2012 Arizona Cardinals Five Round Mock Draft With Needs
by cdeveau on Jan 3, 2012 7:00 AM MST
in NFL Draft/Combine
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PrintHello Arizona Cardinals fans.
The Birds had a up and down season, culminating in a highly competitive game against a division rival, the Seattle Seahawks. Now comes the off season, sans lockout, thank goodness. Plenty of NFL hype will build to the crescendo of the NFL draft, where fans will congregate in sports bars across the country, eagerly awaiting their teams first pick. Currently the Cards have the 13th pick in the draft.
The Cards, as with every other team have needs going into the off season. I've discussed free agent signing management should have addressed. The like to external free agents can be found here. My draft needs are based on those presumptions. Hit the jump to check out how I'd draft with our draft position.
I outlined my thoughts on free agent signings the Cards needed to look at for the coming year, it can be found here. What does that leave as far as need? Depth.
The philosophy is simple. Teams that run a 3 - 4 defense, live and die by the pass rush. For teams like that my draft strategy is not overly complicated, and addresses both sides of the football. Every year draft an OL position with a pick between one and three. Without fail. On the defensive side, draft an OLB with a top two pick every three years. Development and depth.
Here are the needs as I see them.
- Rookie RT to take over in 2013: This is imperative to start. The Cards want to run the ball at a 60 - 40 mix. You need an OL that can not only dominate the trenches and open holes, but for 40% of the time, keep the QB clean.
- OLB depth behind Sam Acho: Let's face it, Joey Porter is done as a Cardinal on the playing field. Clark Haggans should come back next year, to mentor the younger players as they continue to grow. Haggans is a professional that knows what to do in the off season. That's a good thing for young players to learn. Acho appears to have locked up the starting role, now he just needs an understudy.
- OG: Again, the rule of thumb. He with the best line wins the game. Deuce Lutui is a free agent again. Rex Hadnot is an average player at best. Time to infuse new blood into the spot.
- SS: Adrian Wilson is a beast. And with Ray Horton's defense, the Cardinals need to find Wilson's heir apparent. Find the similar prototype and then let the young man learn from a pro-bowler. A captain. A fierce spirit.
- WR: Doucet makes a nice three. Andre Roberts still isn't the answer as a #2. Larry Fitzgerald deserves some help.
- Rd 1) I'm hoping the Cards trade down from 13. We need a second round pick. The Cincinnati Bengals could be trade partners, holding picks 17 and 23. If we manage that, there are two names to look for that fill the OLB position. Courtney Upshaw and Nick Perry. Of the two, I'd take Nick Perry from USC, who posted 8.5 sacks and 13 TFL last season. If he isn't there, than Upshaw from Alabama is not a bad parting gift. 8.5 sacks and 17 TFL.
- Rd 2) Thanks to the trade down, the Cards get that 2nd round pick. It's important for this reason. Mike Adams, OT from Ohio State. 6'6" and 320 lbs, Adams has some character issues that dragged down his stock (improper benefits) Aside from this, would be an excellent pickup at RT to groom this year and start in 2013.
- Rd 3) This is a no brainer. I double dip on the offensive line, taking the next in the long of outstanding OG from Wisconsin. At 6'4" and 318 lbs, Kevin Zeitler started at RG except for 4 games where he was injured in the 2010 season. Similar to John Moffit, this would be a man to secure the right side of the line for some time.
- Rd 4) T.Y. Hilton WR from Florida International. 5'10", 184 pounds. Nothing special. Did I mention fast. Like stretch the field Mike Wallace fast. He had 72 receptions for 1038 yards last year. And 9 touchdowns. He returns punts. Not that Patrick Peterson doesn't do a good job of that. And kickoffs as well. He also had 19 carries for 124 yards. Fast, good hands, and very elusive. He brings great dynamic ability with him.
- Rd 5) Emmanuel Acho ILB Texas. Yes, the last name is familiar. He is in fact the younger brother of Sam Acho of the Arizona Cardinals. This pickup provides depth at ILB, and gives the Cards another hard working athlete who has a nose for the football, much like his older brother.
