Voice of The Cardinals

This is a post by Eli on MVN.com 

We are just under 2 weeks away now from the 2008 NFL draft. Around this time every year, Cardinal fans are able to narrow it down to about 2 or 3 players the Cardinals are likely going to draft. The fun part this year is we really don’t know where Arizona is going with this pick. So let’s try and narrow this down…

Possible positions the Cardinals could go with their first pick: RB, CB, OT, OG, DE, OLB. I could throw in WR but they have enough issues paying their WR’s so they won’t be drafting one here. I’d say TE but I don’t see the Cards taking Dustin Keller that early in the first round. Here’s the list of possible players that the Cardinals could draft at #16 that play the six positions of need for the Cardinals.

1. Leodis McKelvin, CB

2. Keith Rivers, OLB

3. Ryan Clady, OT

4. Jeff Otah, OT

5. Derrick Harvey, DE

6. Chris Williams, OT

7. Rashard Mendenhall

8. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB

9. Mike Jenkins, CB

10. Aqib Talib, CB

11. Branden Albert, G

12. Phillip Merling, DE

13. Jonathan Stewart, RB

14. Felix Jones, RB

15. Brandon Flowers, CB

16. Calais Campbell, DE

So 16 guys with possibilities of being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. Let’s narrow it down some more. McKelvin will be taken before the Cardinals pick, so he’s out. There is no real chance that Clady drops to number 16. I think the same goes for Rashard Mendenhall who will be taken by the Bears or Lions. Brandon Flowers I like but he might not even make it in the first round. Jonathan Stewart’s stock is dropping since his injury and Felix Jones would be a reach at the Cardinals spot in the first round, so both of them are off the list. I think the Saints or Broncos would take Rivers before the Cardinals pick so lets cross him off. I also think Derrick Harvey is taken somewhere between 11-13. Braden Albert is starting to shoot up draft boards and looks like he’ll go before the Cardinals also, so lets get rid of him. That leaves us with 7 players that could possibly be there for the Cardinals at 16.

1. Leodis McKelvin, CB

2. Keith Rivers, OLB

3. Ryan Clady, OT

4. Jeff Otah, OT

5. Derrick Harvey, DE

6. Chris Williams, OT

7. Rashard Mendenhall

8. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB

9. Mike Jenkins, CB

10. Aqib Talib, CB

11. Branden Albert, G

12. Phillip Merling, DE

13. Jonathan Stewart, RB

14. Felix Jones, RB

15. Brandon Flowers, CB

16. Calais Campbell, DE

This is where it gets tough. Anything could happen at this point. But I’m going to use last years draft to help me out. Ken Whisenhunt is apparently a guy that drafts for need and not the best player available. Example of that would be passing on Adrian Peterson and taking the need with OT Levi Brown. I think that might take Phillip Merling and Campbell out. I think Ken sees bigger needs than the DE/OLB spot. That leaves us with 3 CB’s and 2 OT’s. The Cardinals are very thin at both OT and CB, so taking a player that plays one of these positions would make sense. Now it’s like were starting to throw darts. It all will depend on who picks who in front of the Cardinals, and who Rod Graves and Ken Whisenhunt like best. My guess is they pass on drafting an OT in the first round for the second straight year, and draft for their biggest need which is CB. That leaves Talib, Cromartie, and Jenkins. At this point who can tell which player the Cardinals like the best of the 3, and which would fall to 16. But my final guess and player I like the most is……

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

I would be very happy if DRC fell to Arizona and the Cardinals took him. I think many fans would be happy with this pick also. It’s too hard to tell if this scenario will really happen, but I think it will at least be close. We do know we can definitely narrow it down to a few select players now. Time will tell which player that will exactly be.

I’ve laid it out for you, and what I think will happen. I’d like to hear what some of you readers think will happen. A lot of you have great insight and make good points. Tell me where you think the Cardinals are going with the 16th pick?