2015 NFL Combine: Could Malcolm Brown or Carl Davis replace Dan Williams?

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?