2014 NFL Mock Draft: Arizona Cardinals projected to take Vic Beasley in latest 6-round mock

Last week saw the beginning and the end of the possible Brett Hundley returning home in 2014 story, and while there is always 2015, Cardinals and Hundley fan's hope their paths don't cross in the first round of the 2015 draft.

That means it's a new mock and a whole new set of possibilities for the Cardinals, and with the left tackle class thinned out, Cameron Erving and Cedric Ogbuehi both returning to school hurts the Cardinals, that means the option at 20 looks less and less likely to be one of the top prospects, but also more and more likely that there will be some really talented non offensive tackles available at 20.

A quick note: The mock draft simulator that was used has not updated all of the returning underclassmen, so I'll have to move up certain available players to unavailable to compensate if need be.

Let's go:

Carr is an intriguing possibility here, but let's go a different route than quarterback of the future and look at the needs that fit on the boards.

After looking at what the Cardinals needs are from Tuesday, it seems like the ability to add either a pass rusher or another guard would be the way to go here.

Then there's the Jace Amaro conundrum... He's not the ideal fit into what Arians wants, BUT if the Cardinals were to move on from Rob Housler, retain Jake Ballard and Jim Dray, then maybe Amaro would be the pick, but without that movement, not the best pick.

That leads to Vic Beasley v Cyril Richardson v Zack Martin v Ryan Shazier.

Here's an argument against drafting another guard in round one: The Cardinals have already invested in a rookie guard at a high pick, adding another first round guard ties up a lot of early draft capital, plus means figuring out a way to retain both if they are good, and or having to find a suitable replacement.

If the Cardinals were to draft another guard there would be nothing wrong with that, but that is a lot to invest in two guards and still not address the tackle position(s).

That leads to Beasley and Shazier and the next topic at hand. Do you draft a pass rusher or a more complete linebacker?

Shazier has the ability to drop into coverage and is a physical freak around the line of scrimmage, but isn't the pass rushing threat, at least at this time, but he has good bend, and shows really well as a blitzer.

Beasley is a natural pass rusher off the edge and has shown a good feel for playing against the run, taking good angles and sealing the edge at times, but he doesn't look like a three down linebacker yet, and may be more of a pass rush only type to begin 2014.

Round 1: Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson

Beasley offers the Cardinals a partner and eventual replacement for John Abraham, but also allows them to bring him along slowly.

Round two offers an interesting turn for the Cardinals.

Another TE prospects presents itself in Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, while there is the quarterback of the future with Zach Mettenberger available.

The offensive line can be upgraded at three possible positions, guard, right tackle and even center, and the Cardinals need in the secondary could lend itself to some interesting choices here.

Round 2: Calvin Pryor, S Louisville

Dane Brugler was on the TSHQ NFL Draft podcast yesterday and was raving about Pryor, a player he has going in round one, and the option of having Pryor available here, even with Mettenberger available, is too much to pass up.

It alleviates any need or want to rush back Tyrann Mathieu, as Pryor can be an impact player from day one, but when Mathieu does come back, the expectations won't be that he produces at an elite level right away, and can work his way back in slowly.

The long and lean Pryor is a 6-2, 208lbs rangy safety, who would give Bowles, or the new DC, a fun new chess piece to work with in the secondary, give the Cardinals the size and speed they've been missing to cover tight ends, and help on the back end in coverage.

Round three offered some options at tight end and going defense again with a possible defensive end replacement for Darnell Dockett, whenever that day may come.

There was also an injury discount that was too good to pass up.

Round 3: James Hurst, OT North Carolina

Surprisingly, the decision came down to Hurst and a running back named Marion Grice, but the "need" weighed out over the "better prospect", they are graded nearly identical, but Grice plays a less impactful position giving Hurst the nod.

The North Carolina product offers fantastic value, plus experience working with "rookie" Jonathan Cooper already. He isn't a great athlete, but shows adequate lateral movement with the ability to kick slide and get depth in his pass drop, he gets good movement to the second level on run blocks, and looks like he could possibly be a left tackle in the NFL.

Worst case scenario he can move to right tackle or right guard and fill needs there.

Round 4: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB Eastern Illinois

Garoppolo is a small school prospect with huge upside, and could fit the bill of "quarterback of the future".

His athletically gifted and uses that well in and out of the pocket, while also showing off an above average arm.

He'll never be mistaken for Colin Kaepernick, but he has at least the arm of Carson Palmer, if not better, and with an NFL weight program could upgrade that.

If the Cardinals are going to make a move on a quarterback in the middle rounds, at least do it with someone with a little unknown to them, instead of trying to fix a prospect... until the mock where they take Stephen Morris or Logan Thomas then forget that statement.

Round 5: Jacob Pedersen, TE Wisconsin

Getting a blocking tight end that can catch and pairing them with the athletic and can sometimes catch Rob Housler, while retaining Jake Ballard would be a huge win in the offseason for the Cardinals at the tight end position.

Pedersen was a nice extension of the offensive line at Wisconsin, and that running game is tough to stop.

He also is a nice safety blanket, has good hands, and can move like an H-back as well.

Round 6: Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB Nebraska

A big, physical corner who could finally give the Cardinals some size on the outside that they need, and a developmental talent at the corner position.

Your thoughts?