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Great Post
Although I believe it’s to early to trade down. Not all the College players have announced that they’ll enter the draft so we should see who goes in.
there
needs to be a reason for Cinncy to want to move up. What is it? Their team needs are RB, DT, OG, CB.
Trent Richardson is by far the best RB and is a top 5 talent. Not saying he won’t drop, but it’s not a given that he won’t especially with Cleveland and TB drafting in the top 10.
Not a good draft for DT’s, Devon Still is maybe the best, but again, he is more than likely a top 10 pick.
They could stay where they are and potentially grab DeCastro.
The best CB is either Dennard, Kilpatrick or Jenkins. Dennard and Kilpatrick are potential top 10 picks but the character issues of Jenkins will drop him to their spots as well.
I’d be ok with Upshaw, but Perry seems like a one move kind of guy and someone that needs time to develop.
They do have a need at CB
And Kilpatrick could be available at number 13…Which is how I see the trade happening.
Just a guy, because I was born that way.
Yea
But Richardson will be gone by 13, and Miller out of the university of Miami who is the second best back ins’t worth the 13th spot.
Just a guy, because I was born that way.
What makes you say that?
Would you have said that last year about Mark Ingram? Lasted until the 28th overall pick.
And again, that eliminates one of the players that the Bengals might be willing to move up to.
Ingram IMO
Is’t as good as Richardson is. I had him last year as a 15 – 20 range pick, based upon needs of the teams drafting and his performance.
This year there are a few teams I see in need of a RB.
Minnesota – How will A.P.’s surgery take?
Tampa Bay – They have LeGarrette Blount, but Richardson would be an upgrade.
Cleveland – Peyton Hillis had a letdown year
Kansas City – Injuries at RB hurt them, and Richardson is an upgrade.
There are four teams that pick before us, KC having the lowest pick at #11.
Just a guy, because I was born that way.
Definitley agree on Richardson
Dudes an animal. Much better than Ingram, and should be drafted much higher than Ingram was
Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68
much better
than Ingram, that’s why he backed him up for 3 years?
Have you seen Trent run?
He has more speed, power, and elusiveness. Backuped Ingram for two years. Ingram won the Heisman during Richardson’s freshman year. Richardson took a chunk of carriers from Ingram during his Sophomore year.
by cardinalbrown on Jan 3, 2012 9:15 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I would think having Cedric Benson as a running back...
would be a good reason to draft a new one. However, we should have a healthy Ryan Williams, Beanie Wells and LSH and, if needed, Alphonso Smith. So many more needs than RB for this team.
Morris Claibourne is easily a Top 10 draft pick
at CB for LSU. I think you may have just forgotten about him
Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68
No, I figure
He’ll be of the board before Kilpatrick, somewhere in the top 7. Which is why I figure the Bengals would jump up to 13 to get Kilpatrick.
Just a guy, because I was born that way.
I know what you meant
i was referring to KDean75 saying that the top CBs are Dennard, Kirkpatrick and Jenkins. Claibourne is much better than all three of those guys
Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68
whoops
I did forget about Claibourne. Still take Dennard. Loved the way Dennard got in a fight with Jeffrey in the bowl game to get them both kicked out. He had to play physical with him off the line and did. Frustrated Jeffrey, and technically himself.
I like every idea except for Hilton
I don’t know much about him, but being that he is only 5’10", I would think we have the undersized receiver role already filled with Andre Roberts. We need a receiver that is not only fast, but has decent size to match some of the bigger corners (see: Seahawks, Seattle).
Shouldn't the defense be worried about matching up well with an offenses size at WR?
Lol not the other way around?
I bet Hilton will be a 2-3rd round pick as long as he runs a good 40. That guy is really good.
by forget on Jan 3, 2012 9:41 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
From everything I've seen on him
He is a play-maker when he gets the ball. Place him in the slot, he’s a Wes Welker type. Shifty, elusive. Plus he’s got good speed to occasionally stretch the field for a route or break a short play for more yardage.
Just a guy, because I was born that way.
It's an arms race.
