2012 NFL Mock Draft: David DeCastro Is The New Popular Pick For The Arizona Cardinals

by Jess Root on Feb 1, 2012 6:17 AM MST in NFL Draft/Combine

As we go through the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, we are going to see all sorts of mock drafts. Some will stay steady and some will vary greatly. This week, the Cardinals are projected to go with offensive line help, but not at the tackle position, while a possible target for the tackle position goes before the Cardinals even select.

Who are the expected picks?

Our own staff mock draft projects offensive guard David DeCastro.

The Cardinals finally go back to fixing their offensive line with a first round pick since Levi Brown was selected fifth overall in 2007. DeCastro is a terrific offensive guard prospect, excelling in both pass protection and run blocking. He should be a starter on day one and makes our interior line much stonger in his likely replacement of Rex Hadnot as the starting right guard.

The SB Nation NFL mock draft also has the Cards going with DeCastro.

Arizona's expensive new quarterback, Kevin Kolb, was nearly ground into dust playing behind a faulty offensive line. They need tackles as well as interior linemen. DeCastro is the best lineman on the board at this point in the draft. He might be the best interior line prospect since Steve Hutchinson. The Stanford product will instantly upgrade the unit.

Along with these projections, CBS Sports in one mock also has DeCastro. The other (Rob Rang) has the Cards going with Baylor WR Kendall Wright.

Obviously, as commenters have noticed, DeCastro would be a very boring pick and it really does not meet the more pressing need at tackle. However, based on everything that has been said thus far about him, his talent in undeniable. And if a guy like Mike Adams is off the board (he goes number 12 in the SB Nation mock), then there is a dearth of tackle prospects at that point in the draft.

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Comments

I would not be happy.

Our offensive tackles have been terrible for years. Two years in a row now, we’ve tried to fix the problem during the offseason by signing a guard. For some unfathomable reason, it hasn’t worked.

Oh, well. Why not try again?

by Vaegrin on Feb 1, 2012 8:27 AM MST reply actions

But if the choice is premier G or reach for OT?

We reached for OT with Levi, remember…

by CardsFan1976 on Feb 1, 2012 11:43 AM MST up reply actions

This

Our guards haven’t even been that good. Colledge was inconsistent and Hadnot played pretty bad to end the season. DeCastro helps us a lot, and will be a great piece to start rebuilding(or building in the first place) our Oline. DeCastro is a premier guard prospect, and almost guaranteed to be a sure thing in the NFL, Adams, Rieff, and Martin have question marks about their transition to NFL pass rushers

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 1, 2012 11:54 AM MST up reply actions

What question mark does Rieff have?

I think you’re making that up. He is a very good OT that comes from a college that produces exceptional Oline players. Rieff would more than likely be gone, but if on the board he should be the pick. DeCastro is really good, but there are more pressing needs to address IMO than OG.
Kendall Wright would be a great pick. He is a playmaker that can easily stretch the field in a short amount of time. A LB would also be a great pick as well. We either stick with Levi or pick a LT with our first pick. Nobody on the FA market is worth the time. Again, Gaithers was passed on & IMO was a stupid mistake.

by RamsFan1979 on Feb 1, 2012 12:12 PM MST up reply actions

+1 on Reiff

-1 on Wright. Kendall Wright’s skill set is too similar to mid-late round talent for him to be the #13 pick in the draft. You have to question whether his production this year was a result of RG3, a weak Big12, or breakout talent. Maybe it was a mix of all three but I think it has to do with RG3 and Nebraska & Colorado (hahaha) jumping ship.

by cardinalbrown on Feb 1, 2012 12:34 PM MST up reply actions

Weak Big 12?

The Big 12 was considered one of the strongest football conferences in the country this year, with Oklahoma St, Oklahoma, Baylor, Kansas St and Texas all finishing in the BCS top 25, and strong schools Missouri and Texas A&M as well.

Doesn’t invalidate your point, just thought I’d point that out.

by CardsFan1976 on Feb 1, 2012 1:40 PM MST up reply actions

I'd imagine he was talking about weak B12 defenses

Every team worth a damn in the Big 12 was offensive heavy.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 1, 2012 3:16 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks for making the case for me

Offensive heavy is one way to say it, defensively challenged is another. The vast majority of Big12 is pass heavy which leads to inflated stats. Also leads to high scoring games that are back and forth

by cardinalbrown on Feb 1, 2012 5:39 PM MST up reply actions

I can agree 13 might be too high, but he has more

talent and speed than most in the draft. It’s his height that scares off ppl, but if you can get past that he has a good set of hands, can seperate from defenders, and of course great speed & burst of speed.

by RamsFan1979 on Feb 1, 2012 10:47 PM MST up reply actions

Slow feet and ability to handle the best pass rushers every game

would be the questions marks about Rieff. I agree that he is an excellent prospect, but he’s not as sure a thing as DeCastro is IMO, especially if Rieff is expected to play left tackle. His question amrks aren’t nearly as big an issue as with Martin and Adams though.Regardless, i agree that Rieff will be gone, and could very well be a great LT, but IMO DeCastro is as close to a guarantee to be a great NFL guard as possible.

