After some research I found the details of each of the Cardinals draft picks that have signed. Each pick agreed to three year deals for the minimum amount per season: $295,000 (2008), $385,000 (2009) $470,000 (2010). I also found that Early Doucet got a $550,000 signing bonus but I can't find if any of of the other picks received a bonus upon signing.

There's also some promising note that the Redskins singed one of their second round picks, Malcolm Kelly. The significance of his signing is that he was drafted on spot behind the Cardinals second round pick, Calais Campbell. The Cardinals will likely use Kelly's contract as a starting point in the negotiations with Campbell. Kelly's contract is a four year deal for 3.36 million and includes $1.655 million in guarantees. The Cardinals have just over a week to finalize deals with both Campbell and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The Arizona Cardinals have now signed five of their seven draft picks, announcing today that Early Doucet has agreed to a three year deal. It's not a big surprise considering that most reports have mentioned that a deal was close to being finalized.

That leaves only first and second round picks, DRC and Calais Campbell unsigned and they're be more difficult considering the uncertainty surrounding the salary cap and the possibility of an uncapped year. It's also worth mentioning that Doucet's signing brings the Cardinals to 80 players under contract, which is the max roster size. So when DRC and CC do sign, someone will have to be cut as soon as each signing is announced.

The Cardinals did not waste any time after agreeing to terms with Brandon Keith
yesterday, as they added another pick to the fold today with Chris Harrington signing a three year contract. Harrington, a 23 year old former Aggie, is moving from defensive end to outside linebacker this season. Despite the depth and varied talent at outside linebacker, Harrington brings an unique set of traits and strong intagibles to the table. I'd look for him to contribute on special teams during his rookie season and move into a more expanded role next season or as injuries strike.

The only remaining rookies left to sign are Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Calais Campbell and Early Doucet. Being that they are the first three picks, they'll be the toughest to ink to a deal. One thing to keep an eye on is that the next rookie to sign will fill out the roster at 82, meaning that the team will have to cut two players in order to sign all three remaining rookies. Any early guesses as to the first two players to go?

The Cardinals signed another draft pick today when Brandon Keith agreed to a three year deal. Keith, the Cards seventh round pick, is competing for a backup spot somewhere along the offensive line and has logged most of his practice snaps at right tackle so far. He was a relative unknown prospect coming out of Northern Iowa but so far he looks to have all the tools to stick around for a while. His former coach certainly thought he not only had the skills but was also versatile enough to play both guard or tackle (a trait that helps a guy looking to add depth to a shallow offensive line unit). He's the third draft pick to sign, joining Tim Hightower and Kenny Iwebema, although financial terms were not disclosed.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Calais Campbell, Early Doucet and Chris Harrington remain unsigned but the club is hopeful to finalize another deal by the end of the week. The goal, as always is to have every pick signed by the start of camp and so far they seem to be in good shape to accomplish that task. Anyone think we'll see a holdout this year? If so, who will it be?

The sixth round of the draft brought Chris Harrington to the Arizona Cardinals and today Harrington stops by Revenge of the Birds for a chat about the past two months, his goals for 2008 and his future in the desert.

 Q - First, since most of us have no idea what the past couple of months have been like for you, how has your life changed since the Cardinals picked you in the sixth round two months ago? I'm sure you got thousands of new friends almost instantly, right?

A - A lot has changed since being drafted by the Cardinals, but thousands of friends, I don't think so. Maybe thousands of fans, but realistically, I don't expect anyone to know who I am in Phoenix. I haven't done anything yet. What I did in college got me to where I am, I have to prove myself all over again. I guess the biggest change has been adjusting to life in the desert. They say that the heat isn't bad, that it's a dry heat. That's true but 115 degrees is still 115 degrees dry or not. It's nice not having the humidity though, coming from Houston.

Q - I saw that you come from a long line of Aggies and that your uncle was a former all-pro NFL player with the Rams, what kind of advice have you gotten from them?

A - The most important thing to me, being an Aggie, was to make them proud. We have a great family legacy at A&M and I wanted to carry that on. The same is true in the NFL. Anyone who knows my uncle or played with him has tremendous respect for the player he was and a greater respect for the person he is. I hope that I can live up to that legacy and make him and my family proud.

Q - I know that you played at linebacker some of the time at Texas A&M, but what part of your game will need to most improvement in order for you to excel as an outside linebacker in Arizona? What area of your game is best suited for standing up and rushing off the edge?

