Cardinals pick Temple LB Haason Reddick

The NFL draft starts with the first round Thursday night in Philadelphia. The Arizona Cardinals have the 13th pick as the draft begins and we’ll have you covered with updates and analysis throughout the first round, and live reports from the Cardinals facility and the party at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Well, they had their pick between the two best pure linebackers in this draft – either Alabama’s Reuben Foster or Temple’s Haasan Reddick. The pick was Reddick and you can’t fault the choice, even if Foster projects to be the better overall prospect.

Reddick, though, looks like the better athlete. He’s also way on the plus side when it comes to character grades and versatility. He can get to the backfield, but also drop back in coverage and move side to side quicker and sharper than Foster.

With the Texans trading up to No.12 by wheeling and dealing with the Browns and then drafting Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, it took quarterback out of the equation for the Cardinals.

The top three were all off the board – all because of Thursday night trades, I might add – and there was no way Arizona was going to reach on a DeShone Kizer or a Davis Webb this high in Round No.1. Both of those guys could be available tomorrow in Round 2, unless the Browns snag one of them. But I doubt it.

Cleveland is trying to work a trade with Washington for Kirk Cousins.

Saints grab Lattimore, now what?

At No.11, New Orleans lucked into the best cornerback in the draft in Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore, whom I had projected to go to the Bears before this draft went absolutely nuts. And that’s what it is, I tell you. Nuts.

Cleveland was up next but traded with the Houston Texans- who took Clemson QB Deshaun Watson- and then the Cardinals. Arizona will be able to get one of the linebackers they like – either Alabama’s Reuben Foster or Temple’s Haasan Reddick. The Cardinals might instead go for a safety – Malik Hooker?

All I know is, it won’t be a quarterback now. Not with Mahomes off the board. I don’t think the Cardinals will trade down, either. They’re just minutes away from drafting an impact player of the future on defense.

If it were up to me, I’d make it Foster.

Through the first 10 picks? All offense

This was supposed to go down as a defensive-first draft, but through the first 10 picks, there already have been seven offensive players taken – three wide receivers, two running backs and two quarterbacks.

At No.10, the Bills traded their pick to Kansas City for the Chiefs’ first-round pick this year (No. 27), plus the Chiefs’ third-round pick this year and the Chiefs’ first-round pick next year.

That was a ton to give up to move up 17 spots and select Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II. That’s another player off the board for the Cardinals, who liked Mahomes a lot.

The good news for Arizona, as I keep pointing out, there are some very, very good defensive players available that now will be for them at No.13.

Bengals take WR; third in the 1st round

I had them selecting Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett in my last Mock Draft, but the Bengals pulled a stunner and took Washington receiver John Ross, he of the best 40 time in NFL scouting combine history.

I had Ross going 14th overall to the Eagles.

With this pick, the Cardinals just saw another valuable defensive player become available at 13. My top three picks for them still on the board are Alabama LB Reuben Foster, Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore, and Ohio State safety Malik Hooker.

Well, that’s two WRs off the board

First, it was Corey Davis to the Titans. Now it’s Mike Williams to the Chargers. I had the Cardinals in different Mock Drafts taking each of those wide receivers. Now they’re gone – well ahead of where Arizona picks at No.13.

There’s still Washington speedster John Ross, but the Cardinals won’t take him at 13.

It’ll be a defensive player now for sur, unless they surprise us and nab a QB. I don’t think that’s going to happen. The Cardinals can get their QB of the future (they hope) in the second round (they hope).

Meanwhile, the Panthers just used the No.8 overall pick on Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey.

That makes four correct calls thus far from my final Mock Draft.

Todd Bowles picks LSU DB for the Jets

With three offensive players going in the past four picks, the New York Jets were fortunate to have a few extra picks to consider at No.6 and they just bolstered their defense with the selection of LSU safety Jamal Adams.

Adams is the complete package and he’ll bring instant production and leadership to a Todd Bowles’ defense that sorely needs it. Great pick by the Jets, but they couldn’t have messed it up considering all the great defensive players available to them this early in the draft.

Up next, it’s the Chargers and I have them taking Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. It could be a safety or a cornerback, however.

Cardinals WR prospect off the board early

Tennessee, picking No.5, surprised the entire media room here at Cardinals’ headquarters by selecting Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis.

Yes, that Corey Davis, the one I had the Cardinals taking at No.13.

Some will call it a reach – and it might have been even in my eyes – but I think Davis is going to be a superstar in the mold of Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald if he goes to the right team. The Titans just might be it. They’ve made smart moves and have a solid quarterback and a good coaching staff.

I think a lot of teams are going to wish they had drafted Davis.

More NFL Draft:: Who the top WRs and TEs in this year’s NFL draft?

