On Draft:
NFC West
By Matt Meier and John Scott Gibney
April 21, 2012
Happy Draft season football fans! To celebrate the annual April relevancy of the best sport in the land, Talk Sports / Drink Beer will be examining the needs and projected picks of EVERY SINGLE TEAM, one division per day, until Draft Day on April 26. Matt will play GM, detailing the needs of each club, and John Scott will play Scout, suggesting which prospects would be best, and where to draft them.
April 18: NFC East
April 19: AFC South
April 20 (hee-hee): AFC North
April 21: NFC West
April 22: AFC West
April 23: NFC North
NFC West
Divisional Drink: Greyhound / Salty Dog
San Francisco 49ers (13-3, lost NFC Championship largely thanks to Kyle Williams)
Team Microbrew: Anchor Steam Beer
Draft Picks: 1(30), 2(29), 3(29), 4(30), 5(30), 6(29), 7(30)
Top Needs: Offensive line (especially RG)
Other Considerations: CB, WR, RB
Statistically speaking, San Francisco had the second best defense in the league in points allowed. But I say fuck statistics—they had the best. The 49ers didn’t allow a single rushing touchdown until 53 minutes and 19 seconds into the SIXTEENTH week of the season, and only allowed one other thereafter (to QB Kellen Clemens of all people). If it wasn’t enough that the Niners somehow found themselves with one of best rush defenses in NFL history, all 11 starters are returning next season (and are technically contracted through 2013 as well). There aren’t any stats on the last time a team brought back all 11 defensive starters, but needless to say it’s quite the rarity. Could the Niners use another CB to play in their nickel and dime packages? Sure. Would Kristen Bell be hotter if she had slightly bigger tits? Perhaps. But in the words of Confucius: “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
If you’ll pardon my unnecessary fawning over the Niners’ D—as an Eagles fan, even I’m not entirely sure what sent me on that tangent—San Francisco does need some help with their o-line. Although the big men created sufficient gaps for running backs Frank Gore and rookie Kendall Hunter, they often struggled to protect Alex Smith in the pocket, often forcing him to rely on his mobility to make the play. RG Adam Snyder was dreadful after replacing Chilo Rachal in week 4, though apparently Rachal wasn’t much better because he never did win back his spot and the team ultimately let him walk in free agency. Since the Niners took care of their needs at receiver by signing Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham and luring Randy Moss from his one-year rendezvous with retirement, adding a starting caliber RG is undoubtedly the highest priority. Hell, with all the talent they have elsewhere on that roster, they’d just as well draft a couple just in case one doesn’t pan out—a RT to compete with Anthony Davis wouldn’t hurt, either. That being said, Randy Moss is far from a sure thing and can provide only a season or two of use at best; it would behoove San Francisco to look for value at receiver in the early/mid rounds just in case things don’t go to plan.
John Scott Recommends:
Kevin Zeitler OG – Wisconsin
Zeitler is a big, physical blocker who could really fit right into the religion of Jim Harbaugh.
John Scott's Sleeper pick:
Stephen Hill WR – Georgia Tech
If they decide to add to receiver, Hill immediately adds excitement. Reuben Randle is another option if he is still available.
Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
Team Microbrew: Dirty Guera Blonde Ale (Nimbus Brewery)
Draft Picks: 1(13), 3(17), 4(17), 5(16), 6(7), 6(15), 7(14)
Top Needs: WR, LB, OL
Other Considerations: TE, QB, DL, RB
Last year Arizona gave up Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and this year’s second round draft pick to obtain Kevin Kolb from Philadelphia. Whoops. Kevin Kolb may not be the worst QB in the NFL, but he certainly has a ways to go to live up to his price tag—the fact that analysts are expecting a “competition” between Kolb and John Skelton next year certainly doesn’t bode well for the faith they have in their high-priced trade acquisition. Similar to Cleveland, it would be a waste for Arizona to go after a QB in the early rounds with so many other needs on their roster, starting with the O-Line. Though he’s had his ups and downs throughout his career, Levi Brown finished strong at LT last season and resigned with the team on a five-year deal. Center Lyle Sendlein signed a similar deal last year, and it looks to have paid off as Sendlein was one of the more consistent players on that line. The same cannot be said of last year’s free agent guard acquisition Daryn Colledge, though the right side of the line is of greater concern with RG Rex Hadnot and RT Brandon Keith. Both positions are of relatively equal concern, though I wouldn’t place the O-line need any higher than LB or WR, and with the 13th overall pick, the best players available will likely be one of the latter two positions. Arizona primarily works with a 3-4 front, and this draft is loaded with prospects who project as one of those pass-rushing OLBs. They could certainly use some help at the position as well as some added depth throughout the front seven. That being said, the position that would provide the most immediate impact would be wide receiver, of which there will be plenty at pick thirteen. Larry Fitzgerald has made it pretty clear that he’d like another receiver brought in to take some of the heat off him. For my money, he’s still the most talented wide receiver in the NFL, and it’s frankly nothing short of criminal that he’s had to carry the whole offense for so long. Beanie Wells had a breakout third year, which means the Cardinals have a decent run game for the first time since…well…awhile. They paid a lot (in trade and salary) for Kevin Kolb so that Fitz has (what was presumed to be) a legit QB throwing him the ball. Now it’s time for that next step. If Arizona can’t add another weapon or two to their passing arsenal, they’ll quickly drown in this rapidly improving division.
