2009 NFL Draft Grades from Mel Kiper Jr and Todd McShay

April 28, 2009

Mel Kiper Jr and Todd McShay provide their first impressions on the 2009 NFL Draft. First, watch McShay’s video analysis of each division (when available), followed by Mel’s grade for each team, McShay’s best and worst picks, and finally commentary from Ross Tucker of Sports Illustrated.

2009 NFL Draft Recap - NFC East Grades

Dallas Cowboys
Mel Kiper Jr: D grade
Best pick: DE Brandon Williams, Texas Tech (fourth round, No. 120 overall)
Worst pick: OLB Jason Williams, Western Illinois (third round, No. 69)
Tucker’s take: The Cowboys traded down and drafted a bunch of players who won’t even make their roster. What is the point of that? Out of their 12 picks, maybe two of them will contribute in 2009. Not good.

New York Giants
Mel Kiper Jr: B grade
Best pick: WR Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina (first round, No. 29 overall)
Worst pick: OT William Beatty, Connecticut (second round, No. 60 overall)
Tucker’s take: The G-men got a lot of value in players like Virginia’s Clint Sintim and UConn’s William Beatty, but if they lose in the playoffs again because Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden aren’t able to contribute as rookies this will be a draft that is forever known as the trade that didn’t happen. You can’t tell me Nicks and Barden will be better than Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards the next two years. By the time the rookies develop, the window on the Giants’ title hopes might be closed.

Philadelphia Eagles
Mel Kiper Jr: B- grade
Best pick: RB LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh (second round, No. 53 overall)
Worst pick: OT Fenuki Tupou, Oregon (fifth round, No. 159 overall)
Tucker’s take: They got arguably the best receiver in the draft, Jeremy Maclin, at No. 19 and the most elusive and pure runner, LeSean McCoy, at No. 53. The Eagles also got another receiving threat in sleeper tight end Cornelius Ingram from Florida. Oh, and did I mention they got the most talented left tackle in the league in Jason Peters via trade and a guy nicknamed “Macho” (Victor Harris)? You gotta love it.

Washington Redskins
Mel Kiper Jr: C+ grade
Best pick: DE Brian Orakpo, Texas (first round, No. 13 overall)
Worst pick: OLB Cody Glenn, Nebraska (fifth round, No. 158 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Skins swung and missed on Mark Sanchez, but that may be a blessing in disguise. Brian Orakpo looks like Tarzan but too often plays like Jane, and Washington defensive coordinator Greg Blache will be all over him in order to get maximum effort. Maryland corner Kevin Barnes should help too, but I certainly hope they don’t picture former top-five pick Mike Williams being the answer at right tackle after signing him Friday night.

2009 NFL Draft Recap - NFC North Grades

Chicago Bears
Mel Kiper Jr: B grade
Best pick: CB D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt (fourth round, No. 119)
Worst pick: WR Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma (third round, No. 99 overall)
Tucker’s take: If quarterback Jay Cutler lives up to expectations, the rest of this draft is meaningless for Chicago. Still, Jerry Angelo gathered up several solid players that will help the Bears in 2009. San Jose State defensive end Jarron Gilbert can jump out of a pool — even though I have no idea what that means in terms of football. Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman and Vanderbilt defensive back D.J. Moore are solid players from power conferences who could see the field early. The Bears still need a receiver who can help them this year.

Detroit Lions
Mel Kiper Jr: B- grade
Best pick: TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State (first round, No. 20 overall)
Worst pick: OLB DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin (third round, No. 76 overall)
Tucker’s take: This draft will always hinge on whether Matthew Stafford earns the exorbitant money he is receiving. To his credit, he has handled the process fantastically up to this point. Now he just needs to play well. Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew and Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas are the most physical players at their position and fit what Jim Schwartz is trying to do in the Motor City.

Green Bay Packers
Mel Kiper Jr: A grade
Best pick: DT B.J. Raji, Boston College (first round, No. 9 overall)
Worst pick: FB Quinn Johnson, LSU (fifth round, No. 145 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Packers got the best defensive tackle in the draft in B.J. Raji, who is stout enough to play nose guard and athletic enough to line up over the offensive tackle in Dom Capers’ new defense. Speaking of positional versatility, the Packers also got the best combo pass rusher-pass defender available at the outside backer position in Clay Matthews. Eastern Michigan’s T.J. Lang and South Carolina’s Jamon Meredith will provide further competition to an offensive line that took a step back last year.

Minnesota Vikings
Mel Kiper Jr: C+ grade
Best pick: WR Percy Harvin, Florida (first round, No. 22 overall)
Worst pick: OT Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma (second round, No. 54 overall)
Tucker’s take: Percy Harvin will make a ton of plays for the Vikings as long as he can stay on the field. Phil Loadholt is the big hammer the Vikes wanted to get at right tackle. Asher Allen from Georgia is the corner they sorely needed.

2009 NFL Draft Recap - NFC South Grades

Atlanta Falcons
Mel Kiper Jr: B grade
Best pick: DE Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond (fourth round, No. 125 overall)
Worst pick: S William Moore, Missouri (second round, No. 55 overall)
Tucker’s take: Thomas Dimitroff knows exactly what he is doing. He traded for Tony Gonzalez and filled the only real need on offense before sinking his teeth into the other side of the ball. Peria Jerry is a rolling bucket of butcher knives and plays his tail off every play, which fits what Mike Smith and the Falcons are trying to do. William Moore injects some youth and physicality into the secondary, and look out for sleeper defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, who dominated at the FCS level for the Richmond Spiders.

