Yes,
knee-jerk draft grades are kind of pointless since nobody
really knows how things will turn out a few years
down the road, when picks can be fairly assessed. But every expert does
them and just about every fan reads them, so for your viewing pleasure,
we have assembled a compilation of assessments of the Cardinals' 2013
draft class, which "filled
needs" according to first-year general manager
Steve Keim, who added, "every guy has a
chance to come in and make an immediate impact."
Of
course, every GM/coach talks up his draft class, but the numbers say
some picks have to be good and some have to be bad. And according to the
analysts, the Cardinals' picks fell toward the right end of the grading
scale.
With 15 experts' report cards in, the
Cardinals have an A+, three A's, three A-'s, a B+ and seven B's. In GPA
terms, that's a 3.42, which ... well, we won't reminisce about school
days. We'll just give you the rundown, one that's collectively pretty
glowing.
Jen
Floyd Engel, Alex Marvez and Peter Schrager,
FOXSports.com
Floyd Engel: A. They needed a miracle and came PDC
(pretty damn close).
The highlight is getting Tyrann Mathieu in the third. He is first-round
talent who now has been scared off weed. Win-win for them.
Marvez: B. They addressed their woeful OL with one
immediate starter at
No. 7 overall (Jonathan Cooper) and by adding another guard, Earl
Watford, during Round 4. When it comes to Mathieu, they are hoping: A)
He can convert to safety after playing cornerback at LSU; B) The
presence of close friend Patrick Peterson can help keep him away from
the off-field trouble that has plagued him.
Schrager: B. The selection of Mathieu dominated
headlines, but I liked
the team’s first two selections of Cooper and Kevin Minter far more. I’m
not sure if Mathieu is a corner or a safety in the NFL, but I know
Cooper and Minter can contribute right away. Arizona added to a solid
core this weekend. Unfortunately, they’re still far behind the three
teams ahead of them in the NFC West.
Mel
Kiper,
ESPN.com
Grades:
Needs B- / Value B+ / Overall B
Last year
the Cardinals allowed a sack on one out of every 11.7 dropbacks. This
offseason, there's been almost a hysteria about their need to get better
on the offensive line, with tackle mentioned often. But very quietly,
rookies Bobby Massie and Nate Potter played a lot better on the edges
toward the end of the season, and Levi Brown is also returning. That's
why I had guard as a bigger need. The Cardinals drafted a future Pro
Bowl one in Jonathan Cooper.
Jason
Cole, Yahoo
Sports
Grade:
A
No matter what happens with Mathieu – and
all outcomes are on the table – this is probably going to end up being a
strong draft because of Cooper and Minter. Cooper is an extraordinary
guard, the rare type that is worth not only taking in the first round,
but in the top 10. You’re talking about a potential all-time great at
that position. As for Minter, he’s a very good player who will likely
start from Day 1. Moreover, Minter and CB Patrick Peterson are part of
the plan to get the most out of Mathieu, an extremely talented and sadly
undisciplined player. If that weren’t enough, the beauty of this draft
could be in the combination of Okafor, Taylor and Swope, who all have a
chance to be serious contributors.
Pete
Prisco, CBSSports.com
Grade: A
Best pick: Texas defensive end Alex Okafor was once considered a
potential first-round pick. He had some big games as a pass rusher, so
to get him in the fourth round is great value.
Questionable move: Some will say it's taking LSU corner Tyrann Mathieu
and moving him to free safety. I like the idea of doing that, but can he
stay out of trouble?
Third-day gem: I love the choice of Andre Ellington in the sixth round.
He has speed. He is elusive and he's an air back.
Analysis: In his first draft running things, Cardinals general manager
Steve Keim came up big. He landed a lot of talented players throughout.
Rob
Rang,
CBSSports.com
Grade:
A-
Much of the pre-draft focus nationally
was on Arizona's tackles, but the interior was the scarier spot for the
Cardinals, assuming left tackle Levi Brown returns to health. Jonathan
Cooper's athleticism and versatility makes him a safe, solid pick, as
was fellow guard Earl Watford three rounds later. Easy to fall in love
with the Cardinals' guts to gamble on Tyrann Mathieu, who'll be moved to
free safety. Mathieu is reunited with fellow LSU playmaker Patrick
Peterson, giving Arizona two of the best playmakers in all of the NFL in
their secondary, as well as the Tigers' MVP, inside linebacker Kevin
Minter, a physical, instinctive
run-stuffer.
