NFL Mock Draft 2012: Projections Affecting the Arizona Cardinals

by Jess Root on Feb 15, 2012 7:01 AM MST in NFL Draft/Combine

The Arizona Cardinals have been long connected to offensive linemen as we all wait for the 2012 NFL Draft. But projections can change weekly. It is time to take a look at the players that are or could be connected to the Cardinals and the NFL Draft.

Our own ROTB mock draft had a surprise, having WR Justin Blackmon fall a la Matt Leinart to the 13th pick, where Arizona scoops him up to recreate the elite passing game that was so successful with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

Over at SB Nation and their mock draft, David DeCastro is still the pick.

Arizona needs help all along the front five. Just ask Kevin Kolb. DeCastro has rare talent for an interior lineman. If guards were valued as highly in the draft as tackles, he would be a top 10 pick, and the world should applaud any team that decides to draft him that highly. For now, we will assume the Cardinals grab him.

CBS Sports has not changed their picks for the Cardinals in their mock draft. It is DeCastro and Kendall Wright.

ESPN has mixed up their big board (Insider access required to read it all). Four offensive linemen make the top 13 players in the draft. Ideally, one of them will be available. There is Matt Kalil, Riley Reiff, Mike Adams and DeCastro that are all considered to be among the best prospects in this year's draft.

Projections will continue coming in. We will keep you posted.

Keep up with Cardinals news and opinions when you are not on the site. Follow Revenge of the Birds on Twitter at @revengeofbirds and "like" us on Facebook. You can follow me individually at @senorjessroot.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Blackmon wont last to 13

I say Oline all the way. If all the best oline prospects are gone at 13 we should trade back for a guy like Mike Adams or Peter Konz and try to score a 2nd round pick

by CardsDefense on Feb 15, 2012 9:47 AM MST via mobile reply actions

But if he is...

you snatch him up right quick. You can develop a later-round OL…you don’t see freaks of nature fall into your lap very often like Blackmon would if he dropped to 13.

by NickyPinks on Feb 15, 2012 10:01 AM MST up reply actions

I can see Blackmon falling a bit

He’s being pulled up to the top because of a lack of a Calvin Johnson or A.J. Green in this draft. Blackmon is the best WR prospect, but that alone should have him as high as he’s been going. IMO, If he’s drafted top 5, and is expect to be an elite WR, a la Fitz or the Johnsons, the team that drafted him will be disappointed. Talent wise, he’s definitely top 15, and will likely go top 10 because of team need, but his talent should have him falling between 15-10

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 15, 2012 10:52 AM MST up reply actions

Im a lineman at heart so here is what im thinking....

So this lineman is apparently the greatest guard sense Willie Roaf. He only went to 11 Pro Bowls in a 13 year career and was just elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If this guy is even half that man I would still draft him with this pick. Tackle is the higher picks because of the strong outside rush but that can be controlled when you line up next to a Guard that you could put warren sapp in his prime on him and not need to worry about him. You cant pass up this type of talent when it would be a great upgrade to what was existing. It may not be the tackle position but unless the second coming of Jonathan Ogden second coming is available I would take the best player available that fills a need.

by cschiemann on Feb 15, 2012 10:43 AM MST reply actions

well that last sentence sucks...

sorry about that should read unless this is the second coming of Jonathan Ogden then I would take the best player available that fills a need.

by cschiemann on Feb 15, 2012 10:44 AM MST up reply actions

There's only 8 players that I could see the Cardinals grabbing at 13. That is unless some crazy talent just falls to them at a position of need ala Blackmon.

If it’s not one the following players I’d be shocked: DeCastro, Adams, Upshaw, Kuechly, Brown (UNC), Ingram, Reiff or Martin. I personally think the list could easily be cut in half.