Carolina Panthers
Mel Kiper Jr: C grade
Best pick: DE Everette Brown, FSU (second round, No. 43 overall)
Worst pick: DT Corvey Irvin, Georgia (third round, No. 93 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Panthers give up next year’s first rounder for the second year in a row, but it doesn’t matter because they got the pass-rusher they desperately needed opposite Julius Peppers in Everette Brown, a guy who many people thought could have gone in the top 15. Georgia defensive tackle Corvey Irvin will contribute in the rotation as a rookie. Oklahoma offensive guard Duke Robinson is a big boy who needs to play with better technique and consistency. Sounds a lot like Jeff Otah last year, and that worked out pretty well for John Fox and company.

New Orleans Saints
Mel Kiper Jr: C grade
Best pick: DB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State (first round, No. 14 overall)
Worst pick: ILB Stanley Arnoux, Wake Forest (fourth round, No. 118 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Saints got the best player at their biggest position of need over the past couple of years in Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins. They would have liked to have gotten an outside linebacker or a power running back, but they would rather have Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma, the players they traded for the picks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mel Kiper Jr: B grade
Best pick: DT Roy Miller, Texas (third round, No. 81 overall)
Worst pick: QB Josh Freeman, Kansas State (first round, No. 17 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Bucs traded up two spots for Josh Freeman, but who else wanted him? I highly doubt Denver would have taken him at 18. The Bucs probably could have traded down and still landed him. Freeman will take at least a year or two to develop, so new head coach Raheem Morris had better have some job security for a team that is in full-blown rebuilding mode. The Bucs still need a defensive tackle, though I am sure they hope Roy Miller from Texas can fill that role.

2009 NFL Draft Recap - NFC West Grades

Arizona Cardinals
Mel Kiper Jr: B+ grade
Best pick: RB Chris Wells, Ohio State (first round, No. 31 overall)
Worst pick: OLB Cody Brown, Connecticut (second round, No. 63 overall)
Tucker’s take: Ken Whisenhunt had a solid draft again, getting power running back Chris “Beanie” Wells from Ohio State in the first round. Cody Brown from Connecticut fits the mold of the Steelers outside linebackers that Whisenhunt remembers from his time in Pittsburgh. Rashad Johnson from Alabama and small-school prospect Gregory Toler will fight for playing time in the secondary as rookie.

San Francisco 49ers
Mel Kiper Jr: B+ grade
Best pick: WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech (first round, No. 10 overall)
Worst pick: ILB Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh (fifth round, No. 146 overall)
Tucker’s take: Mike Singletary had to be smiling from ear to ear when Michael Crabtree fell into his lap at No. 10, giving the Niners the elite playmaker they have been seeking for a long time. Alabama running back Glen Coffee will lessen the load for Frank Gore as they run behind the second-best blocking tight end in the draft in Fresno State’s Bear Pascoe. Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop is a throwback who makes tackles all over the field. Ball State quarterback Nate Davis gives San Francisco a physically gifted quarterback who has some obstacles to overcome to become an NFL caliber passer.

Seattle Seahawks
Mel Kiper Jr: B grade
Best pick: LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest (first round, No. 4 overall)
Worst pick: QB Mike Teel, Rutgers (sixth round, No. 178 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Seahawks elected to pass on a quarterback and a left tackle in order to take the best defensive player and quite possibly the best overall player in the draft in Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry. He will be a difference maker immediately. Versatile offensive lineman Max Unger from Oregon and former walk-on turned all-time leading receiver Deon Butler from Penn State should have roles to fill as well for new head coach Jim Mora.

St. Louis Rams
Mel Kiper Jr: C grade
Best pick: OT Jason Smith, Baylor (first round, No. 2 overall)
Worst pick: CB Bradley Fletcher, Iowa (third round, No. 66 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Rams let the draft come to them and it worked out well as they filled three needs in the first three rounds. Baylor tackle Jason Smith was number one at his position on most boards because he is a more physical finisher than Eugene Monroe. James Laurinaitis was a three-time All-American at Ohio State and noted student of the game. He’ll be a team leader in the NFL. Iowa cornerback Bradley Fletcher had the size-speed combo that Rams GM Billy Devaney was looking for at that position.

2009 NFL Draft Recap - AFC East Grades

Buffalo Bills
Mel Kiper Jr: B+ grade
Best pick: DE/OLB Aaron Maybin, Penn State (first round, No. 11 overall)
Worst pick: C Eric Wood, Louisville (first round, No.28 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Bills batted .500 in this draft, which is good in baseball but bad in football. They needed a pass rusher and a left tackle in this draft but got only one by taking the player with the best first step in this year’s class, Penn State’s Aaron Maybin. Maybin will be a situational pass rusher as a rookie and give Buffalo an option opposite Aaron Schobel. Louisville’s Eric Wood and Oregon State’s Andy Levitre were two of the top rated interior offensive linemen available and can help fortify the inside, but it remains to be seen whether veterans Kirk Chambers, Langston Walker and Demetrius Bell can protect Trent Edwards on the flanks in some combination. Southern Mississippi tight end Shawn Nelson gives them the speed threat at tight end they were sorely lacking.

Miami Dolphins team
Mel Kiper Jr: C- grade
Best pick: CB Sean Smith, Utah (second round, No. 61 overall)
Worst pick: WR Patrick Turner, USC (third round, No. 87 overall)
Tucker’s take: Bill Parcells likes big people at every position and believes might makes right in the NFL. He got the biggest corner in the draft in Utah’s Sean Smith and just about the biggest wideout in USC’s Patrick Turner. Those picks came after the Dolphins got the most talented cornerback available in the draft in Illinois’ Vontae Davis, who needs to overcome maturity issues. The Dolphins also got the ideal Wildcat candidate in West Virginia’s Pat White and a solid but not spectacular receiver in Ohio State’s Brian Hartline.

