Looking at the Cardinals’ 2013 draft

When I judge a draft, I look at two things: who did you get compared to who you passed up, and the value of the pick. Therefore, I don’t give an overall grade. I’ll tell you what I think about each player drafted and what I would have done so you can judge me. I don’t like it when I hear talk show hosts or analysts rip or support a pick without sticking their neck out so the reader or listener can judge for themselves.

1st Round:

CARDS PICK: Jonathan Cooper – guard, North Carolina

MY PICK: Chance Warmack – guard, Alabama

I like the pick but I don’t love it. I believe Chance Warmack is a better football player. Cooper wins on a competition of athleticism and “fit” into the Cardinals’ system, so I don’t have much room to argue. I like Warmack because he’s an animal. The Cardinals need skill on the O-line first and foremost, but I also think they lack attitude. Kids from Alabama are winners. Warmack wants to bury you.

Cooper will be an excellent football player. Warmack could be a Hall-of-Famer.

2nd Round:

CARDS PICK: Kevin Minter – linebacker, LSU

MY PICK: Kevin Minter – linebacker, LSU

I say it’s my pick but I have no idea if I could manipulate this draft pick as well as the Cardinals. This is a perfect selection. Keep an eye on this pick for years. Arizona could have had Manti Te’o or Kiko Alonso and chose Minter. Alonso might have more upside, but he’s got a lot more downside. I’m very down on Te’o, so I love allowing San Diego trade up to get him. The Cardinals get a better player and another selection.

3rd Round:

CARDS PICK: Tyrann Mathieu – defensive back, LSU

MY PICK: Blidi Wreh-Wilson – defensive back, Connecticut

Obviously I’m not reaching since Wreh-Wilson was the very next selection by Tennessee following Arizona. I would go with Blidi for two reasons: I think he’s that good, and I don’t have the “onions” that Steve Keim does.

There’s no doubt that Mathieu is light years ahead of Wreh-Wilson athletically and in football skills. Mathieu is a first-round talent that the Cardinals selected in the third round. They get a ton of talent for great value.

I think everyone deserves second chances, but Honey Badger is on his fourth chance. I wouldn’t spend my money on him. However, I have great respect for an organization that will take a chance without feeling like the risk is great. I know they spoke to Patrick Peterson for months about Mathieu before making the move. They feel like they have the infrastructure to handle anything that comes up.

4th Round:

CARDS PICK: Alex Okafor – defensive end, Texas

MY PICK: Barrett Jones – offensive lineman, Alabama

The Cardinals get the credit here because I would have done this pick without conviction and they did it with conviction. Okafor is a better player than Florida linebacker Jelani Jenkins, but I like Jenkins more than Okafor. Okafor doesn’t give me everything I want on every play. I hate guys who aren’t lunch pail guys, and I don’t think Okafor is. I know Jenkins is.

I don’t disagree with the pick, though, because Jenkins is always getting hurt. He gives all that he has and it normally means he’s giving more than he has. Okafor is simply a better athlete. If both players are giving everything, Okafor is better. I would have drafted him on his athleticism but I would ride his butt from day one.

If it’s me, I’m going with Jones though. His intelligence, versatility and teamwork are too valuable to me to pass up. The Cardinals probably feel that Lyle Sendlein will be healthy and you already have an expensive backup with Adam Snyder. I love the value of Barrett Jones here.

Three picks after Okafor, one of my favorite college football players went to the Dolphins: Michigan State TE Dion Sims. I want Sims. I think he could add so much to the Cardinals. The problem is I would have gone for Sims with my fifth-round pick. I never would have told the media how upset I was that I missed on Sims, but Okafor fills a need and is a better player.

CARDS PICK: Earl Watford – guard, James Madison

MY PICK: Johnathan Franklin – running back, UCLA

This is a simple analysis. I love Franklin and the Cards need a running back. I also know very little about Watford. I’m simply not educated enough on Watford to question the pick.

5th Round:

CARDS PICK: Stepfan Taylor – running back, Stanford

MY PICK: Jonathan Meeks – safety, Clemson

The Taylor pick is outstanding. The only reason I didn’t do it in my “draft re-enactment” is that I just drafted Franklin in the round before. Drafting Taylor is exactly the pick that should have been made here.

I’ve got a little bit of wishful thinking on Meeks. He might only get involved on dime coverage early in his career. This pick would have been a project at safety but I think he would succeed with the Cardinals. Keep in mind, Taylor is a better player than Meeks and the right pick, so I’m not disagreeing.

6th Round:

CARDS PICK: Ryan Swope – receiver, Texas A&M

MY PICK: David Quessenberry – tackle, San Jose State

I realize it’s sixth round but this is the only pick I really disagree with. I think Swope is a stud in the slot. I think he’s a lunch pail guy. I think Swope has a chance to be an excellent fit in the Cardinals’ scheme…and I wouldn’t have touched him unless I can get him as an UFA. His history of concussions would push me to take him off my board.

Quessenberry was a college tackle that I’m going to use to push Massie but more likely, slide him over to guard eventually. I think Daryn Colledge and Snyder were terrible free agent signings. I can’t wait to get rid of both of them. I would want Cooper at LG and let Colledge, Snyder and Quessenberry fight it out. I know Colledge would win, but I’ve already drafted Jones at center who is guard-ready as well. Then I could cut Snyder and let Quessenberry learn for a year.

CARDS PICK: Andre Ellington – running back, Clemson

MY PICK: Bacarri Rambo – safety, Georgia

Honestly, this is the blogger admitting I would have choked. Ellington is an unbelievable value here. Of course, the Cards don’t need Taylor and Ellington, but you can’t pass up Ellington in this spot. He’s a fighter who embraces pass pro.

Having said that, I know I would have choked and filled a need. I really like Rambo in the sixth round. I want to throw five guys at safety and let the best man win. Ellington is the right pick. I would have chosen Rambo because I’m not as good of a general manager.

7th Round:

CARDS PICK: D.C. JEFFERSON – tight end, Rutgers

MY PICK: ZAC DYSERT – quarterback, Miami (Ohio)

There’s a lot to say on this pick. First, I would have cussed the Eagles out as soon as I’m on the clock. The fact that Oregon state cornerback Jordan Poyer is on the board at 218 is a steal for Philly. I hope the Cards would have jumped all over Poyer, but Philly picked him one slot ahead of Arizona.

Jefferson is a good ball player. Jeff King’s spot on the roster is in serious jeopardy. I think Jefferson makes the team. Evaluating the Cardinals’ draft, I disagree with this pick and think they should have taken Ohio guard Eric Herman. I can’t stand Arizona’s guards. I’ve seen over 30 of Herman’s games. I think the Cards missed on this one. It’s not the end of the world. They’re not a bunch of idiots. Jefferson isn’t a dolt. I think the Cards and I have differing opinions on their 2012 starting guards.

The reason why I listed “my pick” as Dysert is because I’ve already drafted Quessenberry the round before so I don’t need Herman. I have no idea if Dysert will be a good NFL QB, but I like to take a chance on a QB late in the draft and see if I get lucky.

OVERALL:

The Kevin Minter pick alone is all I needed to see. Steve Keim knows how to run a draft. Cardinals fans should feel excellent about the future. There’s still a long way to go. St. Louis, San Francisco and Seattle were all ahead of Arizona and they all three had excellent drafts, so the gap did not close. That’s not Keim’s fault. I believe in this man as GM.

Follow @doug987FM