Works both ways. Bigger badder weapon on offense begets bigger badder defenders begets bigger badder receivers, ad infinitum.
Interesting idea with trading down
I do not agree, but its an interesting move that would allow for some additional picks/talent. If Martinor Rieff are availabe at 13 we need to take them. if not, trading down could be a good idea, or maybe even going after #2 WR with that pick could make things interesting.
But, LT and RT need to be addressed and are the teams most pressing needs. OLB upgrade would be nice, but not as pressing as LT/RT
I'd take Reiff
But not Martin at 13. Martin reminds me of Levi Brown and Kurt Warner. Excellent RT playing LT spot and their QB makes them look ok. Martin struggles with the speed rush off the edge. Brown struggles with the speed rusher off the edge. Why draft to replace the issue with the same issue?
Just a guy, because I was born that way.
I love the Acho pick!
But what about getting Burfict? I know he had attitude problems in college, but Whiz will straighten him out. He was originally considered a top ten talent but dropped due to endless personal foul penalties.
Also, how about another ASU grad to help us out later in the draft? Omar Bolden! He would have easily been at least a second round pick this year if it were not for his ACL tear before this year. He is an amazing talent and would be a steal in the later rounds.
One more Devil that I would love to see is Gerell Robinson! The dude is incredible and will be available late. He has serious potential to step in and help us out immediately. He has size, speed, and hands.
Sleeper draft pick for us at WR: Rishard Matthews! He has had an incredible career at UNR but has receive very little recognition due to playing in the WAC.
I do not know much about the tackles in the draft outside of the first round, but after getting a bust in the first (levi Brown) I am a bit hesitant to draft another tackle in the first. I would prefer finding a guy in the later rounds. Whiz is a master at finding gems late and I believe he can do that for a Tackle. The only tackle I have seen play a lot and that I like for a later pick is Potter from Boise. The OL was key to the success of Moore and BSU over the years.
!st Round – Burfict ILB – ASU
3rd Round – Potter OT – Boise State
4th Round – Emanuel Acho OLB – Texas
5th Round – Omar Bolden CB – ASU
6th Round – Gerell Robinson WR – ASU
7th Round – Rishard Matthews WR – Nevada
That is my dream draft at least! And yes, it may be extremely bias.
Arizona Sports (minus) UofA wildcats = Love!
by PDXCardinal on Jan 3, 2012 11:26 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
Burfict
No way I’d pick Burfict in the first (or second, if they get one). He is the primary reason ASU fell apart last season. There is no denying he has talent, and there is certainly a chance the right coach and veteran role models can turn him around, but he’s too much risk and there are better options/bigger needs that can be helped early.
by psknapp on Jan 3, 2012 11:53 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
The reason ASU fell apart was
Ericson…. He had no control over his players. Burfict with good coaching and veteran leadership can be amazing.
by cgcardzfan on Jan 3, 2012 2:05 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
He's never had enough control over his players.
But with as much as Burfict had on the line (locking up a high first round draft slot) and he still has these issues? Admittedly Erickson was too player-friendly (if that’s what you want to call it), but it was still a choice for Burfict to behave that way. Before the season, I was expecting him to have a breakout year, but he regressed in so many ways. Coaching and veteran leadership may help him, but there are enough examples of players like him who flame out to make him a risk. And I think there are players as talented and who play smarter than him.
I like Burfict
His aggression and the way he sets the tone remind me of Urlacher or Ray Lewis, but he needs to control himself better. I also like Manti T’eo for ILB, but he went back to Notre Dame. Look for Emmanuel Acho to be a nice pickup, and Stewart Bradley to finally show why the Cards paid him.
Just a guy, because I was born that way.
agree
Burfict is an idiot. An out of control moron that used his aggression positively earlier in his career but then bought into his own hype.
Lewis or Urlacher never played so stupidly. They were always technically masterful. That does not apply to Burfict.
I’d take him in the 3rd or 4th, not higher.
Yeah, if any ASU guys Robinson or Bolden would be the best bets
Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
Leading the NFL in swagtangibles
Alright,
someone else that knows Burfict will be the final piece to a defense for the ages.
Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.
Just because you don't like him,
doesn’t mean you can deny his physical tools and potential
Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.
Just because you like him
doesn’t mean you can exaggerate his impact on the football field and refuse to accept there are other points of view. He may be a good player but not even the best LB in the draft
by cardinalbrown on Jan 3, 2012 9:18 PM MST up reply actions
Floyd Womack?
Think you mean Rex Hadnot. Womack didn’t make the team.
Doucet is an unrestricted free agent. He could be gone which would make WR a much more significant need.
I agree that RT is the better way to go with the draft, rather than LT. Even if the ultimate goal is for that draftee to eventually play the left side. Would much rather sign a free agent to fill that spot than throw a rookie there. The better our offensive line plays next season the better chance we get to see what we’ve really got with Skelton and Kolb. Drafting OL twice wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.
Not quite
Womack “made the team,” but was injured before the end of preseason and was stashed away on the IR for the entire season.
But yes, Hadnot was the starting RG this year..
Faith Focus Finish
He wasn't on the 53.
That’s pretty much where I draw the line as to who made it and who didn’t. I didn’t realize he was put on IR though. From what I recall he was the odd man out at the position so maybe why I didn’t pay attention to what his exact circumstance ended up being.
Only problem with your draft philosophy is that it's your draft philosophy, not the Cards'
Draft an offensive lineman?! Never! Haha.
I don’t think we need depth at OLB. I think we have depth. I think we need a starter to pair with Acho. Schofield could maybe do it next year, but maybe he couldn’t. Haggans will probably return as a back-up and for the first time ever I’m okay with that idea. Bradley will be doing something but who knows what it is at this point.
Additionally, if you’re drafting a player in the first or second round, you’re not drafting him to be depth — you need that guy to be a starter, whether it’s this year or somewhere down the road (but not very far).
Looking at the neighborhood picks from 2011, I’d be thrilled with J.J. Watt, Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan, or Nate Solder. A couple every-down OLB’s, a pass-rushing specialist, and a good OT — sign me up for any or all of the above. Pouncey’s great, too, but I’m not as worried about our interior line.
I tend to disregard mock scenarios in which we trade down because everyone wants to trade down every year and it never happens. That said, I would be very happy with an OLB in the first and an OG in the third. I think, at 13, we can get a heck of a player and teams have had a lot of success with interior linemen drafted in the middle rounds.
I like it...
But in my philosophy, if you aren’t starting, you are depth. Does that mean you won’t be a starter next year? Maybe, maybe not. All depth picks are done to mold them into starters. ‘Additionally, if you’re drafting a player in the first or second round, you’re not drafting him to be depth — you need that guy to be a starter, whether it’s this year or somewhere down the road (but not very far).’
Just a guy, because I was born that way.
I see the
team parting ways with Stewart Bradley or Paris Lennon. Then taking Luke Kuechly at ILB. No Burfict in the first round and I see him dropping into the 2nd or 3rd. Or I seem them getting help across from Fitzgerald with Kendall Wright the WR out of Baylor. At pick 13 there isn’t going to be an OT/OG to choose from that won’t be a reach. There may be some trading to get back into the second round but I wouldn’t hold my breath on it at this point.
My 5 round mock (for now):
1: David DeCastro, OG Stanford (or Luke Kuechly, ILB BC)
2: n/a
3: Nate Potter, OT Boise State
4: Jordan White, WR Western Michigan
5: Winston Guy Jr., SS Kentucky
Faith Focus Finish
Good Mock
If the top OT are gone, Castro is a stud that could be a probowler for years. Potter at OT, some WR and DB depth. Nothing too fancy but that would be a nice OL improvement
We have ILB's
I think Bradley needs 2012 to prove his worth. Coming from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is very different and Lenon being a captain put him in a position to not play. When he did play for Lenon I liked his style. He is aggressive and plugs the whole. If Castro or OT is available I would prefer to keep Bradley and draft for a more important need.
I would prefer a first round WR or OLB before an ILB.
Needs
1) OT
2) OT
3) WR
4) OLB
5) OG
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