Vinnie
Iyer, The Sporting
News
Grade:
A-
Their most-talked-about pick was LSU
cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, who is a wild card on and off the field. But
they should get more attention for their sure-fire selections. North
Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper fills a huge need for interior blocking
help. LSU inside linebacker Kevin Minter brings sound tackling to their
3-4, and Texas end/outside linebacker Alex Okafor gives them more
pass-rush pop for it. Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor can be a
short-term feature option with Rashard Mendenhall and Ryan Williams
trying to shake off injuries. Texas A&M quick slot receiver Ryan
Swope is a good late-round flyer.
John
McClain, Houston
Chronicle
Grade:
A-
Cooper and Minter should be immediate
starters who fill huge needs. They took a big chance on Mathieu. Rather
than have him cover a slot receiver, he’s going to be moved to free
safety. Okafor should have a chip on his
shoulder.
Chris
Burke, Sports
Illustrated
Grade:
B+
Analysis: The headliner here is CB
Tyrann Mathieu, but it’s actually what Arizona did elsewhere that made
this a very solid draft. G Jonathan Cooper (and later Earl Watford) will
improve an awful O-line, while LB Kevin Minter was a solid add in Round
2 and DE/OLB Alex Okafor a steal in Round 4. Don’t sleep on the Stepfan
Taylor-Andre Ellington duo at RB.
Steals:
Damontre Moore, DE, Giants (No. 81); Alex Okafor, DE, Cardinals (No.
103): A pair of falling pass-rushers, Moore dropped to Round 3 and
Okafor to Round 4. The knocks on Moore in the past weeks all centered on
a questionable work ethic, while Okafor was viewed as a bit of a
one-trick pony up front. Given some chances though, both will
produce.
Nate
Davis: USA
Today
Grade:
B
Guards aren't sexy picks, but they're
invariably good ones, and Jonathan Cooper immediately improves a shaky
line. Kevin Minter and Alex Okafor upgrade the depth of the defense, and
Minter's likely to play immediately for suspended ILB Daryl Washington.
RBs Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington brought great value at the back
of the draft, and either could push Rashard Mendenhall for carries.
Paul
Domowitch,
Philly.com
Grade:
B
G Jonathan Cooper will provide needed
interior help to Cardinals’ o-line. LB Kevin Minter was good value in
the middle of the second round, but with Daryl Washington and Jasper
Brinkley there, I don’t know where he’s going to
play.
Ira
Kaufman, The Tampa
Tribune
Grade:
B
The Cardinals did a nice job of landing
talented players who can help them compete in a killer division. From
versatile G Jonathan Cooper to sixth-round WR Ryan Swope, Arizona added
depth all over the board. Don't be surprised if LB Kevin Minter and DB
Tyrann Mathieu both earn starting jobs as
rookies.
Randy
Covitz, The Kansas City
Star
Grade:
B
Cooper and Watford will help a team that
ranked last in rushing and first in sacks allowed. Minter is solid but
smallish for an inside linebacker, but Mathieu, who will be tried at
free safety, can be a difference-maker if he stays out of trouble.
Okafor, who had 121/2 sacks in 2012, will be a needed pass rusher in the
NFC West. Taylor, Stanford’s career rushing leader, will join a
wide-open RB competition.
Andrea
Hangst,
BleacherReport.com
Grade:
A+
Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve
Keim needed to help out his team's offense this year while also getting
a few well-targeted defensive players and they did just that, hitting a
home run in a draft year that required
it.
From offensive guard Jonathan Cooper in
Round 1, to safety Tyrann Mathieu in the third, from inside linebacker
Kevin Minter in the second and to defensive end Alex Okafor in the
fourth, not to mention receiver Ryan Swope and running back Andre
Ellington in Round 6, the Cardinals nailed pretty much every
pick.
-- Matt
Swartz
