Mike Mayock's Top 5s

[Mitch]

Quarterback

1. DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
2. Deshaun Watson, Clemson
3. Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina
4. Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech
5. Davis Webb, California

Running Back

1. Leonard Fournette, LSU
2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
3. Dalvin Cook, Florida State
4. Alvin Kamara, Tennessee
5. Samaje Perine, Oklahoma

Rise: Fournette (2), McCaffrey (3), Perine (NR)
Fall: Cook (1), Joe Mixon, Oklahoma (5, added to special exceptions)

Wide receiver

1. Corey Davis, Western Michigan
2. Mike Williams, Clemson
3. John Ross, Washington
4. Zay Jones, East Carolina
T-5. Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
T-5. JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC

Rise: Jones (5), Smith-Schuster (NR)
Fall: Kupp (4),

Tight end

1. O.J. Howard, Alabama
2. David Njoku, Miami
3. Evan Engram, Ole Miss
4. Gerald Everett, South Alabama
5. George Kittle, Iowa

Rise: Everett (5), Kittle (NR)
Fall: Jake Butt, Michigan (4, added to special exceptions)

Offensive tackle

1. Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
2. Garett Bolles, Utah
3. Antonio Garcia, Troy
4. Roderick Johnson, Florida State
T-5. Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
T-5. Jermaine Eluemunor, Texas A&M

Interior OL

1. Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
2. Cam Robinson, Alabama
3. Dan Feeney, Indiana
4. Dion Dawkins, Temple
T-5. Ethan Pocic, LSU
T-5. Pat Elflein, Ohio State

Rise: Dawkins (5), Elflein (NR)
Fall: Pocic (4)

Interior DL

1. Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2. Caleb Brantley, Florida
3. Malik McDowell, Michigan State
4. Larry Ogunjobi, Charlotte
5. Chris Wormley, Michigan


Edge rusher

1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
2. Solomon Thomas, Stanford
3. Derek Barnett, Tennessee
4. Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
5. Tim Williams, Alabama

Rise: Thomas (4), McKinley (5)
Fall: Williams (2)

Linebacker

1. Reuben Foster, Alabama
2. Haason Reddick, Temple
3. Jarrad Davis, Florida
4. Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
5. Alex Anzalone, Florida

Rise: Davis (4)
Fall: Cunningham (3)

Cornerback

1. Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
2. Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
3. Kevin King, Washington
4. Gareon Conley, Ohio State
5. Fabian Moreau, UCLA

Rise: Lattimore (2), Humphrey (3), King (NR), Conley (NR), Moreau (NR)
Fall: Sidney Jones, Washington (1, added to special exceptions), **** Tabor, Florida (4), Tre'Davious White, LSU (5)

Nickel

1. Budda Baker, Washington
2. Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado
3. Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
4. Desmond King, Iowa
5. Damontae Kazee, San Diego State

Safety

1. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
2. Jamal Adams, LSU
3. Malik Hooker, Ohio State
4. Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut
T-5. Marcus Williams, Utah
T-5. Marcus Maye, Florida

Rise: Peppers (3), Melifonwu (5), Williams (NR), Maye (NR)
Fall: Hooker (1) , Budda Baker, Washington (4, added to nickel)

Special exceptions

1. Adoree' Jackson, USC
2. Curtis Samuel, Ohio State
3. Sidney Jones, Washington
4. Jake Butt, Michigan
5. Joe Mixon, Oklahoma

Additions: Jones (previously No. 1 CB), Butt (previously No. 4 TE), Mixon (previously No. 5 RB)
Moved: Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado (3, moved to nickel), Desmond King, Iowa (4, moved to nickel)
Fall: Adam Shaheen, Ashland (5)

How These Ratings Apply to the Cardinals:

* If Ron Wolfley is correct. he thinks the Cardinals are enamored with QB Patrick Mahomes (#4 QB-Mayock) and very much like QB Deshaun Watson (#2 QB) and QB Mitchell Trubisky (#3 QB).

It is quite possible that one of those 3 QB will be available at #13.