New England Patriots
Mel Kiper Jr: B+ grade
Best pick: CB Darius Butler, Connecticut (second round, No. 41 overall)
Worst pick: OG Richard Ohrnberger, Penn State (fourth round, No. 123 overall)
Tucker’s take: I feel like I have seen this draft before because it seems eerily similar to what the Patriots did last year, and every other year that I can remember for that matter. They fortified the back end with Oregon’s Patrick Chung and UConn’s Darius Butler. They continued to draft for depth and competition on the offensive line by collecting a bunch of blue collar-types in Houston’s Sebastian Vollmer, Penn State’s Rich Ohrnberger and Louisville’s George Bussey. Boston College’s Ron Brace was the best pure nose guard available and North Carolina receiver Brandon Tate could end up being a steal if he can overcome injury and off-field issues.

New York Jets
Mel Kiper Jr: A- grade
Best pick: QB Mark Sanchez, USC (first round, No. 5 overall)
Worst pick: OG Matthew Slauson, Nebraska (sixth round, No. 193 overall)
Tucker’s take: Everyone else loves what the Jets did. Not me. It is hard for me to imagine USC quarterback Mark Sanchez being better as a rookie than fourth-year vet Kellen Clemens. The move had as much to do with sparking excitement among the fanbase and making a big splash as it did with football. The pressure on Sanchez will be huge for a team whose roster is ready to win now. Drafting only three players means the team is looking to get into the postseason. Having one of them be a quarterback makes that unlikely, despite what Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan did last year. Moving up to get Iowa running back Shonn Greene gives the Jets some insurance in case Thomas Jones continues to hold out, but where is the receiver that they so desperately need opposite Jerricho Cotchery?

2009 NFL Draft Recap - AFC North Grades

Baltimore Ravens
Mel Kiper Jr: B grade
Best pick: DE/OLB Paul Kruger (second round, No. 57 overall)
Worst pick: TE Davon Drew, East Carolina (fifth round, No. 149 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Wizard of Oz, GM Ozzie Newsome, does it again by entering the draft with no glaring needs and getting tremendous value at every selection. Mississippi tackle Michael Oher has all the physical tools to be a good starter in the NFL and they got him relatively late in the first round while Utah’s Paul Kruger (an all-day sucker, which is football terminology for playing hard every snap) will quickly fit in on the Ravens’ intimidating defense. The rest of Newsome’s haul will provide depth and help on special teams.

Cincinnati Bengals
Mel Kiper Jr: B grade
Best pick: ILB Rey Maualuga, USC (second round, No. 38 overall)
Worst pick: RB Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian (sixth round, No. 209 overall)
Tucker’s take: Marvin Lewis is tired of trying to play finesse football in the black and blue division. Instead of running from the bullies in the schoolyard in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Bengals are going to hit them in the mouth with Alabama tackle Andre Smith and USC linebacker Rey Maualuga. Smith is the best run-blocking offensive lineman by far and Maualuga is a vicious tackler, so they will both fit in well in the AFC North. Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson and Missouri tight end Chase Coffman could be steals. Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs may start as a rookie.

Cleveland Browns
Mel Kiper Jr: B- grade
Best pick: WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia (second round, No. 50 overall)
Worst pick: WR Brian Robiskie, Ohio State (second round, No. 36 overall)
Tucker’s take: Eric Mangini and George Kokinis did a ton of business in stockpiling players that fit what they are looking to do in Cleveland, starting by trading down and getting a trio of former Jets. Georgia’s Mohammed Massaquoi and Ohio State’s Brian Robiskie are the anti-divas at wide receiver who could both become solid pros. Cal center Alex Mack was the best interior lineman in the draft, and his passion for the game will wear off on his fellow linemates.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Mel Kiper Jr: B grade
Best pick: G Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin (third round, No. 79 overall)
Worst pick: DT Evander Hood, Missouri (first round, No. 32 overall)
Tucker’s take: The fans in the Steel City like ‘em strong and tough and that is exactly what they got with their first two picks in Missouri defensive tackle Ziggy Hood and Wisconsin guard Kraig Urbik. They needed some depth up front and they got that in Hood and Urbik. The Steelers also landed the fastest wide receiver in the draft, Mississippi’s Mike Wallace. Cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett will compete for the nickel spot and fill the void left by Bryant McFadden’s departure to Arizona.

2009 NFL Draft Recap - AFC South Grades

Houston Texans
Mel Kiper Jr: B+ grade
Best pick: TE James Casey, Rice (fifth round, No. 152 overall)
Worst pick: S Glover Quin, New Mexico (fourth round, No. 112 overall)
Tucker’s take: The Texans needed to get better and more versatile on the defensive side of the ball and USC’s Brian Cushing and Cincinnati’s Connor Barwin certainly fill the bill as almost mirror image players that can do a lot of things flanking DeMeco Ryans. Alabama interior lineman Antoine Caldwell was a value pick and provides depth which was needed up front. Local product James Casey drives down the street from Rice to start his pro career and can play a number of positions for the dynamic Texans offense.

Indianapolis Colts
Mel Kiper Jr: C+ grade
Best pick: RB Donald Brown, Connecticut (first round, No. 27 overall)
Worst pick: DT Fili Moala, USC (second round, No. 56 overall)
Tucker’s take: Bill Polian really can’t help himself when it comes to getting talented skill players in round one, but he got a prototypical Colt in intelligent do-it-all running back Donald Brown from UConn. Polian then addressed their most glaring need by getting big space eaters in USC defensive tackle Fili Moala and Michigan nose guard Terrance Taylor. BYU wide receiver Austin Collie has Colt written all over him and could be running routes from the slot as a rookie if he can grasp the complicated scheme that Indy runs.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Mel Kiper Jr: C+ grade
Best pick: WR Mike Thomas, Arizona (fourth round, No. 107 overall)
Worst pick: DT Terrance Knighton (third round, No. 72 overall)
Tucker’s take: Jack Del Rio was tired of drafting guys who didn’t pan out. That, and he wanted to get back to his meat and potatoes philosophy. That meant getting more physical up front. The Jags got amazing value in picking offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton much lower than most people anticipated. Terrance Knighton is the big body that was needed next to John Henderson, and Jacksonville waited until later to get receivers like Mike Thomas and Jarrett Dillard after their negative experiences with Matt Jones and Reggie Williams early in previous drafts.

