Senior Bowl practice comment

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl practice comment

C+

2009 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

Interestingly, the reason the Cards are getting a C+ over a C is because of the selection of Beanie Wells, a player they would have, most likely, passed on if Moreno or Brown were available.  While Arizona got very good value with Johnson, they reached a bit for Brown and Johnson, and a lot for Toler.  The college street free agent that will be most interesting to watch in camp is Michael Garvin who can flat out fly.

DRAFT PICKS

Wells was the top running back on my board and will be a top back in the NFL for a long time.  He is strong, he is fast, and he is athletic.  Wells filled a major need and was terrific value at the end of round one.

I understand why the Cards drafted Brown here, especially after they let LaBoy go.  Berry and Okeafor are not feared outside rushers and a 3-4 defense needs at least one of those.  At the bottom of round three, Brown was the last player left on the board who has a chance top develop into a solid outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense who can get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  

The selection of Rashad Johnson in round three confuses me.  He's not a bad player, but with Rolle developing nicely at free safety and Nelson available at tight end at this spot in the draft, I wouldn't have hesitated bringing up the card for Nelson.

If Johnson confused me, Toler confounded me.  Obviously, Arizona has him much more highly rated than me.  With Macho Harris and Morgan Trent (among many others) better corners still on the board, I would have gone with one of them.  In addition, Mike Mickens and Ellis Lankster available late, the Cards would have been better off waiting for a corner until round six or seven to draft a corner than drafting Toler here.

Herman Johnson was a nice get in round five.  He is a big kid with a nice upside if he can keep his weight down and his strength up.  I believe he will and he'll turnj into a siolid long term starter in the NFL.

Arizona felt they had to draft a player like Davis since they have some doubt about Brown.  However, I do not believe Davis has the athletic ability to transition very well to outside linebacker in the Cards' 3-4 defense.  If I were taking a chance with a defensive end to transition to outside linebacker here, I would have drafted Nick Reed at this spot.

Stephens-Howlings was a reach.  He was off my board.  As a return man, which Arizona needs, I liked many better, including Michael Garvin.  However, if Arizona passed on Johnson in round three, free safety/return man Pegues could have been chosen here.  If they passed on Toler (and a corner) in round four, Lankster, who I have rated as a much better corner than Toler could have been drafted here as a return man.  If the Cards wanted a backup runner/return man, I would have selected Kory Sheets or even Jeremiah Johnson over Stephens-Howlings.  However, as a straight return man, I liked Jason Chery and I would have selected him and gone after Sheets or J. Johnson in free agency.

Arizona did finish the draft on a high note.  Canfield has good speed, strength and athleticism for a guard.  He does need work on his footwork, but could be a very reliable sub down the line.

 COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Justin Brown has good size and strength and had good production his senior year.  He is a candidate for the Cards' practice squad.

Tony Davis had a similar grade to Toler on my board.  He could sneak onto the Cards' active roster.

Arizona must have liked what they saw of Cincinnati's offensive line drafting Canfield and signing El-Amin.  El-Amin has size and strength and is a good candidate for Arizona's practice squad.

Garvin has exceptional straight line speed and will be a better kick returner than Stephens-Howling, although Stephens-Howling may be a better punt returner.  The battle between these two will be interesting to watch in camp.

The Cards did a good job of drafting for need and value, except at running back, where I believe Hightower was a reach at that point in the draft.  A speed back to compliment James made more sense than a power back, if his future replacement was not drafted.  There were some good quick, change-of-pace backs available as college street free agents, and as of this report, the Cards did not sign any.  Anthony Alridge or Dantrell Savage or Andre Callender or Chad Simpson would have been good gets for Arizona as free agents I know they have Arrington, but he has not lived up to expectations).  Harrington was good value in round six, however, he is a bit small for a 3-4 end and a bit slow for a 3-4 outside linebacker.

