2011 NFL Draft: NFC West team

Arizona Cardinals
Draft buzz

The Cardinals need a quarterback, but it’s doubtful they take one high in the draft and questionable if they take one at all. The new starter is likely to come through free agency or a trade, and the coaching staff likes John Skelton as the backup. The Cardinals desperately need a pass rusher and would be thrilled to take Texas A&M OLB Von Miller if he were available at No. 5. If he’s gone, they’re open to trading down. They have many needs, and additional draft selections would be attractive.

Targeting

The Cardinals want an impact player in the first round, not one who needs to be developed. That means they likely won’t take Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert. Miller is a possibility here, but the expectation is that he will be gone. That might leave the team a choice between LSU CB Patrick Peterson and Georgia WR A.J. Green. Both players would make sense. Peterson can change a game as a defender and a returner. Green could be a replacement for Steve Breaston, who is not under contract in 2011. Larry Fitzgerald’s contract expires after the season. The Cardinals want to re-sign him, but if they can’t, Green would be insurance. The team has so many needs it could draft almost any position and shore up a weakness. The three interior offensive linemen are not under contract. The talent at tight end has been mediocre for years and could use an upgrade. The depth at defensive end isn’t great, and the club could use a big inside linebacker to help stop the run. Taking Illinois’ Martez Wilson in the second round or LSU’s Kelvin Sheppard in a later round would make sense.

Last word

“Listen, there is nothing wrong with information. There are enough people that don’t agree with what you do, or the calls that I make, so it is my chance to look at something you guys do and disagree with you. TERA Gold ‘God, that wasn’t a very good pick.’ Although I don’t have the forum to put it out there that you do.” — coach Ken Whisenhunt when asked if he looks at media mock drafts

— Kent Somers

St. Louis Rams
Draft buzz

The Rams claim they will stay true to their board and take the highest-rated player available regardless of position, with the only exception being quarterback, where they have Sam Bradford. Almost all teams give some variation of the "best player available" philosophy, RIFT Platinum but the Rams have needs in so many areas they can afford to truly do so, particularly in the early rounds. If the cluster of players the Rams think will be there at No. 14 begins to shrink, they may try to move up. Conversely, if that cluster remains intact, they may try to trade down a few spots.

Targeting

The biggest need positions are wide receiver, defensive tackle, outside linebacker, cornerback and safety. Alabama WR Julio Jones is the player the Rams hope remains available at No. 14. He would provide a big target and the speed to threaten defenses on the perimeter. rift gold If he's not there, Maryland's Torrey Smith and Kentucky's Randall Cobb could be options in Round 2. Minus Clifton Ryan and with Fred Robbins now 34, a starting-caliber defensive tackle is a must as well. Corey Liuget of Illinois would make a lot of sense in the first round if Jones were gone. There are plenty of second- and third-round options as well in Baylor’s Phil Taylor, North Carolina’s Marvin Austin and Clemson’s Jarvis Jenkins. The search for a starting weakside linebacker is trickier because there just aren't many true OLB candidates for a 4-3 scheme at the top of the draft. The best options appear to be North Carolina’s Bruce Carter, Washington’s Mason Foster and Ohio State’s Ross Homan. RIFT Platinum Carter and Foster are probably second-round types; Homan might be had in the third round. The Rams need another corner at worst to compete for the nickel back job, and they will be on the hunt for safety help in the middle rounds. And coach Steve Spagnuolo never turns down a chance to add a defensive end who can rush the passer.

Last word


"We're going to let the board dictate. We can't sit here and say, 'Well, Rift Gold we don't have to worry about taking this position because once free agency comes ... that position is pretty strong, we feel like we can get a guy there.' You can't operate that way. Who know what's going to happen?" — G.M. Billy Devaney

Patrick Peterson could go to an NFC West team, or another team could trade him for him by taking Arizona or San Francisco's spot. (AP Photo)— Jim Thomas