tackles in Gabe Watkins and Jonathan Lewis that should help the line rotation and bring some depth to the defense. Grade: A
Fox Sports.com
Looking Back at the Draft
By Adam Schein
Best Draft:
Arizona
Christmas came early for Dennis Green and the Cardinals when teams inexplicably passed up Matt Leinart, one of the biggest winners in the history of college football. Leinart can make every throw and will thrive with Arizona's incredible wide receivers and Edgerrin James. And he will learn everything he needs to know about the position from a willing mentor in Kurt Warner. Leinart is going to eventually make the Cardinals into a winner. He will be a Pro Bowler.
Green and Rod Graves then backed up the heist of Leinart brilliantly. In round 2, they nabbed Leinart's USC teammate Deuce Lutui. The 6'4, 333 pound guard fills a major need and could start immediately. And there are some teams that had sure-handed Leonard Pope as the second or third best tight end in the draft. He was a great pick in the third round.
And look; Gabe Watson has some ‘dog' in him. He told me on the air that his rep for taking plays off was legit in Michigan, because, and I quote, ‘Some times the drives were long'. You can't make that up. But nobody would've been surprised if Watson went in round 2. When motivated, he can be a dominating force. And Arizona needed depth at the defensive tackle position. And the Cardinals also got just that as well in the 6th round with the underrated Jonathan Lewis from Virginia Tech, who started over 40 games in his college career.
FoxSports.com
Breaking Down Day 1 of the NFL Draft
By Adam Schein
Best picks in Round 1
Cardinals steal Matt Leinart: Merry Christmas to Denny Green, Rod Graves and the rest of the Arizona brass, as the best quarterback in the draft inexplicably fell to No. 10. We talked to Leinart on the air. The former USC star can't wait to learn from Kurt Warner and eventually play with Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Edgerrin James. And he now has a huge chip on his shoulder. A lot of teams will rue the day they passed on the QB. Leinart is a winner and makes every throw. He is going to be a Pro Bowler and responsible for eventually making the Cardinals a winner. And that's a major accomplishment. I'm stunned he fell to 10.
FoxSports.com
Best and Worst of the First Round
By Michael David Smith
Best Pick:
Arizona Cardinals: Matt Leinart, QB, USC. The Cardinals already had the best pair of young receivers in football — Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Now they add the quarterback who will throw them the ball for the next decade. Dennis Green finally has the Cardinals moving in the right direction.
ESPN.com
Breaking Down the Draft, Pick-By-Pick
By Scouts, Inc.
10. Arizona Cardinals
The pick: Matt Leinart, QB, USC
Scouts take: Talk about getting the most bang for your buck. Few experts thought Leinart would slip this far, and although Arizona has more urgent needs, incumbent QB Kurt Warner has had problems staying healthy and isn't getting any younger. Improving the depth behind Warner and drafting an heir apparent makes sense. Leinart doesn't have elite arm strength or mobility, but he has the poise, smarts and accuracy to develop into an excellent starter. He also is a student of the game who will benefit a great deal from playing behind Warner, a two-time league MVP. Another aspect of this selection to consider is that Leinart has an opportunity to grow and mesh with a young and talented receiving corps.
ESPN.com
Breaking Down the Third Round
By Scouts, Inc.
It's hard to believe Georgia TE Leonard Pope (pick No. 72) slipped so far, and it makes us wonder if there is something teams discovered that scared so many of them away. In any case, Arizona appears to have gotten him for a steal. Pope has good speed, excellent size and is a powerful open-field runner who can produce after the catch. He also has an excellent opportunity to develop good chemistry with Matt Leinart, whom the Cardinals took in the first round.
ESPN.com
Williams Right Fit for Texans
Reviewing the big stories from round one of the NFL Draft
By Michael Smith
Speaking of blessings, Matt Leinart should thank his lucky desert stars that he fell to the Arizona Cardinals. Think Ben Roethlisberger has any regrets about falling to 11 two years ago? Leinart will make his money.
