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2009
NFL Draft Needs - Arizona Cardinals
by Gregory Cox
Senior Writer
4/21/09
Picks
(8): 31, 63, 95, 131, 167, 204, 240, 254*
*-compensatory pick cannot be traded
Linebackers –
Bertrand Berry is going to be 34 when the season starts. Coupled with
his freshly signed one year contract even Inspector Gadget could figure
out this is it for him. Chike Okeafor just turned 33. He might be best
known for touring the NFC West. The Rams are the only team he has yet
to play for. Clark Haggans is 32 and injury prone. Karlos Dansby is
their rock and he is playing this season under the franchise tag. At
last report he has been quoted as saying long term contract
negotiations were “not close”. Combine these question marks with new
defensive coordinator Bill Davis’ desire to play a more traditional 3-4
and this area will get some attention in the draft. The emphasis will
be on the outside.
 Running Back
– There has been no rush to cut Edgerrin James because the team has no
one better on hand. Everyone knows both parties would like to move on
even if “Edge” played a key role in their run to the franchise’s first
Super Bowl. Tim Hightower was given a chance as a rookie. He proved to
be nothing more than a touchdown vulture with 11 scores in 177 carries
including the playoffs. His only two scoring receptions came in playoff
games. The bad news was a dreadful 2.8 average rush in the regular
season. J.J. Arrington has been mostly a kickoff return man since being
taken in round two when Dennis Green was giving great news conferences.
The Cards need a true feature back capable of carrying the football
15-25 times in any given game. Somewhere in the first 100 picks they
need to address this problem.
Cornerback –
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s stock shot up in the 2008 draft partially
because of his name. Now the team has to hope the comparisons to his
cousin Antonio end because while both stood out as rookies the Chargers
are suddenly worried after what they saw in year two. Bryant McFadden
was signed from Pittsburgh which signifies an upgrade on the depth
chart over Eric Green who left for Miami. The trouble here is depth.
Roderick Hood was a starter before the McFadden signing and still might
be. If “DRC” can avoid his cousin’s sophomore slump the team should be
in better shape than season’s past, but given how dreadful their pass
defense has been in recent seasons someone will be added on draft
weekend.
Tight End –
In 2006 the team drafted Leonard Pope early in the third round. His 48
receptions for 476 yards and 5 touchdowns since would barely represent
one productive season. In 42 games he has had enough time to figure it
out and obviously has not. He just signed a one year contract. Stephen
Spach was a nice reclamation project and his last name provided color
commentators something to talk about in the team’s wild card win over
Atlanta. Coming back from fixing his ACL casts doubt over his
development as their top receiving threat at the position. Ben Patrick
was retained and has been average as a seventh round pick in 2007.
Anthony Becht has been added on a one year deal and coupled with
Patrick should provide blocking options. It is debatable how important
this position need is given their propensity to spread the ball around
to wide receivers, but if the opportunity arises certainly a pass
catching threat has to be considered.
Offensive Line
(interior) – Center Lyle Sendlein made a name for himself in the
playoffs, just not in the way he wanted. The image of Kurt Warner
tripping as he took the snap was repeated several times including the
Super Bowl. The team signed him, and also held onto guard Elton Brown.
However, these are not exactly vote of confidence deals considered the
terms were not even announced. Arizona has struggled mightily to run
the ball effectively. The middle of the offensive line is what fuels
the rushing game so the Cards should be looking for a power guard and
center in the draft.
Defensive Line
– In consecutive drafts the team took tackles from Michigan. Gabe
Watson (fourth round, 2006) has held a spot on the depth chart and
signed a one year deal as a restricted free agent. Alan Branch (second
round, 2007) was considered a “steal” at the time. However, he has
barely seen the field with just 15 games played in two seasons and is
heading towards another cliché draft term – bust. Over at end
Bryan Robinson joined the team this season and was in the mix on the
defensive line all season. He turns 34 in June. Antonio Smith bolted
for the Houston Texans. Last year’s draft produced Calais Campbell and
Kenny Iwebema in the second and fourth rounds respectively.
Conventional wisdom leads me to believe that pair is responsible for
the Smith departure and inevitable Robinson decline. However, teams
running a 3-4 are constantly adding parts. I would expect an interior
addition to be considered in the middle rounds and possibly an outside
addition late or even after the draft (rookie free agent).
Quarterback –
They signed Kurt Warner. Congratulations on keeping him away from San
Francisco where he clearly never wanted to be. The jury is very much
out on Matt Leinart and because of the Warner signing (two years) his
future might be in a different uniform. Career clipboard holder Brian
St. Pierre is their other option. It would be a savvy move to bring in
someone (late rounds) who can at the very least light a fire under
Leinart. Someone needs to figure out what while Warner is playing out
the string no one really knows if Leinart is a viable NFL starter. Even
if he is, a rookie addition would liven up the depth chart
Special Teams
(returns) – Some of the needs discussed above will double up as
help on special teams early in their careers. The big question is the
return game. J.J. Arrington was their best kickoff return threat (25.6
yard average) and nearly half of the team’s returns during the regular
season. He is gone to Denver. Steve Breaston was not as good (20.2
average) while accounting for almost as many returns. His skills were
also used bringing back punts. All 33 punt returns in the regular
season were handled by Breaston. It’s fine to assume he will take on a
larger role in the return game, but the wild card is Anquan Boldin.
Arizona had three receivers over 1,000 yards. If Boldin exits via trade
as rumors continue to swirl then Breaston takes on a larger role as a
receiver as well. The man can only do so much. He returned 62 kickoffs
in 2007 and caught 77 passes in 2008. He will not be able to do both in
the same season. I expect the team to keep an eye out for a player
capable of helping return both kickoffs and punts.
Michael
Abromowitz's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 7 rounds
Gregory Cox's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 6 rounds
Jared Donnelly's 2009 NFL Mock Draft
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