2011 Arizona Cardinals NFL Draft Needs
The Arizona Cardinals are on the clock with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at their biggest needs and how they might choose to address those needs via the draft.
1. Quarterback: Perhaps no team needs an upgrade under center as much as Arizona. The Cardinals really struggled through the air in their first season without the great Kurt Warner, averaging just 182.6 passing yards per game (31st in the NFL). There’s a chance Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert will be off the board when the Cards pick at No. 5, which means they could snatch up Cam Newton. The Heisman Trophy winner needs plenty of polishing, but it may be hard for to pass on someone with his size an athletic ability, especially with the position being such a major need. This spot must be addressed sooner rather than later so Larry Fitzgerald’s prime won’t be wasted. If Ken Whisenhunt doesn’t believe Newton is his guy, the Cards may have a shot at Arkansas’ Ryan Mallet in the second round.
2. Outside Linebacker: If Arizona does wait to address its quarterback need, it will likely try to fill a need at outside linebacker with the fifth overall pick. Joey Porter won’t be back, so it may be ideal to go after a guy like Texas A&M’s Von Miller. He is a proven pass-rusher (27.5 sacks final two seasons of college) and has shown the athleticism to play all three downs in Arizona’s 3-4 scheme. If Arizona waits until round two to fill this need, Arizona’s Brooks Reed or UCLA’s Akeem Ayers are options that could still be around. I like Ayers a little more. He has also shown the ability to defend the run well and doesn’t give up on plays. Arizona could certainly use some help defending the run. It ranked 30th in the league with 145.2 rushing yards allowed per game last year.
3. Offensive Line: The Cardinals need plenty of help up front. They’ll likely look to fill some holes through free agency, but it would be nice to get something through the draft as well. There isn’t an offensive lineman to really drool over in this class so don’t expect the Cards to address this need in the first or second rounds. They could, however, go after a guy like Florida offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert or Alabama offensive tackle James Carpenter in the third round. Carpenter is probably a little more talented of the two.
4. Tight End: The Cards have an elite wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald but it might be nice to find a tight end to pair with him. We saw first hand how valuable tight ends can be in New England last year. With all the attention Fitzgerald demands down the field, a good pass-catching tight end should be able to clean up underneath. The Cards drafted Jim Dray in the seventh round last year and he started three games. It would be an upgrade if they could get a guy like Arizona’s Kyle Rudolph in round two.
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