Amidst the news that the NFL lockout will continue, per the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, there was one article that came out that is worthy of your reading. ESPN's Rick Reilly goes back to the 2006, 2007 and 2008 NFL Drafts and, based on production in the NFL, places the players from the first round of the actual drafts and shifts them to where they should have been selected.
The Cardinals don't look so good.
Overall, based on four players (three who were first round selections and one who was not), the Cardinals picks would lose 192 spots in the redraft. How?
In 2006, the Cardinals selected Matt Leinart with the 10th overall pick. In the redraft he would go undrafted, losing 245 spots.
In 2007, the Cards took Levi Brown with the fifth pick. Brown in the redraft is still a first-rounder, but would go at number 32, losing 27 spots.
There is a 2007 bonus. Steve Breaston, taken in the fifth round as the 142nd pick, would be a first round pick in the redraft, going 28th overall. That is a gain of 114 spots.
In 2008, when the Cards took Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie at number 16, they lose again. The redraft has DRC going at number 50, no longer in the first round.
The fall of Leinart is expected. Brown still rated as first round talent is refreshing, considering the way most Cards fans feel about him. Breaston's rating in the redraft is solid. I like it. DRC's fall is hard to gauge. I know there has been a little bit of unrest as a result of that, but he has not yet shown his full potential. And after last year, he did not look like a first round guy on the field.
So what do you think? Would you rate the Cardinals draft picks any differently? Who should be higher? Who should be lower? It's your turn to chime in.