Tennessee Titans
Mel Kiper Jr: C+ grade
Best pick: TE Jared Cook, South Carolina (third round, No. 89 overall)
Worst pick: CB Ryan Mouton, Hawaii (third round, No. 94 overall)
Tucker’s take: Wide receiver Kenny Britt and tight end Jared Cook give the Titans more speed and options for Kerry Collins on the outside. The Titans got another young body on the defensive line in Sen’Derrick Marks, who they will need to get to play hard on every snap. Javon Ringer, Troy Kopog and the rest of the Titans picks will be counted on to provide depth on a team disappointed by its early playoff exit.

2009 NFL Draft Recap - AFC West Grades

Denver Broncos
Mel Kiper Jr: C grade
Best pick: DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee (first round, No. 18)
Worst pick: TE Richard Quinn, North Carolina (third round, No. 64)
Tucker’s take: The Broncos defense was horrible last year, so, of course, their first pick would be a … running back? Fortunately for Josh McDaniels, they rallied with the next two picks of Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers and Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith, both of whom will play as rookies. Then the Broncos took Texas Tech defensive back Darcel McBath and North Carolina tight end Richard Quinn way earlier than most people would have anticipated, so it was back to the head-scratching for the new regime.

Kansas City Chiefs
Mel Kiper Jr: C- grade
Best pick: DT Alex Magee, Purdue (third round, No. 67 overall)
Worst pick: CB Donald Washington, Ohio State (fourth round, No. 102 overall)
Tucker’s take: New Chiefs GM Scott Pioli cares only about good football players, thank you, and doesn’t care if they lack the flash that some fans might be seeking. Tyson Jackson is a big defensive end with great hands in the Richard Seymour mold and will be a force right away and will be joined on the defensive line by Purdue’s Alex Magee. Donald Washington probably should have stayed at Ohio State but his physical ability is unquestioned and he will compete in an already youthful Chiefs defensive backfield.

Oakland Raiders
Mel Kiper Jr: D grade
Best pick: WR Louis Murphy, Florida (fourth round, No. 124 overall)
Worst pick: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland (first round, No. 7 overall)
Tucker’s take: I would pay money to get a copy of the Raiders draft board. Seriously. First-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey is fast but has trouble catching the ball at times, which is kind of a problem when you are trying to make your living as an NFL receiver. Mike Mitchell had a good pro day, which, of course, makes him a second-round pick. Then the Raiders reached (what else is new) for Wisconsin defensive end Matt Shaughnessy. Sorry, Raiders fans, but it does not look like there is any light at the end of the black tunnel.

San Diego Chargers
Mel Kiper Jr: C+ grade
Best pick: G Tyronne Green, Auburn (fourth round, No. 133 overall)
Worst pick: DT Vaughn Martin, Western Ontario (fourth round, No. 113 overall)
Tucker’s take: It is hard to question A.J. Smith when it comes to outside linebackers, so I won’t with his decision to take the super-productive Larry English from Northern Illinois. Texas Tech’s Louis Vasquez is a mauler who benched 225 pounds 39 times at the combine and will compete for the starting right guard spot vacated when Mike Goff was not re-signed. Sleeper alert is in effect with defensive tackle Vaughn Martin from Canadian powerhouse Western Ontario.

Category: 2009 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: Mel Kiper, NFL Draft, Todd McShay, Video

Arizona Cardinals 2009 NFL Draft Picks

March 12, 2009

As it stands now, the Arizona Cardinals will have (7) picks in the 2009 NFL Draft:

Round 1 Pick #31
Round 2 Pick #63
Round 3 Pick #95
Round 4 Pick #127 (approx)
Round 5 Pick #159 (approx)
Round 6 Pick #191 (approx)
Round 7 Pick #223 (approx)

This tentative draft order won’t be finalized until later this spring when compensatory selections (free agent departures) are awarded to clubs at the bottom of Rounds 3-7.

The Cardinals are expected to receive one compensatory selection for the departure of offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Category: 2009 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: Bill Bidwell, Rod Graves

Road to the Superbowl: Years of futility led to success in the NFL Draft

January 24, 2009

Imagine you were building a NFL team. You’d want to mix in a few savvy veterans, but largely you’d look to build a foundation of success through the draft.

While drafting NFL players is an inexact science, generally speaking players drafted on the first day are better players than the guys drafted on the second day, and players drafted early in round one, say pick #7, are theoretically better football players than guys picked 28th.

Is it any surprise then, that the Arizona Cardinals, perennial losers who between 2000-2007 averaged only 5.4 wins per season (second worst in the league behind only Detroit’s 5.0 wins per season average) were able to build a Superbowl caliber team through the draft? Since 2000 the Cardinals have averaged a top-10 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft:

Year _ Record Pick Player:
2000 __ 6-10 _ #7 Thomas Jones RB (Jets)
2001 __ 3-13 _ #2 Leonard Davis OG (Cowboys)
2002 __ 7-9 __ #12 Wendell Bryant (no longer in football)
2003 __ 5-11 _ #17 Bryant Johnson WR (49ers)
2004 __ 4-12 _ #3 Larry Fitzgerald WR (Cardinals)
2005 __ 6-10 _ #8 Antrel Rolle FS (Cardinals)
2006 __ 5-11 _ #10 Matt Leinart QB (Cardinals)
2007 __ 5-11 _ #5 Levi Brown OT (Cardinals)
2008 __ 8-8 _ #16 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB (Cardinals)

Four out of the past five Cardinals’ 1st round draft picks will start against the Steelers in Superbowl XLIII in Tampa. Fitzgerald already set a NFL Record for receiving yards in a postseason (419 yards, surpassing Jerry Rice), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has 15.0 tackles, 2 INTs, and 7 passes defensed, Antrel Rolle has an INT and scored on a 27-yard fumble recovery in the NFC Wildcard win over Atlanta, and Levi Brown has helped pave the way toward a league best 333 rushing yards this postseason.

