Mock draft projections have long been picking a quarterback or an offensive tackle with their first selection for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2013 NFL Draft. However, as we have been approaching the day of the actual draft, the most talented quarterback and tackles appear to be rising on draft boards and are not projected to be available when the Cardinals are up at number seven.
Such is the case for pair of mock drafts -- one that SB Nation's Matthew Fairburn put together and one that yours truly participated in along with all the other NFL bloggers for the network.
In Fairburn's mock, tackle Luke Joeckel goes first overall to the Chiefs and is followed by Geno Smith being taken by the Jaguars. Tackle Eric Fisher is gone at number five, leaving the supposed top three targets for the Cards unavailable. The pick then at number seven? LSU's Barkevious Mingo.
The Cardinals need pass rush help in a big way. The team gets a fair amount of pressure from end Calais Campbell and middle linebacker Daryl Washington, but they don't have anyone on the outside that can consistently get from the outside. Mingo can line up opposite Sam Acho, who is much more adept at dropping back in coverage.
Still on the board are Lane Johnson, Dion Jordan, and Ezekiel Ansah.
In the other mock draft I participated in, it was much of the same. Joeckel, Smith and Fisher were gone. However, so were Jordan and Ansah. I chose Mingo because I thought he is a better prospect than Johnson.
Dan Kadar implies I should have taken Johnson.
What do you think?
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