Krangodnzr
Captain of Team Conner
Cards Pick Up Two First-Round Picks: Johnson & Pace
There had been much speculation that the Cardinals would select ASU’s standout defensive end Terrell Suggs if he fell to the sixth pick in today’s draft, but the Cardinals had a different plan heading into the start of the 2003 NFL Draft.
The Cardinals were considering only three top-rated prospects for the sixth selection – Michigan State’s wide receiver Charles Rogers, Miami’s wide receiver Andre Johnson and Kentucky’s Dewayne Robertson.
When none of those players were left on the board, the Cardinals completed a trade that had been in the works all week with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints moved up to the sixth overall position, while the Cardinals picked up the 17th and 18th overall picks.
“We had been developing this idea of desiring two number one picks all throughout the week and this is something that we felt would certainly be in the best interest of our team with where we are right now as a ball club,” reasoned Vice President-Football Operations Rod Graves. “The opportunity to get more quality picks in the first 70 selections of the draft was certainly a bigger item of importance to us.”
With those two first-round selections, the Cardinals drafted Penn State wide receiver Bryant Johnson and Wake Forest defensive end Calvin Pace.
“Instead of addressing one need with one guy, we were able to address 3 needs with two guys by trading down,” explained Head Coach Dave McGinnis. “We got a pass rusher, and a receiver that can also return punts.”
In 2002, Johnson led Penn State for the second-straight year with 48 receptions (sixth-best season total in school history) for 917 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 19.1 yards per catch. He is considered a big receiver (6-2, 214) with blazing speed, recording a 4.37 in the forty at the Combine.
Johnson also returned 41 punts (tied the Nittany Lion season-record first set by Bruce Branch in both 1998 & ’99) for a school season-record 528 yards (12.9 avg) and a score.
His selection filled a void in the receiving corps for the Cardinals and Johnson is eager to offer his services.
“I expect to come in and make a contribution early,” stressed Johnson. “I would love to return punts and my agent and I felt like I should be a third receiver and it seems to have worked out great for me in Arizona.”
Johnson also described himself for his new fans in Arizona.
“He is a dedicated player, he is watching film and giving it 100% every time,” said Bryant of himself. “He is a fierce competitor who doesn’t like to lose.”
“I only emulated one receiver growing up through college and that was Jerry Rice and I think that says enough right there.”
Regarded by many as the best athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Pace finished his career at Wake Forest second on the school’s all-time record list with 29 sacks for minus 178 yards. His 54 stops for losses of 223 yards also set a Wake Forest career-record. He recorded 189 tackles (116 solos) with five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while starting 33 of 42 games throughout his collegiate career.
“First of all, I am a complete player and I play the run well and I rush the passer well,” stated an excited Pace. “I think of myself as a playmaker. I am an unknown player and many people were surprised that I went this high, but I rank myself up there with the defensive ends in this class .I am just proud to be with Arizona.”
In 2002, Pace’s 73 tackles, 8 sacks, a career-high 22 stops for losses, and two blocked kicks earned him All-American first team selection by the American Football Coaches Association.
“Calvin Pace has been one of college football’s leading pass rushers over the last couple of years,” stated Graves. “We took him strictly because of his pass rush ability. You are talking about a guy who runs very well. He’s an athletic talent, he’s smart, as far as I know, he’s never had any problems off the field. He’s a solid pick for us. Eight sacks last year. He’s been a proven pass rusher. We can talk about the other players that may have been on the board at that particular time, but when you match up his numbers versus the others, we felt he was certainly a solid selection for us.”
Both first-round selections also acknowledged their desire to get into camp early to learn the system.
“My agent will deal with that,” stated Pace. “But, I know that I want to be in camp on time and it’s not even a question about me holding out. I want to get in and learn the system and get a chance to play.”
As part of the trade, the Cardinals also swapped picks in the second-round and gave their fourth-round pick to the Saints.
There had been much speculation that the Cardinals would select ASU’s standout defensive end Terrell Suggs if he fell to the sixth pick in today’s draft, but the Cardinals had a different plan heading into the start of the 2003 NFL Draft.
The Cardinals were considering only three top-rated prospects for the sixth selection – Michigan State’s wide receiver Charles Rogers, Miami’s wide receiver Andre Johnson and Kentucky’s Dewayne Robertson.
When none of those players were left on the board, the Cardinals completed a trade that had been in the works all week with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints moved up to the sixth overall position, while the Cardinals picked up the 17th and 18th overall picks.
“We had been developing this idea of desiring two number one picks all throughout the week and this is something that we felt would certainly be in the best interest of our team with where we are right now as a ball club,” reasoned Vice President-Football Operations Rod Graves. “The opportunity to get more quality picks in the first 70 selections of the draft was certainly a bigger item of importance to us.”
With those two first-round selections, the Cardinals drafted Penn State wide receiver Bryant Johnson and Wake Forest defensive end Calvin Pace.
“Instead of addressing one need with one guy, we were able to address 3 needs with two guys by trading down,” explained Head Coach Dave McGinnis. “We got a pass rusher, and a receiver that can also return punts.”
In 2002, Johnson led Penn State for the second-straight year with 48 receptions (sixth-best season total in school history) for 917 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 19.1 yards per catch. He is considered a big receiver (6-2, 214) with blazing speed, recording a 4.37 in the forty at the Combine.
Johnson also returned 41 punts (tied the Nittany Lion season-record first set by Bruce Branch in both 1998 & ’99) for a school season-record 528 yards (12.9 avg) and a score.
His selection filled a void in the receiving corps for the Cardinals and Johnson is eager to offer his services.
“I expect to come in and make a contribution early,” stressed Johnson. “I would love to return punts and my agent and I felt like I should be a third receiver and it seems to have worked out great for me in Arizona.”
Johnson also described himself for his new fans in Arizona.
“He is a dedicated player, he is watching film and giving it 100% every time,” said Bryant of himself. “He is a fierce competitor who doesn’t like to lose.”
“I only emulated one receiver growing up through college and that was Jerry Rice and I think that says enough right there.”
Regarded by many as the best athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Pace finished his career at Wake Forest second on the school’s all-time record list with 29 sacks for minus 178 yards. His 54 stops for losses of 223 yards also set a Wake Forest career-record. He recorded 189 tackles (116 solos) with five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while starting 33 of 42 games throughout his collegiate career.
“First of all, I am a complete player and I play the run well and I rush the passer well,” stated an excited Pace. “I think of myself as a playmaker. I am an unknown player and many people were surprised that I went this high, but I rank myself up there with the defensive ends in this class .I am just proud to be with Arizona.”
In 2002, Pace’s 73 tackles, 8 sacks, a career-high 22 stops for losses, and two blocked kicks earned him All-American first team selection by the American Football Coaches Association.
“Calvin Pace has been one of college football’s leading pass rushers over the last couple of years,” stated Graves. “We took him strictly because of his pass rush ability. You are talking about a guy who runs very well. He’s an athletic talent, he’s smart, as far as I know, he’s never had any problems off the field. He’s a solid pick for us. Eight sacks last year. He’s been a proven pass rusher. We can talk about the other players that may have been on the board at that particular time, but when you match up his numbers versus the others, we felt he was certainly a solid selection for us.”
Both first-round selections also acknowledged their desire to get into camp early to learn the system.
“My agent will deal with that,” stated Pace. “But, I know that I want to be in camp on time and it’s not even a question about me holding out. I want to get in and learn the system and get a chance to play.”
As part of the trade, the Cardinals also swapped picks in the second-round and gave their fourth-round pick to the Saints.