* However, according to Wolfley, the Cardinals are very high on alpha ILB Reuben Foster (#1 ILB) and "Nick Martin-esque" G Forrest Lamp (#1 Interior OL).

* He goes on to say that the Cardinals feel they can add good players at S, CB, WR and TE in subsequent rounds.

If we go by the players that the Cardinals have shown particular interest in, throughout the draft process, then a likely draft board at each of the first 4 rounds could be (in no particular order, per se):

1. QB Patrick Mahomes, ILB Reuben Foster or G Forrest Lamp
2. FS Josh Jones, CB **** Tabor, CB Sidney Jones, QB Davis Webb
3. WR Carlos Henderson, WR ArDarious Stewart, TE Bucky Hodges, LB Duke Riley
4. LB Elijah Lee, TE Michael Roberts, RB Donnell Pumphrey

If you had your pick of these players---who would you take?

To me the safest, most immediate impact picks would be:

1. Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky
2. **** Tabor, CB, Florida
3. ArDarious Stewart, WR, Alabama
4. Elijah Lee, LB, Kansas St.

The Wild Cards---gambling on greatness:

1. Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
2, Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
3. Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech
4. Donnell Pumphrey, RB, San Diego St.

But I would still be delighted with:

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
2. Josh Jones, FS, North Carolina St. (if Budda Baker is off the board)
3. Duke Riley, LB, LSU
4. Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech (I think because of how deep the WR class is, he could be here)

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[juza76]

I dont think mahomes is behind kizer
And no way kizer should the be first among qb's

I like kevin king in cb top 3, has speed length coverage ability, wish he can drop to us in the second round

Peppers has football insticts but doesnt have a true position yet, not a linebacker, probably a safety, but there are some questions about his coverage ability and experience

I think tj watt could be a better pro then garrett...too much hype for him

For sure will have a better pro career then 4 on that list

Cooper Kupp is going to be a good player, better then Ross

 

[juza76]

Mitch where did u hear Wofley expressing his thoughts about some prospects?

 

[TheCardFan]

5. George Kittle, Iowa

No! Please stay a sleeper for us to take later in the draft!

 

[Mitch]

Mitch where did u hear Wofley expressing his thoughts about some prospects?

From Lagerfilled last evening:

A couple interesting tidbits from Wolf the other morning:

1) Cards FO & BA "really" like Mahomes. Not a smokescreen. They also like Trubisky, Watson, & Webb, just not as much as Mahomes.

2) They continue to be enamored with Foster as an ultra alpha ILB. Regardless of character or Xs & Os, just watch him on film.

3) Lastly Wolf mentioned "watch out" for Forrest Lamp at 13. They see a Zach Martin type after missing on Coop. A guy who can play all 5 positions up and down the OL.

4) They believe that they can get strong DBs, WRs, & TE later in the draft

 

[Lagerfilled]

From Lagerfilled last evening:

A couple interesting tidbits from Wolf the other morning:

1) Cards FO & BA "really" like Mahomes. Not a smokescreen. They also like Trubisky, Watson, & Webb, just not as much as Mahomes.

2) They continue to be enamored with Foster as an ultra alpha ILB. Regardless of character or Xs & Os, just watch him on film.

3) Lastly Wolf mentioned "watch out" for Forrest Lamp at 13. They see a Zach Martin type after missing on Coop. A guy who can play all 5 positions up and down the OL.

4) They believe that they can get strong DBs, WRs, & TE later in the draft

To clarify... Wolfley was clear that it was NOT Keim providing the intel, but definitely someone else in the FO. If I had to guess, it's either ADub or McDonough.

 

[WildBB]

Everyone knows he's an ND homer, so when in doubt take it with a grain...

Didn't Perine go off in a game last season?

 

[WildBB]

1- Watson, Mahomes - QB
2- B. Baker, D. King, M. Williams - FS
3-S. Jones - CB , Pocic, Elfein - C/G
Comp(3) - G, TE, WR
4- TE, WR

 

[Harry]

I would be surprised if Mahomes goes before 13. I would be stunned if the Cards took him.

 

[juza76]

I would be surprised if Mahomes goes before 13. I would be stunned if the Cards took him.