John Scott Recommends:
Riley Reiff OT – Iowa
I think at 13, the Cards will select Reiff. For their needs, he is likely to be the best on the board at that point. Unless…
John Scott's Sleeper pick:
Michael Floyd WR – Notre Dame
If Floyd or Blackmon fall, Arizona will grab them. Either would make a scary wideout combo with Fitzgerald
Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
Team Microbrew: Red Hook ESB
Draft Picks: 1(12), 2(11), 3(12), 4(11), 6(11), 7(18)
Top Needs: LB, TE, OL
Other Considerations: CB, WR, DL, RB
Ever since Pete Carroll abandoned USC to take over the ‘Hawks to years ago, Seattle has been one of the most randomly hot and cold teams in the NFL. One week they’re losing to one of their various mediocre NFC West rivals, the next they’re tearing apart potential playoff teams. Perhaps it’s that Marshawn Lynch only knows how to turn on beast mode in the second half of the season, or that they haven’t had consistent QB play since the heyday of Matt Hasselback. They brought in over-hyped back-up to Aaron Rogers, Matt Flynn, to “compete” with Trevaris Jackson for the starting job, which would be their third season in a row with a new starting QB. I’m pretty confident that Flynn won’t be the magic solution to their problems—but to be honest, I couldn’t quite tell you what those problems are other than an acute lack of consistency. So with that being said, it would seem that “consistency” is the operative word going into this year’s draft. No workout wunderkinds like Dontari Poe or one-year-wonders like Ryan Tannehill—just good, consistent players who played more than a year of impressive football. Now what draft prospect fits that bill and fills a glaring need? Hm…
Luke Kuechly is undoubtedly the best MLB in this year’s draft and probably the best LB prospect overall. He has been nothing short of superb through his three seasons at Boston College, earning top accolades every year. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that Kuechly is drafted before the twelfth pick. Jacksonville has been rumored as wanting to trade down from their seventh pick, and it may be worth it for Seattle to take them up on that offer in order to land a LB prospect who could immediately step in as a leader on their young defensive unit. Seattle does have some other needs to fill that weren’t addressed through free agency, so perhaps Big Balls Pete will hold onto his picks and hope that Kuechly falls. If he does not, they will likely look to add competition to their young o-line, which ranked fourth worst in the NFL last year. Guard would probably be the biggest need of the bunch, though first-round pick James Carpenter played so horribly in his rookie year before suffering a season-ending injury that a RT would be equally warranted.
John Scott Recommends (2):
Melvin Ingram OLB/DE – South Carolina
Matt is completely right, Kuechly is a beast. I’ve already raved about him for the Eagles pick. And it is very likely Seattle will snag him at 12, but since I’ve already got him going somewhere else, I’ll go with Ingram here. But this is not me underselling Ingram. Let me make it clear: I am extremely HIGH on Ingram. One of the most versatile, defensive players in the draft. At South Carolina he had a knack for finding the ball in every scenario.
John Scott's Sleeper pick:
Nick Perry DE - USC
Calm down. Waaaaay over-reaching here, I know. But I like to have fun with my sleepers. And I like the idea of Pete over-reaching to reunite with his former Trojan player.
St. Louis Rams (2-14)
Team Microbrew: Winged Nut (Urban Chestnut)
Draft Picks: 1(6), 2(1), 2(7), 3(2), 4(1), 6(1), 7(2), 7(45)
Top Needs: WR, OL, OLB, DB, DL…
Other Considerations: Defensive Coordinator
St. Louis is pretty lucky that the Jeff Fischer rebuilding era began the same year the RG3 entered the draft, because they truly needed every pick they got from the Redskins and more. Unfortunately, they won’t see those other two first-rounders until next year and the year after, so they’ll have to piece together what they can with the picks they have. The obvious choice at six is stud wide-out Justin Blackmon, since 99.9% of the league probably couldn’t name a receiver who started all sixteen games for the team last year (assuming there even was one, which there very well may not have been). Then again, the offensive line was an equally unmitigated disaster, and the combination of both inadequacies largely contributed to Sam Bradford’s horrific sophomore slump. There’s no chance in hell that the Rams suddenly evolve into a playoff-caliber team next year let alone a halfway-decent one; but preventing Sam Bradford from becoming the next David Carr should be a vital concern for Jeff Fischer & Co. Bradford can’t go another season in which seemingly every other passing play results in a sack or a dropped pass. So while Blackmon will at least solve one of those issues, they’ll need to somehow find a way to protect their number one overall pick of two years ago.
Other than that, it almost seems a waste of time to address all of the Rams’ needs. Pick any position at random from their roster, and they need either a first day starter or significant depth. I gave the top needs in order of importance, but honestly even QB is on the table if the right guy falls into one of the late rounds—given Bradford’s injury history, it wouldn’t hurt to add another backup.
John Scott Recommends:
Justin Blackmon WR – Oklahoma State
Matt “stealing my thunder” Meier said it. Many fear Blackmon’s college production won’t translate to the big leagues, but he is definitely the best receiver in the draft and definitely who the Rams should take at 6.
John Scott's Sleeper pick:
Fletcher Cox DE – Mississippi State
They could decide to grab receiver talent later in the draft, in which case Fletcher Cox could be a scary guy to add to their line. Also, if Claiborne somehow falls, that makes their decision really easy. Fisher’s stache knows a shutdown corner when it sees one!
###