A - I played defensive end during my career at A&M, during some situations I would play a stand up defensive end /olb. I think the biggest challenge for me has been pass coverage. As a D-Lineman you are always rushing, rarely ever dropping into coverage, and when I was I was given a vague responsibility, like cover the flat. Since arriving in Arizona, I have been challenged to learn a whole new position and frame of mind. I didn't know what cover 2 was and had no idea what the secondary was doing. Now I have to know what everyone on the field is doing. It has opened up a whole new world to me and I am enjoying learning a whole new side to the game. I think I am good fit for the defense and the OLB position. I am very good at persuit and flying to the ball and I bring an aggressive mentality that I have from my D-Line days. I have lightened up a bit so I feel faster than I ever have.

Q - The Cardinals seemed to be stacked right now at both outside linebacker and defensive end, but you'll definitely bring some youth to the outside linebacker group. Have you been working solely at outside linebacker during practices so far or are you still taking some snaps at defensive end and what unique trait do you bring to the unit?

A - I have been working at both OLB spots, and yes we have a lot of good players at both spots. I have learned a lot from watching them in practice and from game film. My role right now is to work on developing into a great linebacker and to push these guys to get better and not be complacent. It is a role that I take a lot of pride in. I know that to make this team I am going to have to excel on special teams, and I am prepared to do that. I think one trait that I bring to the group is youth. I am young and hungry. A lot of these guys have been in the league for a while and are used to the life . I'm not, I'm hungry and I'm willing to do things that maybe they're not so willing to.

Q - How much more complex is Clancy Pendergast's 3-4 defense compared to
the defense that you guys ran at Texas A&M? Is it a defense that you learn completely in a couple of months or will it be a learning process the entire season?

A - In college we made our defensive calls from a wristband. Everyone had one and coach would signal in the call and everyone would read their responsibility. I got used to that so it's been a challenge to go back to hearing a call from the LB and remembering your technique and responsibility. I'm a pretty smart guy, so I have enjoyed the challenge so far.

Q - What are your goals for the 2008 season and what is one thing that Cardinals' fans should know about you that they won't read in any scouting report?

A - Our team goals are winning our divison and making a run in the playoffs. My personal goals are to make the team and contribute to helping the team reach it's goals. One thing that you wouldn't see in any scouting report is that I am a dog lover. I have a chocolate lab named duke and I really miss him when I'm gone. He loves to swim and play fetch and hopefully I'll get to bring him out here soon, although I don't know how much he'll like the desert, the rocks get pretty hot during the summer.

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Many thanks to Chris Harrington, most players don't take the time to answers the questions of a lowly blogger like myself but he was great. Best of luck to him this season and beyond.

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I liked the mention of him dropping some weight. Pendergast's system calls for athletic OLBs and the leaner build should help Chris on defense and on coverage units. I'd never heard of a defense in which every player wore a wristband, anyone else know of another team/defense that does that? Chris also sounds like a guy who knows that his road to NFL isn't complete yet and that he'll have to star in a 'not-so-glamorous' role (namely special teams) before he'll get his crack as a regular starter on defense. In the end, I like his mindset and his dedication to becoming an NFL starter. So what do you guys think?

After doing some research for the article on Keilen Dykes' future with the Cardinals, I was so intrigued that I decided that I had to get some more information on him. That led me to Scout.com and more specifically, West Virginia Mountaineers' scout site, BlueGoldNews.com. Publisher, Kevin Kinder was kind enough to answer my questions and his first hand experience should give us a better picture of what we have in young Keilen Dykes.

Q - Dykes seems to be the kind of guy that every team would want, a team captain, a leader by example (2007 Iron Mountaineer award), and a four year consistent starter. So why do you think that so many teams passed on him in the draft? Did it hurt his draft stock when he wasn't invited to the combine?

A - As I'm sure your readers know, great performance in college doesn't always transfer to high draft status. I think the thing that hurt Keilen the most is that he didn't jump off any of the charts in terms of workout numbers or "athletic ability". While he's certainly a top flight college player, he didn't have those measurables that often seem to determine draft status. Not being selected to the combine certainly didn't help his stock, either, although I'm not sure if that was as big of a factor.

Q - For what I remember from WVU games and what I've read since the draft, the Mountaineers ran a 4-3 defense exclusively. Did they ever switch to any other defense or a three man line, even if only in obvious passing situations? If so, did Dykes play anywhere else other than defensive tackle?

A - This is one thing that should really help him in his effort to make the team. WVU runs an odd-stack defense (3-3-5) as its base, and Keilen, being WVU's best lineman, played both the nose and tackle positions over the past two seasons. WVU also went to a four man front in some situations to mix things up and provide more pass rush pressure, and Dykes could slide to either position there as well. He is very intelligent, and doesn't have any problem switching assignments or positions on the fly, so I could see him being a swing guy who could provide help at more than one spot.

Q - With the Cardinals and their 3-4 defense, most assume that Dykes will have to move outside to defensive end. Do you think his skill set would thrive at defensive end or would he be better suited to add 15 pounds or so and try and become a nose tackle?