Better being ready for that

 

[GatorAZ]

I would be surprised if Mahomes goes before 13. I would be stunned if the Cards took him.

I think he goes to New Orleans at 11. Kizer Sose to the Cards.

 

[WildBB]

I would be surprised if Mahomes goes before 13. I would be stunned if the Cards took him.

2018, realistically who do you want them to sign to START next year? Or would you draft someone different to play QB in 2018 this year?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Draft Reuben Foster and be done with it.

 

[oaken1]

I am really disappointed seeing Kevin King climbing everyones draft boards...was really hoping a couple months back that we could grab him in the third round.... then last month...second round.... hope nobody else has him ranked like this or he may go around pick 35

 

[Russ Smith]

Does special exceptions mean they have injuries or they do something else as well or both? I noticed both Jake Butt(injury) and Adoree Jackson(no injury) are on that list. I assume it means with butt the exception is recovery time, with Jackson it's that he returns punts so he's more than a CB?

Jackson is like i've been saying for awhile, touted as a 2nd rounder, scouts think he's undersized and will be a slot CB.

He's still my first pick right now for the 2nd round depending on who's there when we pick.

 

[Chopper0080]

Draft Reuben Foster and be done with it.

This seems like an easy call to me. Even if you really like a QB (none are good enough to love IMO), you are almost better off trading up from the 2nd round than taking him at 13.

 

[cardncubfan]

This seems like an easy call to me. Even if you really like a QB (none are good enough to love IMO), you are almost better off trading up from the 2nd round than taking him at 13.

Would you take Foster over Howard?

 

[Cardiac]

Would you take Foster over Howard?

 

[JeffGollin]

This is where trust in team mgt comes into play.

We don't know what BA&SK feel about Foster or Howard. Or whether Mahomes passed muster at his private workout. Or whether Wolf misinterpreted the extra attention given Mahomes as "favoring him" whereas they were really doing due dilgence on a QB they didn't know enough about.

If we believed everything you heard about key players discussed on this forum, we'd either (a) get rid of all our picks or (b) find a way to draft every one of them.

I think we lack important info on most players that only team insiders are privy to and are making sweeping evaluations of players as though we really knew stuff.

Well, I don't think we know as much as we think we do and it will all come down to trusting the FO to do what's best. And, maybe, we'll find out more about the players we draft well after we draft them.

Trying to know as much about each player is what makes the draft fun. But actually knowing all we need to know may in many cases be an exercise in futility.

 

[Jetstream Green]

This is where trust in team mgt comes into play.

We don't know what BA&SK feel about Foster or Howard. Or whether Mahomes passed muster at his private workout. Or whether Wolf misinterpreted the extra attention given Mahomes as "favoring him" whereas they were really doing due dilgence on a QB they didn't know enough about.

If we believed everything you heard about key players discussed on this forum, we'd either (a) get rid of all our picks or (b) find a way to draft every one of them.

I think we lack important info on most players that only team insiders are privy to and are making sweeping evaluations of players as though we really knew stuff.

Well, I don't think we know as much as we think we do and it will all come down to trusting the FO to do what's best. And, maybe, we'll find out more about the players we draft well after we draft them.

Trying to know as much about each player is what makes the draft fun. But actually knowing all we need to know may in many cases be an exercise in futility.

And this should be the fan bible for anyone following the draft

 

[Chopper0080]

Would you take Foster over Howard?

I would. There is more risk to Foster, but also more long term reward. If I am evaluating the roster, I can't ignore that there will be a QB change in the next year or two. Because of that, I am more inclined to invest in young talent on defense now, because the team may have to depend on the defense more in the future.

If we were stable at QB, I would take Howard. But with that changing soon, I can't see investing in QB dependent positions as much. I call it the "Fitzgerald Principle". No matter how talented the player is, if he is dependent on the QB to get him the ball, his value will always be dependent on a QB getting him the ball.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Draft Reuben Foster and be done with it.

Draft Malik Hooker and be done with it.

3rd best safety ? LOL, yeah, right.