Len Pasquarelli sensed the shift in the Cardinals fortunes with his column titled Solid drafts move Cardinals, Vikings forward immediately following the 2005 NFL Draft:

You don’t want to look behind you very often, since someone could be quickly gaining ground. With what transpired this weekend in the NFL draft, the 2004 division champion Seattle Seahawks might consider heeding that advice and avoid swiveling too quickly. Stare too long into the rear-view mirror, and the Seahawks are going to find an ascendant Arizona Cardinals team creeping up from behind.

Green went into the draft wanting to get quicker, and he accomplished that with most of his early choices, in particular cornerback Antrel Rolle. The Cardinals are not shy about throwing rookies into the fray — four of their seven draft picks from a year ago started as rookies — and Rolle has already been penciled into the lineup. Second-round tailback J.J. Arrington, a player the sometimes transparent Green has been touting since the combine workouts, could start as well. Linebacker Darryl Blackstock and guard Elton Brown were flat-out steals, respectively, in the third and fourth rounds.

The following season, Todd McShay glowingly recaps the Cardinals 2006 draft:

Best pick: Matt Leinart, QB, USC. Leinart’s fall quickly became the Cardinals’ fortune as the tenth pick. The former Trojans southpaw will get a year to learn behind Kurt Warner before being given the keys to a car that is already fully loaded with running back Edgerrin James and wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Other great values include tight end Leonard Pope (Georgia) in the third round and defensive tackle Gabe Watson (Michigan) in the fourth round.
Worst pick: Deuce Lutui, OG, USC. This is the worst pick of an outstanding draft from top to bottom. Lutui was a good value in the second round but the Cardinals could have addressed another position of need here and got a quality guard later in the draft.
Work to do: One of the Cardinals’ top areas of need entering this year’s draft was in the defensive secondary, yet they failed to select a cornerback or safety with any of their seven picks. Depth is especially thin at safety behind strong safety Adrian Wilson and aging free safety Robert Griffith.

John Clayton identified the Cardinals as winners in the 2007 draft:

Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm is one of the best offensive line teachers in the NFL and he usually doesn’t go into the personnel office asking for high draft picks. But Grimm believed Levi Brown of Penn State was a better fit for his offensive line than Joe Thomas. With the fifth pick, Grimm got his tackle. Remember, the Cardinals are a left-handed team because they have a left-handed quarterback in Matt Leinart. Brown can protect his blindside at right tackle. Plus, he gives Edgerrin James a bigger, more powerful blocking style to get some power runs to the right. Thomas might be the better long-term pass-blocker and probably would have beaten out Brown for the No. 5 pick if he was available. But Grimm got the guy he wanted. The Cardinals also came out ahead in getting defensive tackle Alan Branch in the second round. The team is moving to a 3-4 alignment in 2007 or 2008, and he can be the nose tackle to eat up space and draw extra blocking attention.

Recent draft success is mostly attibuted to general manager Rod Graves, who starting in 2004, has brought a succession of starting players to the Cardinals through the draft.

In the line of people receiving credit for the Cardinals’ remarkable rise to Super Bowl status, one is at the rear. Low-key general manager Rod Graves seldom receives praise for much of anything. Yet it was Graves who:

• Ran the team’s 2004 draft along with coach Dennis Green, now inarguably the best in the team’s Arizona era.

• Grabbed quarterback Kurt Warner off the scrap heap when nobody else appeared to want him.

• Selected Ken Whisenhunt as the team’s head coach before the Steelers had a chance to wrap up their own coaching search that resulted in the hiring of Mike Tomlin.

• Ran this year’s draft, which landed cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromarite, already a star, and such promising players as defensive end Calais Campbell and running back Tim Hightower.

Category: 2008 Season, Editorial, NFL Draft | Tags: Adrian Wilson, Alan Branch, Anquan Boldin, Antrel Rolle, Calais Campbell, Deuce Lutui, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Edgerrin James, Elton Brown, Gabe Watson, J.J. Arrington, Ken Whisenhunt, Larry Fitzgerald, Leonard Pope, Levi Brown, Matt Leinart, NFL Draft, Rod Graves, Russ Grimm, Tim Hightower

Tim Hightower and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Cardinals’ super rookies lead the league on offense/defense.

January 21, 2009

Tim Hightower #34 had 10 TDs during the regular season, tying him with Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton, and Jonathan Stewart for second place amongst all rookies behind Matt Forte (12 TDs). But the postseason belongs to Hightower, who has scored in three straight games, giving him 13 total TDs for the year.

2008 Cumulative Rookie TDs:
1 Tim Hightower 13
2 Matt Forte 12
3 Chris Johnson 11
4 Jonathan Stewart 11
5 Steve Slaton 10

Similarly, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #29 has distinguished himself defensively by leading the league in rookie interceptions and passes defensed.

2008 Cumulative Rookie INTs:
1 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 6
2 Aqib Talib 4
3 Chris Horton 3
4 Brandon Carr 2
4 Antoine Cason 2
4 Brandon Flowers 2
4 Leodis McKelvin 2

2008 Cumulative Rookie PDefs:
1 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 32
2 Dwight Lowery 17
3 Brandon Flowers 15
4 Aqib Talib 13
5 Antoine Cason 9

Category: 2008 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tim Hightower

2008 NFL Draft Grades - Mel Kiper Jr and Todd McShay go head-to-head

May 11, 2008

Mel Kiper Jr and Todd McShay complete team-by-team 2008 NFL Draft grades. First, watch Todd McShays video analysis by conference, then read below to see Mel’s grade for each team.

