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With the NFL Combine getting kicked off this week, we can start looking more at the draft prospects, as they will be interviewed, weighed, measured and made to go through a bunch of drills.
The Combine also brought the long Mike Mayock conference call.
The Arizona Cardinals could be in a situation in which they need to address the defensive line, especially at nose tackle. Dan Williams will be a free agent and could cost more than the Cardinals can pay, especially since he is basically a part-time player in Arizona's defensive scheme,
Behind Williams they have Alameda Ta'amu, who was great in 2013, but couldn't get on the field in 2014. He is going to be a restricted free agent and it is yet unknown what the Cardinals will do with him.
What about the NFL Draft? There are a couple of defensive linemen who might fit the bill and could be available when the Cardinals pick at number 24 -- Malcolm Brown from Texas and Carl Davis from Iowa.
Mayock discussed both of them in his conference call.
"Malcom Brown to me is a first-round guy all day long," he said. "Love his size. He's 6'2", 320. He's stout versus the run. He can push the edge, push the pocket."
He sounds a lot like Dan Williams.
"I think he'll go somewhere in the 20s, between 20 and 32.," Mayock continued. "Started his final 27 games, I believe. Married with two kids. It's just everything kind of fits. He's a low-risk investment and a really good football player."
In Dan Kadar's most recent mock draft, Brown came off the board with the 19th pick.
Carl Davis is another possibility.
"Carl Davis from Iowa is a guy that flashed a lot in college but never was quite consistent until Senior Bowl," said Mayock. "Had a great Senior Bowl week."
Davis is 6-5, 321 pounds.
Dane Brugler from CBS Sports write this about Davis in his scouting report:
Excellent blend of size, strength and athleticism. Plays with excellent base strength and isn't an easy player to move, handling double-teams well and not allowing himself to be swallowed up by blockers.
Has a strong upper body to stack-and-shed with power to control blocks and force the issue, showing accurate hand placement to latch-and-toss. He is surprisingly light on his feet, closing quickly when he locates and has a lane.
While many have talked about a pass rusher, an inside linebacker or an offensive lineman in the first round, but after Davis, Mayock says there is a big dropoff in talent. Would the Cardinals go the less sexy route and pick up a guy like Brown or Davis in the first round?