Our last mock draft round up was exactly two weeks ago, but alot has changed in those 14 days. The combine has come and gone and that always shakes up the 'mocks.' We changed up some of the sites because some haven't updated their mocks since the combine, but let's take a look.....
Draft Tek (updated 3/2): Clint Sintim (OLB), Virginia - If you're a serious draft nerd, check out Draft Tek. They don't offer descripitions but their mocks are based on computer simulation using player rankings and team needs. They've also got a simulator that you play with to build your own seven round mock draft. Very cool stuff over there. They also did a break down of the Cardinals team needs that's worth a look.
- Round 2: Duke Robinson (OG), Oklahoma
- Round 3: Andre Brown (RB), NC State
- Round 4: Emanuel Cook (SS), South Carolina
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Round 5: Bear Pascoe (TE), Fresno State (don't know a thing about him but love the name)
- Round 6: Orion Martin (OLB),Virginia Tech
- Round 7: Don Carey (CB), Norfolk State
NFL Draft 101 (updated 2/27): Alphonso Smith (CB), Wake Forest - If Alphonso Smith were 3 inches taller your looking at a top 10 pick. The Cardinal secondary needs more football players and fewer athletes.
- Round 2: Patrick Chung (S), Oregon
NFL Draft Dog (updated 3/3): Alex Mack (C), California - Plug Mack (6' 4" 311 lbs) into the interior of your line and you will have a pro bowler for years to come. Mack didn't work out at the combine but has huge hands at 10 3/4".
- Round 2: Coye Francies (CB), San Jose State
Walter Football (updated 3/2): Michael Johnson (DE/OLB) Georgia Tech - Forum member Puppy Puncher made a great point about the Cardinals - they have a habit of drafting talented players who underachieved in college. Examples include Calais Campbell, Alan Branch and Gabe Watson. The knock on Michael Johnson is that his production hasn't matched his skill level and that he tends to take plays off. While it's true that Johnson never even cracked the starting lineup until his senior year, he made the most of his final season at Georgia Tech, registering 17.5 TFL and nine sacks. A tendency to take plays off may set off a red flag with some fans, but NFL coaches tend to be cocky and slightly arrogant. I guarantee most of them believe they can turn Johnson around. One coach, Jon Gruden, called Johnson a "Julius Peppers clone" during the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine. I think that sort of upside is way too difficult to pass up at the bottom of the first round.
- Round 2: Donald Brown (RB), Connecticut
- Round 3: AQ Shipley (C), Penn State
- Round 4: Cornelius Ingram (TE), Florida
FFToolbox (Standig) (updated 3/2): Michael Johnson (DE/OLB) Georgia Tech - The Cardinals ground game has been much improved in the playoffs, but J.J. Arrington we believe is off to Denver and Edgerrin James is likely to follow him out the door. Tim Hightower is proving to be most effective as a situational option, so drafting a back in the early rounds makes sense. Still, adding a DE/OLB type for their new 3-4 defense (seems like we are saying that a lot this year) is a must. Johnson is a dynamic athlete who looks the part of a first round pick, but questions about his production moved the 6-7, 260-pound pass rusher out of the top 10, where he was once projected. Michael Johnson or Clint Sintim could be the pick with the Cards in need of DE/OLB in their new 3-4 scheme.
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Round 2: Chase Coffman (TE), Missouri
NFL Draft Scout (Rang) (updated 3/3): Larry English (OLB/DE), Northern Illinois - Much has been made of the Cardinals' dire need for running back help, but the situation is nearly as disconcerting at rush linebacker, where the Cardinals currently feature soon-to-be 33-year-old Chike Okeafor. English is a natural pass rusher who showed remarkable fluidity at the Combine and is flying up draft boards.
NFL Draft Scout (Reuter) (updated 2/25): LeSean McCoy (RB), Pittsburgh - McCoy will be coveted if Edgerrin James works his way out of town. Karlos Dansby may be on the way out as a free agent, so a linebacker could be in the fold.
- Round 2: Herman Johnson (OG), LSU
- Round 3: Chase Coffman (TE), Missouri
Fox Sports (updated 2/26): LeSean McCoy (RB), Pittsburgh - Tim Hightower was exposed for being Tim Hightower over the second half of last season, and Edgerrin James doesn't have it anymore. Arizona hit the jackpot with its other Pitt offensive star, and then Larry Fitzgerald would be even better with a talented all-around back like McCoy.
NBC Sports (updated 2/24): Alex Mack (C), California - Arizona needs a great running back but they also want help on the offensive line. Mack has the skills to fit in right away and give the Cardinals depth and talent up front.
National Football Post (updated 3/2): Knowshon Moreno (RB), Georgia - Running backs always tend to slip on draft day, and the 4.57 40 time produced by Moreno at the Combine will likely force him to slip a bit more. But he's one of the draft's top 20 prospects and will be an ideal fit in the Cardinals' spread attack.
- Round 2: Clint Sintim (OLB), Virginia
Draft Empire (updated 3/4): LeSean McCoy (RB), Pittsburgh - The team's first priority should be to sign Warner. And fast. The next order of business should be adding someone who can actually have a positive impact in the running game. Timmy Hightower has proven he can pound it in, but the Cards are lacking a home run threat.
Draft King (updated 3/1): LeSean McCoy (RB), Pittsburgh - The Cardinals have a rather strong need for a franchise running back. Edgerrin James turns 31 in August, and for a third straight season he finished with a sub 4.0 yards per carry rushing average in 2008. He's also due a $5 million base salary in 2009. Tim Hightower had an even worse average than James, with an anemic 2.8 yards per carry in the 2008 regular season. J.J. Arrington had only 31 carries and is an unrestricted free agent as of March 1.
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Running backs still rule the roost, so to speak but the outside linebackers are mounting a charge. Alex Mack is also getting some consideration by those around the web. This is the first time that Micheal Johnson's name has been connected to the Cardinals it'll be interesting to see the Cardinals show any interest in him leading up to the draft. So who are you taking?
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Also, ROTB is looking for some draft help leading up to the big weekend and during the draft. If you feel like you're up to the task or just want to get involved, send an email to revengeofthebirds@gmail.com to get some details.