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

by az78true on Feb 15, 2012 11:06 AM MST reply actions

I would be happy with ANY of those 8.

by Fitz Fan on Feb 15, 2012 11:20 AM MST up reply actions

IMO

Brown and Kuechly aren’t good fits. Brown is an ideal WLB in a 4-3 defense. He’s not much of a pass rusher, but very good in coverage. I’m assuming we’d be moving him to play ILB, and with Dwash being at the WILB spot, Brown would move to the SILB. I don’t see that as a good spot for him, and the same goes for Kuechly. Both a terrific athletes, and would be great playing WILB on a 3-4 defense, but the SILB requires more bulk and is primarily a run stopper. Brown and Kuechly’s coverage ability wouldn be wasted. We can find a SILB prospect in the later rounds of the draft, or just go with Bradley next season in the SILB position.

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 15, 2012 11:30 AM MST up reply actions

I'd have to disagree on Kuechly

I think he would be very good opposite of Washington. He is very instinctive and is very good against the run. Him and Washington would be a very dynamic MLB duo.

by Jesse Reynolds on Feb 15, 2012 2:51 PM MST up reply actions

Bad news for the Burtict fans from Rotoworld

I did not like much out of what I saw from him last year either. He was great his first two years, bad last season.

According to SI.com’s Tony Pauline, Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict was “soft and out of shape” when he reported to pre-Combine training in January, and is now dealing with a hamstring injury.
Pauline reports that NFL teams’ biggest concern with Burfict is work ethic, and he apparently hasn’t solved the issue ahead of the draft. Per Pauline, Burfict is unable to complete 15 reps on the 225-pound bench press with one week left before the Combine. After a poor junior season at Arizona State, Burfict’s draft stock could be headed for free fall if he performs poorly in Indy.

After watching “a bunch of tape” on Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict recently, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock believes Burfict is not worth a first-round pick in April’s draft.
“I’m not a fan at all,” said Mayock. “I just watched a bunch of his tape the other day. I came away unimpressed.” Mayock said he tried to filter out Burfict’s off- and on-field behavioral issues and graded him strictly off game tape. “His instincts aren’t good,” Mayock observed. “He gets enveloped by bigger bodies and he runs around blocks. I don’t see first round at all.”

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

by JoeCB1991 on Feb 15, 2012 5:54 PM MST reply actions

But also possible good news

Could slip down to the third? I think i’d be on board if he was still available then

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 15, 2012 9:10 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah, possibly even later too.

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

by JoeCB1991 on Feb 16, 2012 1:51 PM MST up reply actions

In

his college career of 35 games, he was flagged for personal fouls 17 times. That’s some good lack of discipline, clearly a defensive leader and a first round pick

by KDean75 on Feb 16, 2012 7:43 AM MST up reply actions

Yea, I never understood why so many still considered him worthy of a first round pick

Much less a pick in the top half of the first round.

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

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 16, 2012 2:13 PM MST up reply actions

I'm with CardsDefense

I think that should be main part of the offense, beef up that line and I think then we’ll see touch downs and touch downs.

by Indianrezfan on Feb 16, 2012 12:01 PM MST reply actions

Decisions, decisions..

My thoughts are, at #13, we have to pick either Reiff (if he falls) or Martin. Our interior linemen didn’t surrender that many sacks (1st for fewest allowed in NFC West and 7th in NFC). While Hadnot has aged, we are still solid for another year or two there with Hadnot and Colledge. If the two OT prospects are gone, we have to take a look at Upshaw or another top teir OLB. If they are gone, some people would like to pick Kuechly but I think we should trade back, grab a few more picks for someone that wants Kuechly badly and profit from more selections in the draft.

by SaveMeJebus on Feb 19, 2012 10:09 AM MST reply actions

Most talk I have read and heard on the draft leave us with

The #2 Guard or the #4 OT Ohio OT being the #4 tackle and I am happy with that. The Guard is unknown to me, but suppose to be able to play both Tackle & Guard. But I like Adams. His size & strength is what we need with good movement.

by Reo Hays on Feb 29, 2012 1:46 PM MST reply actions