A - Tough call. As you note, he's kind of in between in terms of size. If pressed to make a pick, I think the inside spot might be just a little better for him. The one thing he doesn't have is an outstanding pass rush move, so if Arizona depends on its ends to beat a double team and provide sacks, that might be an issue. His strengths are in standing his ground, battling and fending off blockers. He has very good hand positioning, and is very good in the technical aspects of interior defensive line play. So, inside might be the spot, but I still think that he could be the type of player to get some snaps at either position. Granted, he'd be smallish for a nose, but if he's a backup that gets a couple of series at each, that's not as much of a factor. I don't think you'd have to worry about him getting worn down or overpowered. He's a gritty competitor that battles blockers to standstills.

Q - What part of Dykes' game needs to most improvement for him to be able to stick in the NFL? What is his biggest attribute that coaches will fall in love with?

A - Pass rush moves. Most of his sacks in college came by sheer work -- beating on blockers until he got by them. If he can develop a go to move that allows him to put more pressure on offensive linemen, he will make a pro team.

Coaches will love his willingness to work and learn, and his locker room presence. I know he's just a rookie, and thus at the bottom of the NFL food chain, but he's a great leader both on and off the field. He battles on every play, and sets a great example with his work ethic. I know that in the NFL it's all about performance, but I think these qualities have to count for something.

Q - Lastly, what is the one thing that Cardinals' fans should know about Keilen Dykes that they can't find in any scouting report?

A - He has a great sense of humor, and is very passionate in what he does. When it's time to work, he goes at it full force, but he's a prankster that keeps friends and teammates loose.

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In the end, we all still know that the deck is still stacked against Dykes this season. It would take a minor miracle for him to make the roster coming out of camp simply because of the amount of depth ahead of him all across the defensive line. For now though, I'm optimistic that they got a guy who has the skills and character to help this team win in the future. Thoughts?

Many thanks to Kevin for taking the time and providing us with some quality insights.

To continue an ongoing series focusing on the Cardinals undrafted free agents, today let's look at a guy who was a three year starter in the PAC-10. Dennis Keyes started over 35 games at UCLA and finished his senior season with as the team leader in tackles.  He had an up and down career as a Bruin but he always had a reputation as a big hitter. Keyes never hesitated to lay the big hit either in the passing game or at the line of scrimmage in support of the run. With Rolle moving to free safety to compete for the job, there are several safeties in the mix but what does Keyes have to do in order to make an impact in 2008 and beyond? 

Why the deck is stacked against him: First and foremost, the Cardinals have plenty of depth at the safety position. Keyes played at free safety during college meaning that he's got to contend with Aaron Francisco,  Antrel Rolle and Matt Ware as well at FS and Oliver Celestin (another backup safety). Having five established safeties ahead of him will make it tough to make an impression, much less get on the field. Keyes also doesn't have great timed speed and will miss tackles when trying to go for the big hit. His lack of top end speed and stiff hips make it hard for him to keep up with receivers down the field and he struggles when matched up man-to-man.

Why he's got a chance: Keyes is has plenty of experience at a high level of competition meaning that his transition to the NFL won't be as drastic as other rookies. He plays fearless and makes plays all over the field, even against bigger, stronger players. He led his team in tackles and was fourth in the conference (8.83 per game) in 2007. Keyes' has good instincts and plays faster than he times, especially when closing on the ball. For as much as he struggles in man-to-man situations, he is solid in zone coverage when he can back pedal and react when the ball is in the air. At the start of his career, Keyes will have to make an impact on special teams and most importantly coverage units.

Bottom line: If Keyes wants to make the opening day roster, he'll have to be a special teams terror during the preseason. He's got the 'football' speed and demeanor to make an impact kickoff and punt coverage units. As far as the regular defensive group, I wouldn't be surprised if he moves to strong safety where his tackling ability can be used to support the run and his lack of coverage ability can be disguised a bit. He'll also have add some weight to his slender frame (6'1 205).  If he can get up to about 220 or so without losing any athleticism, I could see him being a capable backup at strong safety.

The Arizona Cardinals took a chance on a former quarterback turned wide receiver who ran slower than expected prior to the draft in 2003. That picked turned into a two time Pro Bowler in his first five seasons. Anquan Boldin was a high school quarterback who moved to wide receiver in college, even though he moon-lighted at QB during his time at FSU. He ran a very pedestrian 4.72 forty at the combine and even though he ran quicker at his pro day (4.58), questions about his ability to get open at the NFL level remained.