And as smart as he already is, he gets to learn behind Kurt Warner and eventually play with Edgerrin James, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald. Arizona's a great spot for him, not to mention he gets to stay out West.
ESPN.com
Cardinals Gain is Leinart’s Loss
By John Clayton
The Winners:
Arizona Cardinals: Normally, the Cardinals are the bad luck team. Twice this offseason they struck gold. They headed into free agency without the intention of paying big money for a running back. But with a surprising $17.5 million increase in the salary cap, the Cardinals were able to sign Edgerrin James. Then, Matt Leinart was gift-wrapped for them at No. 10. Arizona coach Dennis Green rated Leinart among the top five players in the draft. He said the selection was similar to 1999 when Green was with the Vikings and selected Daunte Culpepper, whom he rated as the No. 1 quarterback in that draft. "We really had him ranked as one of the top five players,'' Green said. Green doesn't have to rush Leinart. Kurt Warner is the starting quarterback, and even though Leinart is the most ready to play of the rookie QBs, he has the luxury to sit and learn. Green loves the fact Leinart throws a very catchable ball, and he knows he won't have a problem preparing a left-handed quarterback. After all, Green coached Steve Young.
ESPN.com
Team-by-Team Grades for 2006 NFL Draft
By Mel Kiper, Jr.
Arizona Cardinals:
GRADE: B (no A’s were given)
I give them an A for the first day and a C for the second day. The Cardinals' QB of the future, Matt Leinart, fell into their lap at No. 10 (I had Leinart as the third best player in the draft). Guard Taitusi "Deuce" Latui (second round) and TE Leonard Pope (third round) were great picks. Defensive tackle Gabe Watson underachieved at Michigan, and I wonder if coach Denny Green will be able to motivate him. OLB Brandon Johnson and DT Jon Lew could be good backups. The Cardinals didn't address the offensive line on the second day -- I thought they would come away with one or two more offensive linemen.
SI.com
Winners and Losers
By Don Banks
Winners
Matt Leinart. True, he dropped to No. 10 and that will cost him a bunch of money in terms of his signing bonus. But in terms of where he went, once he cleared the top four, he could have done far worse. Arizona, you say? Yes, Arizona. One, Leinart doesn't have to play right away with Kurt Warner on hand. Two, Warner is a pretty generous veteran when it comes to helping younger quarterbacks (see Marc Bulger and Eli Manning). Lastly, having Edgerrin James in the backfield makes any quarterback look better.
SI.com
Snap Judgements
By Don Banks
I know a lot of people, me included, expected the Arizona Cardinals to be a turnaround team in 2005. Didn't happen. But with a new stadium opening in Glendale this season, and eventual starters picked up with their first four selections -- quarterback Matt Leinart, guard Deuce Lutui, tight end Leonard Pope and defensive tackle Gabe Watson -- there's another wave of optimism building. The Cardinals upgraded on multiple fronts this weekend.
Sportingnews.com
Grading the 2006 Draft
By Dan Pompei
Arizona Cardinals -- A
QB Matt Leinart at No. 10 was one of the best value picks because he had the pedigree to be chosen first. The Cardinals got value with each selection.
Houston Chronicle
Grading the NFC
By John McClain
Arizona Cardinals
Grade: B-plus
Outlook: Dennis Green couldn't believe his good fortune when QB Matt Leinart dropped into his lap. Leinart's college teammate, G Taitusi Latui, is the tough blocker who should help Edgerrin James. At 6-8, TE Leonard Pope is a terrific target who can stretch the field. Gabriel Watson could help off the bench as a rookie.
Yahoo Sports
Day 1 Winners and Losers
By Charles Robinson
“After landing what was thought to be one of the best draft classes last season, Green shot to the top of the charts again this year. Not only did he land Mr. Golden Boy, Matt Leinart, but he also added massive guard Deuce Lutui in the second. For good measure, he pounced on Leonard Pope in the third round – a player some teams had rated as the No. 1 tight end.”