Todd McShay’s NFC East 2008 Draft Rankings Video

Mel Kiper Jr’s NFC East 2008 Draft Grades
DAL: B+ Go to Dallas Cowboys team site
NYG: C+ Go to New York Giants team site
PHI: C+ Go to Philadelphia Eagles team site
WAS: B+ Go to Washington Redskins team site

Todd McShay’s NFC North 2008 Draft Rankings Video

Mel Kiper Jr’s NFC North 2008 Draft Grades
CHI: B Go to Chicago Bears team site
DET: C+ Go to Detroit Lions team site
GB: B- Go to Green Bay Packers team site
MIN: B Go to Minnesota Vikings team site

Todd McShay’s NFC South 2008 Draft Rankings Video

Mel Kiper Jr’s NFC South 2008 Draft Grades
ATL: B Go to Atlanta Falcons team site
CAR: B Go to Carolina Panthers team site
NO: C+ Go to New Orleans Saints team site
TB: B Go to Tampa Bay Buccaneers team site

Todd McShay’s NFC West 2008 Draft Rankings Video

Mel Kiper Jr’s NFC West 2008 Draft Grades
ARI: B- Go to Arizona Cardinals team site
SF: C+ Go to San Francisco 49ers team site
SEA: B Go to Seattle Seahawks team site
STL: C+ Go to St. Louis Rams team site

Todd McShay’s AFC East 2008 Draft Rankings Video

Mel Kiper Jr’s AFC East 2008 Draft Grades
BUF: C+ Go to Buffalo Bills team site
MIA: B- Go to Miami Dolphins team site
NE: C+ Go to New England Patriots team site
NYJ: B- Go to New York Jets team site

Todd McShay’s AFC North 2008 Draft Rankings Video

Mel Kiper Jr’s AFC North 2008 Draft Grades
BAL: B Go to Baltimore Ravens team site
CIN: C+ Go to Cincinnati Bengals team site
CLE: B+ Go to Cleveland Browns team site
PIT: B Go to Pittsburgh Steelers team site

Todd McShay’s AFC South 2008 Draft Rankings Video

Mel Kiper Jr’s AFC South 2008 Draft Grades
HOU: C Go to Houston Texans team site
IND: B Go to Indianapolis Colts team site
JAC: C- Go to Jacksonville Jaguars team site
TEN: C Go to Tennessee Titans team site

Todd McShay’s AFC West 2008 Draft Rankings Video

Mel Kiper Jr’s AFC West 2008 Draft Grades
DEN: C+ Go to Denver Broncos team site
KC: A Go to Kansas City Chiefs team site
OAK: B- Go to Oakland Raiders team site
SD: C+ Go to San Diego Chargers team site

Category: 2008 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: Mel Kiper, NFL Draft, Todd McShay, Video

Cardinals 2008 NFL Draft - addressing three concerns

May 5, 2008

Concern #1: The Cardinals drafted no impact players for 2008

Answer: This concern at face value is valid: rookie cornerbacks develop slowly, rookie running backs can rush for 1341 yards and 12 TDs (Adrian Peterson).

Running backs are almost surefire rookie sensations. Do you remember Anthony Thomas, the “A-Train”, who broke in with Chicago in 2001? He’s bounced around between several teams but never recaptured the promise he showed during his… [you guessed it!] rookie year, when he rushed for 1183 yards and 7 TDs.

So a first round draft pick like Rashard Mendenhall or Felix Jones would definitely work with the first team offense throughout the 2008 season.

But the Cardinals needed help on defense. The team ranked 27th in the league in 2007 against the pass, which effectively nullified the success of the passing offense:

Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TDs Int
2007 Kurt Warner 281 451 62.3% 3417 27 17
2007 Opposing QB 361 570 63.3% 3716 26 18

Kurt had a great year in 2007, but so did all the opposing team’s quarterbacks playing the Cardinals, including:

Alex Smith (57.2% QB rating for 2007)
Gus Frerotte (58.3% rating for 2007)
Vinny Testaverde (65.8% rating in 2007)
Trent Dilfer (55.1% rating in 2007),

The above are not top-ranked quarterbacks, so the Cardinals should have dominated them in those games.

Hopefully 2008 will be different. If Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has an amazing rookie year, we could hope for numbers like Aeneas Williams put up in 1991: 48 tackles and 6 interceptions.

If Calais Campbell can help defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast apply pressure in third-down packages, he should see significant playing time as well. With good speed from the end and a 6′ 8″ frame, you can imagine how Campbell will be able to clog the passing lanes.

In short, each of the top two draft picks should contribue immediately.

Concern #2: The Cardinals did NOT select a “speedster” running back

Answer: The Cardinals J.J. Arrington ran the fastest major-college 40-yard dash with a 4.40 in 2005. Miami’s Frank Gore (49ers), with his college history of knee injuries, finished 54th with a 4.65. Since then, Arrington has yet to break 1,000 yards from scrimmage, while Gore has the most yards from scrimmage than anyone in the ‘05 class. As for the most rushing touchdowns from the ‘05 class, that’s Marion Barber, who ran the 21st-fastest pre-draft 40.

The 40-yard dash time does not always predict NFL success. But the Cardinals already have a “speedster” on their roster, so let’s hope Arrington becomes the home run threat the Cardinals expected him to be.

Concern #3: The Cardinals drafted Early Doucet to replace Anquan Boldin

Answer: Thank goodness the Anquan Boldin wants to be traded story has blown over. I’ve never taken this story seriously because Boldin is an irreplaceable component of the Cardinals offense — they’d be fools to let him get away.

