The best teams in the NFL tend not to draft out of need, but to compliment the team. To bring the best out of each and every prospect that enters the team, through technique coaching, and complimentary playing, using everyone's skills on the field.
And the Arizona Cardinals seem to do that with everyone they bring onto the team.
Alright, maybe I'm jumping to quick conclusions. Year II of the Bruce Arians era was a stunning hit, the Cardinals being the best team in the league until Carson Palmer was lost for the season. Andre Ellington, a 6th round pick that the best draft analysts said wouldn't survive in the NFL struggled with injuries, but is still one of the better dual backs in the league. Larry Fitzgerald is still playing at his prime. Michael Floyd is maturing into an All-Pro by the looks of it, and a new deep explosive threat is up and coming in the form of John Brown.
I had a chance to talk with a former player some weeks ago, Jovan Haye, who spent time on 5 different NFL teams after being drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 6th round of the 2005 draft. He told me that back when he played, NFL teams appreciated veteran presence so much more then it does now. He was right. Most NFL teams are bringing in younger players, drafting out of need, and building leaders through hands on experience, not on observation.
We see that sometimes, this approach, has a tendency to backfire. Have we seen the Jet's players rally around Geno Smith? No. He was expected to be a leader straight out of college, and he's still working on it.
The NFL used to hire veteran players just to add their experience to the squad, and it built strong young players.
So far, the major loss that Arizona has taken is Darnell Dockett, who left the team to sign with San Francisco, and Dockett missed the entire 2014 season with a bad knee. Despite his loss, Arizona featured a top defense, just with a slight weakness in a spot on the defensive line, notably, his spot. According to Dockett, he gave gave the Cardinals "two or three chances" to match the Niners offer, so obviously, Arizona thinks they have a solution at his position.
Perhaps they hope the solution will be found in a free agent, as they will host former Indianapolis Colt DE Cory Redding in Tempe tomorrow. Redding tweeted that he is "looking forward to visiting." He's a 12 year veteran, and his presence will be greatly appreciated in the locker room.
However, Arizona, in my opinion, isn't looking to fix their line with Redding as a long term solution. He's 34 now, and he played 715 snaps in Indianapolis last season. I think Arizona is looking to snatch a development lineman, perhaps a 2nd or 3rd round pick in Marcus Hardison from Arizona State. He is a high upside development pick, and under Redding's influence, he may turn into something Arizona would like to have.
Also in the mix is former Atlanta Falcon DT Corey Peters. The Cardinals have just signed him today to a 3 year deal bringing in what is estimated to be $3.5 million per year. The interesting thing about Peters is why he chose the Cardinals over 6 other clubs. "Arizona’s entire approach was unique in that they had a plan for me," he said. "Throughout discussions, I thought I could be a good fit there." Peters is extremely versatile, and can play any position on the defensive line in the Cardinals 3-4 scheme, much like Dockett could.
Another former Falcon is set to join the Cardinals, and that is Sean Weatherspoon. The Falcons Linebacker is very good friends with Peters, and although Weatherspoon missed all of 2014 with a ruptured Achilles tendon, he offers a strong veteran presence and support at the ILB spot that Arizona desperately needs. He's been inked reportedly into a 1 year $4 million deal.
Add former Pittsburgh Steeler and Oakland Raider OLB LaMarr Woodley to add edge pressure, and I'm not sure what offenses are going to do to try and stop this defense from getting to the QB. Woodley missed a lot of football with the Raiders in 2014, playing in just 6 games and collecting 5 tackles, but he is a proven pass rusher and edge protector, and I think Woodley can be healthy and motivated in 2015 with Arians and comp.
As if that's not enough news to add to the defense, Arizona is hosting former Broncos LB Nate Irving, someone else who can offer some strong support from the ILB position. Irving is a run stopper by nature, and is coming off of a November ACL tear. He still managed to collect 46 tackles, and can be cheap and helpful in the 2015 season for Arizona.
Arizona has signed a beast in former Niner offensive guard Mike Iupati. Adding him to the LG position with Jason Veldheer at LT and Jonathan Cooper at RG is going to do nothing but bless the offense that runs behind them. Now having Iupati inked at 5 years $40 million, $22.5 of that guaranteed, the Cardinals have dished out $54 million worth of guaranteed money in the past 3 years to offensive linemen, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.
Iupati's arrival has been highly praised by Cardinals alike. Calais Campbell, the teams leader on defense, was thrilled to have him. "He's a beast." Iupati will offer an immediate support on the run game, and a lot of support in pass protection for Carson Palmer, or whoever is playing QB.
A key player I think Arizona should re-sign is CB Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie played big last year, and I'm not convinced that the Cardinals defense is prepared to allow him to move on. According to current reports, Cromarties decision is down to either resigning with Arizona, the Jets or Cowboys.
Cromartie is a perfect example of a veteran player that Arizona brought in with concerns on his physical condition, and he outplayed all of his critics, giving the Cardinals the best he had. When he signed his 1 year "trial" contract last season, Cromartie was a hit or miss prospect. He had struggled in New York with Rex Ryan and the Jets, bringing up concerns on his age whether he had outplayed his prime, but an impressive season has turned Cromartie into one of the top defensive free agents at his position on the market.
Sitting at pick number 24 is pretty sweet for a team doing so well in free agency, so what can Arizona do with the draft to help the team? I think they're talent at the TE position is pretty low, but so is the collective pool entering the draft this season. Maxx Williams from Minnesota is the top contender in the first round, and he should be at least considered by the Cardinals for both his soft hands and his blocking ability. If they don't want to go with a TE, then a player such as OG Tre Jackson should still be on the board to add even more explosion to the offensive line. Remember, not much of this draft will be made out of need, most of it will be made to compliment the team.
Arizona has too much talent not to cast a shadow in the Super Bowl contender talks. The most important thing for them at the current time is that they're still a solid team, they're basically adding talent everywhere. Arizona is quietly preparing to win Super Bowl L.
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