Len Pasquarelli Grades Cards Draft

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/columnist?id=1545468

Team-by-team NFC draft analysis
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Arizona Cardinals

Notable:
In his first year presiding over the draft, vice president Rod Graves swapped the sixth overall choice in the first round for picks No. 17 and No. 18, an indication that the Cardinals still feel they need quantity, and that one premier player would not be able to turn things around.

Will start as rookie:
Both first rounders, wide receiver Bryant Johnson and defensive end Calvin Pace.

Best value:
Getting linebacker Gerald Hayes, a tackling machine, in the third round was a pleasant surprise. But an even better value selection was Tony Gilbert, another linebacker, in the seventh round. Gilbert isn't pretty and is a limited athlete, but he's all football player.

Boom or bust:
Some will argue that the Cardinals grabbed Pace (18th overall) too high, but he was the third-rated defensive end on their board, and would not have been around for them in the second stanza. For a club that had just 65 sacks over the past three seasons, Arizona had to secure someone who could rush the passer.

Grade: C+

 

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Even though we didn't pick up an "blue chip" player, we adressed many needs with quality players.

Johnson gives us a big target down the field, someone who can out muscle DB's in traffic, and an accomplished returner.

Boldin gives us a slot guy who can catch in traffic, he loves to block downfield, and put up 13 TD's and 1,000 yards coming off an ACL injury. That shows that he has a great work ethic and heart along with the stats.

In essence, we took care of three roster spots with two guys. (WR, WR, and PR)

Pace and Hayes are solid players as well. Both of them have one stat that sticks out at me. Tackles for losses. That means they are great against the run. In the case of Pace, if you combine the tackles for losses along with eight sacks, it shows that he is not one dimensional like Simeon Rice was when he was here.

Certainly, the Pace pick is not the "sexy" pick that we wanted, however we received a guy who is a multi-dimensional talent.

I don't mind what we ended up with, it is how we arrived there that burns me. If you trade down, you need to make sure that you get your guy. They didn't, but I think it will work out in terms of improving our team greatly.

 

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I've seen and listened two our firsdt round guys. I'm satisfied today that we did the right thing. I will make further evaluations come camp and into the first coiuple of exhibition games. My only hope today is that the stay healthy so they can help.

GBR