Bucky Brooks from Sports Illustrated explains below why the Cardinals drafted Doucet:

Early Doucet, WR, Arizona Cardinals: The loss of Bryant Johnson in the offseason created a huge hole in the Cardinals’ three-receiver sets, but the team has identified the perfect candidate to fill the void. Doucet posted his most impressive production at LSU as a junior while playing the slot alongside first-round picks Craig Davis and Dwayne Bowe and now enters an eerily similar situation in the desert. With defenses forced to double the Pro Bowl tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, Doucet will get a chance to reprise his role as the big play threat in the middle of the field.

Although rookie wide receivers notoriously start slowly (Anquan Boldin the exception!), I believe Doucet will be an upgrade from Bryant Johnson, so this is a brilliant pick.

Without knowing yet if Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will fulfill his athletic promise, or if Calais Campbell will regain the dominance he flashed during his sophomore season, I think we can safely give the Cardinals 2008 NFL Draft a B Grade.

The Cardinals didn’t pull off any spectacular trades, and didn’t have a flashy top-10 pick. The true value of their draft will take time to assess.

Do you remember how many pundits praised the Patriots in 2000 for drafting Tom Brady in the sixth round with the 199th pick? Do you remember how they received an A+ Grade from all the pundits? I don’t, because it didn’t happen.

Nobody realized what a steal Tom Brady was until years later.

The truth is, all we can do is hope the Cardinals drafted well, but we won’t know if they found any “Tom Brady” steals until 2010.

And by that time, everyone will have forgotten about the pundits.

Category: 2008 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: Anquan Boldin, Calais Campbell, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Early Doucet, J.J. Arrington

NFC West Draft Grades

May 2, 2008

Video of Todd McShay providing Draft Grades for the NFC West

USA Today: B+

Arizona Cardinals: This team helped itself. RB Tim Hightower, picked in fifth round, is a good short-yardage back. Filled need at CB in first round with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and got a huge DE (6-8 Calais Campbell) in second round, which represents good value. Cardinals suffered from injury at DE last few years. Early Doucet will find a crowd at WR but the Cards may eventually move disgruntled Anquan Boldin.

Pro Football Weekly: B+

The Cardinals’ first two picks, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and DE Calais Campbell, are loaded with upside but have boom-or-bust potential and played too soft in their final seasons. Both filled pressing concerns on defense. Iowa DE Kenny Iwebema might see more action early than Campbell and was a solid value pick in the fourth round, especially given that the Hawkeyes’ former defensive line coach is on the staff and should mesh well with him early. The Cardinals’ four final Round 4-7 selections are all tough and physical and embody what Ken Whisenhunt desires.

NFL.com:

The Cardinals filled their most pressing needs on the defensive side with their first two picks, drafting cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and defensive end Calais Campbell. Both players have high ceilings and could have an impact this season. Fourth-round pick Kenny Iwebema also adds depth on the defensive line. Receiver Early Doucet could be pushed into the mix if the team trades Anquan Boldin, otherwise, he will fill the departed Bryant Johnson’s role. Running back Tim Hightower is in the mix to back up Edgerrin James.

Dr. Z - SI.com: “Business as usual”

They said they loved Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the 4.29 corner, and by golly they were one of the few teams not lying. I wish Ken Whisenhunt and his speedy corner the best of luck, and that goes for DE Calais Campbell, who has been mentioned as an underachiever, but not to him, I’ll wager.

USA Today: C+

St. Louis Rams: Much internal debate but they went with Chris Long, seeking some pressure from the edge, over DT Glenn Dorsey. Only got 5½ sacks from DEs last year and Leonard Little will soon be 34. Looks like not only a safe pick but a good one. WR Donnie Avery went too high but the Rams love the speed and have the positional need. CB Justin King should be the nickel back right away. They failed to address their o-line issues.

Pro Football Weekly: C+

Chris Long was not the first choice of the coaching staff, but he could prove to be a very valuable addition to the defense. Making inconsistent-catching WR Donnie Avery the first receiver drafted could set back the offense, as could the selection of WR Keenan Burton in the fourth round. While both are supremely talented in physical terms, they are very inconsistent catchers. John Greco and Roy Schuening were solid additions to the offensive line and bring much-needed help. OLBs Chris Chamberlain and David Vobora could bring immediate help on special teams. The Rams found some solid linemen on both sides, but nothing great, and their selection of skill talent was very questionable.

NFL.com:

St. Louis’ 2007 season unraveled as injuries began to mount on the offensive line. The team addressed that need by drafting tackle John Greco in the third round. Defensive end Chris Long means that last year’s top pick, Adam Carriker, will remain on the inside and give the club a pretty good foundation on the defensive line. The team released long-time receiver Isaac Bruce during the offseason, so taking Donnie Avery in the second round and Keenan Burton in the fourth round answers the call at the position.

Dr. Z - SI.com: “Okay”

Chris Long is a good, safe pick at No. 1. Leonard Little’s getting old, after all. Guard John Greco is too. Got to protect Mark Bulger before he’s a basket case. But with every wideout on the board available for you in the second round, why take Donnie Avery. You what? You owe his father money? I’ve heard enough.

USA Today: B

San Francisco 49ers: Kentwan Balmer came on strong and the 49ers needed an inside presence at NT. So Balmer is a fit. Outside rusher or a WR looked like more of a priority. Not quite a steal but good value here in building the strength of a team already oriented toward defense. Chilo Rachal could start at G immediately. DB Reggie Smith could play CB or S.

Pro Football Weekly: B

The Niners sought to improve both lines and added great size, strength and power with the selections of DT Kentwan Balmer and USC OG Chilo Rachal, their first two picks. Neither has huge character concerns, but both come with some maturity questions that could affect their development. DB Reggie Smith and WR Josh Morgan brought solid value in the third and sixth rounds, respectively. C Cody Wallace was a reach in the fourth, but he is a smart, hardworking overachiever who could prove the Niners right. LB Larry Grant could bring special-teams value. Having come away from last year’s draft with OT Joe Staley, who proved to be their best offensive lineman as a rookie, really helps their cause, although he did essentially cost them the seventh overall pick in this draft.

