ARIZONA CARDINALS

What they’re saying about the Cardinals’ draft

Apr 30, 2012, 8:19 PM | Updated: 10:07 pm

Three days of selections, trades and speculation are now
in the history books.

Two-hundred-fifty-three players have now made the jump
from college football to the NFL following the 2012 draft.

The Arizona Cardinals selected a total of seven players
during the weekend, and locally, are getting a lot of
praise for what they accomplished.

But what are the national experts saying?

Mel Kiper, ESPN

Having Michael Floyd in this lineup will help
Larry Fitzgerald and Kevin Kolb. If they can find a way to
pass block, Floyd’s presence should tell the Cardinals if
they have their QB of the future, or whether they need to
go back to the drawing board. But I’m not sure they can
protect. Bobby Massie is one of the better values of the
draft at No. 112 overall, and could provide an upgrade.
Grade: B-


Todd McShay, ESPN

The Cardinals need a No. 2 corner opposite Patrick
Peterson, so Fleming should have the opportunity to
compete for significant playing time. He has good size and
improved steadily during his time at Oklahoma. Fleming was
productive, has good instincts in zone coverage and the
potential to hold up in bump-and-run coverage as well.


Nate Davis, USA Today

Ranked 20th of 32 teams: We thought they’d support
QB Kevin Kolb (or is it John Skelton?) with an offensive
lineman in Round 1 after the team gave up 54 sacks a year
ago. Instead they assisted the quarterbacks by taking WR
Michael Floyd, a decision that looked really good when Ole
Miss T Bobby Massie fell to them in Round 4.


Chris Burke, Sports
Illustrated

Larry Fitzgerald badly needed some help at wide receiver,
and the Cardinals hope that Michael Floyd will provide it.
Not having a second-round pick hurt the final product, but
CB Jamell Fleming (No. 80 overall) is a decent fit and
Bobby Massie was a steal at 112. Adding offensive linemen
Senio Kelemte and Nate Potter late ought to help a shaky
unit. Grade: B


Vinny Iyer,
Sporting News

They wisely addressed receiver and the edge of their
offensive line. It sets up them for when they go after a
bona fide franchise QB in the near future. Grade: B


Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

I didn’t like the Michael Floyd pick in the first round.
He doesn’t run well enough to warrant that pick. And they
had a lot of other needs. Grade: C+


Bucky Brooks,
NFL.com

Headlines will focus on receiver Michael Floyd, but
tackles Bobby Massie and Senio Kelemete could boost the
team’s chances at winning the NFC West.


Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports

This is a really good value draft. The Cardinals waited to
get Floyd at the perfect spot (No. 13 overall). Likewise,
they did a good job to get Fleming, Massie, Kelemete and
Lindley at least a round later (if not more) than a lot of
people projected them. The selection of Floyd makes
Arizona’s offense much more explosive because now defenses
won’t be able to focus on WR Larry Fitzgerald as much.
Plus, this helps make the job easier for QB Kevin Kolb,
who is entering a critical season after an inconsistent
2011. Grade: B+


John
Czarnecki, Fox Sports

They got great value with Notre Dame receiver Michael
Floyd, who should take a lot of pressure off Larry
Fitzgerald. Floyd has had past drinking problems, but he
also caught 37 touchdown passes and can be Plaxico
Burress-like in the red zone. … Oklahoma cornerback
Jamell Fleming was a steal as the 80th overall pick and
ideally fits the Cardinals’ blitz-scheme approach to
defense. Grade: B+

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

23 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

What they’re saying about the Cardinals’ draft