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 1, 2012 1:22 PM MST up reply actions

Fortunately, there will be more than just those two options.

I’m all for placing value over need, but that doesn’t mean need doesn’t matter. Our guards aren’t elite, but we’re not about to replace Darren Colledge, and Hadnot and Lutui are solid options on the other side. In 2010, Lutui was arguably the best player on the offensive line. Reaching is obviously bad, but with a first round pick you should want to draft someone who would provide a much bigger upgrade to your team than an offensive guard would provide the Cardinals.

If all the tackles worthy of a #13 pick are gone, the Cardinals still have needs at WR and OLB. Even an ILB would have a bigger impact than a guard.

by Vaegrin on Feb 1, 2012 1:57 PM MST up reply actions

I disagree

I think impact may be an illusion of who is being watched in a game. Sure, the WRs get the touchdowns, OLBs get sacks, and ILBs get tackles, but they are allowed to get those impact stats due to the other players. The WR wouldn’t get thrown the ball if the QB is sacked on the play, the ILB wouldn’t be able to make the tackle if it weren’t for the Dline occupying the opponents blockers, etc.
Sure, it would be nice to see the impact in statistics of our early draft choices, but it doesn’t negate the impact of adding an offensive guard, especially an elite one. Our offensive line was awful last season and should be upgraded at every spot, except maybe center. If the first three tackles are gone, and DeCastro is still available at 13, he should be the pick

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 1, 2012 2:31 PM MST up reply actions

This.

I think impact may be an illusion of who is being watched in a game.

"The point is, by my standards, I won fair and square."
-Bender

by az78true on Feb 3, 2012 12:52 AM MST up reply actions

Hadnot and Lutui are solid options on the other side.

Couldn’t disagree more with this statement.

In 2010, Lutui was arguably the best player on the offensive line.

Being the tallest midget doesn’t mean you’re ready to ball with the big boys.

Our offensive line has been terrible for years and I’m all for grabbing the best talent avaliabe. Upgrade the starting five with a guy who every single scout I’ve read says is the best guard prospect to come out of the draft in years.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 1, 2012 3:18 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

How can an OG upgrade the whole line?

OG isn’t an impactful position and there are other OG’s later in the draft that could still upgrade the oline. If Rieff is there for us, that should be the pick.

by RamsFan1979 on Feb 1, 2012 10:55 PM MST up reply actions

I would be extremely happy.

Tackle is a huge need, but drafting OT’s is like playing the Powerball. It’s a shot in the dark. This kid is praised on his fundamentals and considered the next Steve Hutchinson. He was an integral part in their run blocking which gained more than 2700 yards this season and 32 TDs. Not to mention, protecting Luck to the tune of 3500+ passing yards and 37 TDs. Don’t get me wrong, we need OT’s like we need oxygen…or beer on Sunday…but this kid would solve our RG issue for years and allow us to focus on LT in Free Agency. My vote would be to sign Levi to RT/find a RT in free agency and focus some bigger money at LT. Now…how could Peyton pass that up?

by NickyPinks on Feb 1, 2012 11:06 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

I still can't get over how awkard Tiger looks in that photo

It creeps me out every time I see it.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 1, 2012 3:19 PM MST reply actions

I agree with many on this board

DeCastro would be a smart pick, especially with a healthy backfield. With Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams plus a strong interior line, our run game could be very strong.
I do not want to reach for a tackle, I want the best player available. It worked dang well for us last draft, why change a winning formula?

by Jesse Reynolds on Feb 1, 2012 3:21 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

We all feel like O-line picks are boring, but good O/D-lines make a good team into a great team.

@ Jesse Reynolds: I couldn’t have said it better myself.

It also seems as if good O/ D- lines are starting to build from the interior-out. Like Detroit with Suh and Fairley, New Orleans with their interior O-line. Not to say tackles and ends aren’t important, just teams are being more creative with the unheralded interior linemen.

by lifeinthepit00 on Feb 14, 2012 4:33 PM MST reply actions