NFL.com:

The 49ers traded away their top pick to the Patriots last year in order to draft tackle Joe Staley, who moves to left tackle this season. Offensive and defensive lines were a priority, so taking defensive end Kentwan Balmer was a good move. Guard Chilo Rachal provides more depth on the offensive line as offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s offense will put a quarterback at risk. Not taking a receiver until the sixth round was kind of startling, but the team must be content with veterans Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson.

Dr. Z - SI.com: “Single or double shots”

Two big guys to provide a grain of toughness on both sides of the ball, For the interior defense, to keep people off their inside linebacking phenom, Patrick Willis, they got 307-pound Kentwan Balmer in the first round. Next pick was a bruising guard, Chilo Rachal, who perfected his game at USC.

USA Today: C

Seattle Seahawks: Dropped down in first round in trade with Dallas and went a little bit off the mainstream trail with Southern California DE Lawrence Jackson. He’ll work in as a situational pass-rusher. Space-eating run-stopper came later in Red Bryant. Thinking was they’d go TE, which they did later with John Carlson, though Fred Davis was still on the board. Carlson isn’t quite as good a receiver. Love face-busting FB Owen Schmitt as replacement for Mack Strong. Sixth round pick Tyler Schmitt is only the second long snapper taken in draft history.

Pro Football Weekly: B

With a very deep roster, the Seahawks sought to address a thin defensive line and were able to land DE Lawrence Jackson and DT Red Bryant, two big run stuffers who should help up front. TE John Carlson was a very safe selection in the second round. Owen Schmitt could attempt to replace FB Mack Strong. LS Tyler Schmitt and PK Brandon Coutu could be penciled in as starters and upgrade the special teams.

NFL.com:

The Seahawks released Shaun Alexander, but the team must have confidence in Julius Jones as they didn’t draft a running back until selecting Justin Forsett in the seventh round. Defensive end Lawrence Jackson could one day replace Patrick Kearney. Seattle has long struggled to find receivers who can catch the ball, so it is kind of a surprise that the team didn’t move in that direction during the draft, especially with the health of Deion Branch in question.

Dr. Z - SI.com: “I’m not wild about these”

I can find only three interesting names, DE Lawrence Jackson and Notre Dame TE John Carlson at the top, and then a drop to the fifth round for a peek at 250-pound fullback Owen Schmitt.

Category: 2008 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, NFC West, NFL Draft, Rams, Seahawks

Round 7 Pick - Brandon Keith

May 2, 2008

Saving the biggest for last… the Cardinals selected offensive tackle Brandon Keith from Northern Iowa with the 225th pick in the NFL Draft. At 343 lbs., Keith will be the largest player anchoring the Cardinals offensive line.

Height: 6′ 5 1/4″
Weight: 343 lbs.
Age: 23
Speed: 5.27 40-yard dash

Watch Brandon Keith’s combine 40-yard dash here. Keith was unable to perform agility tests at the combine due to a hamstring strain, but benched 31 reps @ 225 lbs., which demonstrated excellent upper body strength.

In Keith’s senior season at NCAA Division I-AA Northern Iowa, Keith earned All-Gateway Conference first-team and Associated Press third-team All-American honors by starting 11 of 13 games at right tackle, grading 81.8 percent for blocking consistency, and registering 71 knockdowns and 11 touchdown-resulting blocks.

Category: 2008 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Brandon Keith, NFL Draft, Northern Iowa, Panthers

Round 6 Pick - Christopher Harrington

May 1, 2008

Three’s a charm… Cardinals draft Chris Harrington, their third defensive end of the draft.

Harrington played left defensive end for the Aggies in 2007, recording 58 tackles, including 7 tackles for losses and 2 sacks. Harrington also had 1 pass broken up, 4 quarterback hurries, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 blocked kick.

Height: 6′ 4 3/8″
Weight: 264 lbs.
Age: 22
Speed: 4.84 40-yard dash

It is not yet known if Harrington will be asked to gain weight to continue in a defensive end role, or to become lighter and move to an outside linebacker position. According to NFL.com, Harrington appears to be capable of carrying an additional 15 pounds of muscle without any resulting loss of quickness. Harrington is a high motor player with good top-end speed, but the concern is that he may not have an explosive enough first step to consistently rush from the end in the pro game.

Watch Chris Harrington’s NFL Draft Combine video here.

You may also watch the 2006 Texas A&M Football Highlight Video here, which opens with a sack by Chris Harrington (#92).

Category: 2008 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: Aggies, Arizona Cardinals, Christopher Harrington, NFL Draft, Texas A&M

Round 5 Pick - Tim Hightower

April 30, 2008

The Tower of Power is coming to the desert; Tim Hightower, RB from Richmond, was drafted by the Cardinals with the 149th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Likened to Marion Barber, the 216 lbs. running back is a powerful, elusive runner between the tackles who rushed 327 times for 1,924 yards (5.9 yard average) and 20 touchdowns in 2007.

Hightower rushed for over 100 yards in 9 out of 14 games as a senior, including 246 yards and 4 TDs vs. Northeastern and 295 yards and 4 TDs vs. Bucknell.

You may watch video highlights of the Richmond Spider’s 2007 season here, including several long runs by Hightower and some key blocks on both QB rollouts and pass plays. You may need to register to watch, but it’s the only video I can find on Hightower.

Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 216 lbs.
Age: 21
Speed: 4.59 40-yard dash

Edgerrin James should remain the Cardinals starting RB in 2008, but Hightower could see action in short yardage roles and contribute immediately on special teams.

Category: 2008 Season, NFL Draft | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, NFL Draft, Richmond, Spiders, Tim Hightower

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