DRAFT PICKS

Rodgers-Cromartie is a very fast corner who showed at the Senior Bowl that he can force the run and isn't afraid to hit someone.    In fact, at the Senior Bowl he was the best defensive player on the field.  He was good in coverage, came up to hit receivers on short passes, and forced the run.  He is also a good return man.  However, in college he did not show as much toughness as he did at the Senior Bowl.  Still he was a great get for Arizona and should be a solid pro.  He is also a good return man.

Campbell was solid value in round two, especially as a 3-4 defensive end.  Campbell didn't show the consistency to be a reliable sacker as a 4-3 end, however, his size and skill set is very good for a 3-4 end.  He will need to hit the weight room.

Doucet started the process as a potential first round pick.  However, he had a bad Pro Day.  It wasn't so much his 4.56 forty that raised flags with me, it was his 4.55 short shuttle and 7.47 three-cone.  That showed a relative lack of both quickness and cutting ability.  To get a feel, compare those numbers to the defensive ends drafted ahead and after him in the table below.   So with Doucet, you have a player who was terrific on film, but workout numbers that indicate a high probability he will nor be abler to transfer those skills to the NFL at a high level.  Time will tell.  However, Lavelle Hawkins (definitely) or Arman Shields (another option) would have been my choice at this spot in the draft.

Iwebema is solid against the run.  He clearly is an end in the Cards' defensive system.  He does not have the athleticism to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4.  To play end for Arizona, he will have to add bulk, which shouldn't be a problem for him.  I thought he fit best as a two-down end in a 4-3, but he is a strong kid who could pay dividends for Arizona.

Let me be the first to contradict some of the recent comments regarding Hightower.  He is not the next coming of Marion Barber.  Barber is faster (4.48 forty), much quicker (4.18 short shuttle), makes sharper cuts (7.12 three-cone) and is a much better athlete (40" vertical, 10'7" long jump).   Sorry, Cardinal fans and Mel Kiper.  Hightower was a reach.  He is strong, but that's about it as far as being a difference-maker in the NFL.  Thomas Brown, drafted a round later would have been a better pick, and Chauncy Washington has strength and speed and would have been a better selection as a power compliment to James.

Harrington was excellent value in round six, but I'm not sure where he fits in a 3-4 defense.  I saw Harrington as a third end in a 4-3, who gives great effort that results in him making more plays that you'd think.  He is too small for a 3-4 end, and does not have the tool-set to be a 3-4 outside linebacker.  However, he gives good effort so I wouldn't count him out as a backup OLB, and he should be a reliable special teams guy.

Keith could be a late round steal.  He is big, strong, and very athletic for a kid his size.  He could play right tackle, or kick inside to guard.  The main knock on him was his record at Oklahoma, where he left the team on numerous occasions.  He is a player to watch in camp.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Thaddeus Coleman caught scouts eyes at the Texas vs the Nation All Star Game.  He is a big kid with a mean streak who plays out of control at times.  He needs work on his technique and could be a candidate for Arizona's practice squad.

Keilen Dykes was a nice get for Arizona.  He has the strength and athleticism to play all along the line in the Cards' 3-4 defense.  He was a high priority signing and may be one of the best free agent signings by any team.  Look for him to be active for some games this year. 

I like the signing of linebacker Ali Highsmith.  He looked great on film, but had a poor workout and fell out of the draft.  This case clearly shows how any draft expert (industry or media) who says workout numbers are not that important are nuts.  Highsmith is a bit short but has the strength and quickness to play inside in Arizona's 3-4 defense.  I wouldn't bet against him sticking with the club.

Anthony Morelli looks like a Pro quarterback, has the arm of a pro quarterback, but makes poor decisions and struggles with accuracy.  If he ever puts it all together, Arizona will have something.  But that is a big if.

PLAYER WHO COULD HAVE A BETTER NFL CAREER THAN PLAYERS SELECTED AHEAD OF HIM in the DRAFT