If that Bears trade felt familiar…

The Bears’ decision to trade up one spot to get quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was reminiscent of a trade between the Cardinals and Chargers in 1998.

The Chargers moved up one sport, from third to second, to get Ryan Leaf. The Cardinals received a fortune for moving down one spot. A second-round pick in 1998, a first-round pick in 1999 and two players, linebacker Patrick Sapp and running back/returner Eric Metcalfe.

The trade didn’t work out as planned for either team. Leaf was a bust for the Chargers. The Cardinals drafted defensive end Andre Wadsworth, whose NFL career lasted just three years because of knee injuries. The Cardinals took cornerback/safety Corey Chavous with the extra second-round pick and receiver David Boston with the first rounder in 1999.

Boston had problems off the field and lasted four years with the Cardinals. Overall, Chavous turned out to be the best draft pick of the bunch. He played 11 years in the NFL.

-Kent Somers

Jags get prized back

No surprise here. The Jaguars, at No.4, grab LSU’s Leonard Fournette – the most prized running back prospect to enter the draft since Adrian Peterson. This is a great move by Jacksonville.

Fournette could change the Jaguars’ entire fortunes. He’ll certainly change their offense.

He will take a ton of pressure off of quarterback Blake Bortles and even help the defense by killing the clock and help his team sustain drives.

I won’t say the Jags are playoff bound in 2017, but they just might be. They’ve made a ton of smart personnel moves the past few season.

Bears move up to take Trubisky at No 2; 49ers go with Thomas

And I kept hearing they wanted to trade back, not up. The Bears made a deal with the 49ers, though, and moved up one spot to take North Carolina QB Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick. The first stunner of the draft!

I doubt Trubisky gets into a single game this season. That’s why Chicago brought in Mike Glennon, who was viewed as a stop-gap solution.

All I know, it was a great move by the 49ers to trade out of the No.2 spot, get the player they’ve wanted all along – Stanford’s Thomas, I believe – and stock pile extra picks.

And I thought San Francisco was going to make the first bonehead move of the draft. (San Francisco took the ‘smart’ pick with Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas at No. 3)

Go Bears!

More NFL Draft coverage: A look at the top QBs in this year’s NFL draft

So about the Cardinals at No. 13…

The Chicago Bears stunned many observers when they moved up to take North Carolina QB Mitchell Trubisky with the No. 2 pick after trading with the 49ers.

As for the Cardinals, in my four Mock Drafts, I’ve had Arizona taking Alabama inside linebacker Reuben Foster twice and projected a wide receiver twice as well – first Clemson’s Mike Williams and most recently, Western Michigan’s Corey Davis.

There are whispers, of course, that the Cardinals might stun us all and take a quarterback at 13. Although I don’t see that happening, it’s not unrealistic.

The argument against taking one that early is you shouldn’t be drafting a QB that high when A), you know he’s not going to play for at least another year and B), you’re a playoff team and you need to focus on a player that can help you immediately in 2017.
But here’s the thing: The Cardinals spent first-round picks in 2013 (Jonathan Cooper), 2015 (D.J. Humphries) and 2016 (Robert Nkemdiche) who didn’t do a lick for them their rookie seasons. They have big plans for the latter two, however, just as they will for a quarterback a year from now if they pick one in the first round.

If they go that route, and I’m not saying they will, the Cardinals will likely draft Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes.

Trade talk is heating up

The Bears, at No.3, reportedly are interested in trading back. I don’t know why they would when they need defensive help in the worst way and this draft is loaded with star defensive talent. Maybe that’s why Chicago is drafting third overall.

Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore is there. So is LSU safety Jamal Adams. Not to mention a ton of riveting defensive linemen and linebackers.

Just spit-ballin’ here, but …

I’m betting that at least two running backs go before a quarterback in Round 1.

I think the Jaguars, at No.4, take LSU’s Leonard Fournette and the Panthers, at No.8, select Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey.

The first quarterback off the board? It’ll probably be Mitchell Trubisky to the Browns, but as previously noted, they might decide to trade up to get him instead of banking he’s still there at No.12. If a team like the Jets snags him at No.6, for instance, the Browns will look foolish. You know, more than they have for the past several seasons.

Who’s Going No.1?

All indications are that the Browns will, indeed, use the No.1 overall pick on Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett. No surprises there. I’ve had Garrett going No.1 in all of my Mock Drafts this year.

There were reports Cleveland might take North Carolina QB Mitchell Trubisky with the pick instead, but don’t count it. If the Browns want Trubisky, they can get him later with pick No.12 or by trading up from 12 to get him.

Get ready, the draft is about to start.

More NFL Draft: A mock draft you can take seriously

 

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