Enter Early Doucet: another wide receiver with experience at QB but questionable forty times. His time (4.59) at the combine dropped the one time first round prospect to the third round and led to more comparisons between the two. They are both six foot tall and were within 7 pounds of each other at their respective combines (Q - 216 & ED - 209). Doucet recognized the similarities long before the combine though when he contacted Boldin through mutual friend before the 2007 season in an effort to get some advice from the accomplished star. Boldin has since taken Doucet under his wing both throughout last season but also in mini-camps shortly after the draft. Does all this really mean that Doucet is destined for stardom though?

Odds are Doucet isn't going to burst on the NFL scene with a 100 catch season or break rookie-records the way that Boldin did, but that's not what the Cardinals are expecting by any means. Doucet will most likely start out in the slot as the #3 or #4 receiver. From there he'll benefit from playing against lesser corners and should be able to be productive going over the middle and making tough catches in traffic. He'll be able to use his sure hands and shifty run ability to turn some short slants into decent gains. Look for him to put up numbers similar to Bryant Johnson's stats from his first three seasons with 400-500 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Doucet's role should increase as he grows in the offense, but as long as Boldin and Fitz are in the desert, Doucet will have to make his living in the slot.

So what do you guys expect out of Doucet in 2008 and in the next couple of seasons? Is he a future replacement for Q, or just a 'poor-man's Q'?

First guys let me apologize for my absence yesterday. My wife, who's a couple of weeks away from delivery our first child, had some minor complications that caused us to spend Tuesday night and most of yesterday in the hospital. I'm glad to report that she's feeling much better now and everything is ok with both her and the baby.

Another look at an Arizona Cardinals' rookie free agent brings us, Thaddeus
Coleman. In past stories we've looked at Anthony Morelli, Ali Highsmith, Keilen Dykes and Lance Long.  Coleman, a three year starter at Mississippi Valley State, has experience at both right and left tackle but he started his college career as a tight end. Considering that he's only played offensive tackle for three seasons, it's amazing that Coleman was able to develop into one of the better lineman in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. What makes his transformation even more impressive is that Mississippi Valley State doesn't employ an offensive line coach meaning that Coleman is not only extremely raw but also that he's far from reaching his potential.

Coleman started three games in 2004 as a tight end and even though he didn't register a reception, he was a decent blocker. After that season, Coleman moved to tackle and played in six games at both right and left tackle as the top backup at both positions. The 2006 season saw Coleman take over at left tackle and produce 83 knockdowns and 8 touchdown resulting blocks. That season would earn him first team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors as well. His senior season, Coleman was part of an offense that featured 8 freshman or first year starters, but that didn't stop him from shining yet again. He finished that season with 103 knockdowns (most among SWAC blockers) and 9 touchdown resulting blocks, which is pretty remarkable considering that the offense only scored 22 touchdowns. Coleman also earned his second consecutive first team All-SWAC team.

It'll likely be at least a year or two before we hear from much from Thaddeus Coleman but for now I'm intrigued by his potential. He's got the size (6'8 310) and is an above average athlete for his position considering he was a tight end just 4 years ago. He also has a mean streak and turned some heads with his nasty blocking at Texas vs. the Nation practices. I can't wait to see what Russ Grimm can do with his raw ability.

In a continued effort to look at each undrafted rookie, today brings up the unlikely story of Mississippi State wide receiver, Lance Long. We looked at Anthony Morelli, Ali Highsmith and Keilen Dykes in the past but Long is a name that many fans had never heard of entering the draft. Long's numbers at Mississippi State aren't anything that will turn heads considering he totaled 46 receptions for 321 yards (7 yard average) and one touchdown (yea that's a total of three seasons not just one). Long was so far down on most draft lists that Pro Football Weekly profiled 127 receivers and long wasn't one of them. NFL draft scout ranked 300 potential wide receivers and Lance Long still wasn't one of them. So why were the Cardinals interested enough to sign him?

 
Long has always been as his name would suggest, a long shot (yea I know that's a very cheap play on words, but I just couldn't resist). He walked onto Mississippi State after a year at the University of Toledo and eventually was awarded a scholarship by his junior season. Long never stared at Mississippi State and never started more than 3 games in any single season but he did a little bit of everything including punt and kicks returns as well as playing on both coverage units. Long did turn some heads at Mississippi State's pro day though when he reeled off a 4.38 forty and had the fastest shuttle time of anyone in the country. That performance combined with some in-house familiarity (Arizona tight end coach was a coach of Long's in 2005) was enough for the Cardinals to take a look at the 5'11 186 pound receiver.

If Long hopes to stick around at the NFL level, he'll have to continue to be a versatile player who's willing to whatever a team asks of him. With the depth at wide receiver, it seems nearly impossible that he'll make the roster in 2008 but he is definitely a candidate for the practice squad because he's got the kind of athleticism that makes coaches drool. It should be very interesting to see how he's used in the preseason as well. Who's seen this kid play and what do you think of his chances to become an NFL player? Does he have a chance to stick around in the desert?