With the 2011 NFL Draft happening this week, rumors are flying everywhere. Last week, a somewhat new name popped up in mock drafts. In Pater King's mock draft last week, he projected that the Arizona Cardinals would draft Georgia receiver A.J. Green. For most, this was a surprise because of the pressing needs elsewhere (defense, offensive line, quarterback). However, in his latest Monday column, King gives us some insights about the Cardinals and the 2010 NFL Draft and how that might affect this year's selection
I was not aware of this, but according to King, in 2010 the Cardinals pushed hard to move up in the draft to take Dez Bryant, who ended up going to the Dallas Cowboys. And that was even when the receiver position was still considered a position of strength for Arizona. Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and Early Doucet were all under contract even after the trade that sent Anquan Boldin to Baltimore.
This year there are receiver questions. Fitzgerald is in the last year of his deal and both Breaston and Doucet are not under contract for 2011. Drafting a receiver is not too far-fetched an idea.
I certainly would not be upset if that were the route they took and players like Von Miller, Marcell Dareus and Patrick Peterson were all unavailable. If any of those three are still on the board, though, I want to see them in Arizona first before Green.