It's not hard to find a mock draft or an opinion about whom the
Cardinals should target with the 13th pick in this year's event; that's
the glory of Google. But nobody publishing those thoughts has the pull
of Larry Fitzgerald, who apparently isn't afraid to share his own
opinions on the matter.
Sports Illustrated's Peter
King wrote in his
weekly column that, in his conversation with the
future Hall of Fame receiver, Fitzgerald indicated that he "wants fellow
Minnesotan Michael Floyd with that 13th pick. Badly
..."
King offers no specifics and doesn't expand on
that comment, but not much expansion is needed to get the point:
Fitzgerald wants a No. 2 receiver, something the Cardinals haven't
really had since Anquan Boldin was traded to the Ravens after the 2009
season (although Steve Breaston had a respectable 2010 season before
signing with the Chiefs).
Floyd, a Notre Dame star
and physical specimen at just under 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, is widely
regarded as not just a No. 2 receiver but possibly a franchise wideout,
as he's nearly pulled even with Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon atop
various draft boards at receiver and is now considered a possible top-10
pick.
That said, there's little debate -- even from
Ken Whisenhunt -- that the Cardinals have a major
need on the offensive line. In fact, King noted
that he's hearing a lot about the Cards' interest in Georgia
guard/tackle Cordy Glenn, and there are several other
first-round-caliber linemen who might be available at No.
13.
Would any of those players have the same overall
impact on the team that a top-flight receiver would have? Hard to
say.
Also hard to say is how much Fitzgerald's
opinion matters -- if at all -- among GM Rod Graves and the other
decision makers in the Cardinals' war room. Fitz's reported private
workout with Kevin Kolb last year, held at Arizona State's practice
facility prior to the Cards finalizing the Kolb trade with the Eagles,
is one data point in his favor.
None of it will
matter, of course, if Floyd is gone by the 13th pick, a definite
possibility given his rise since running a 4.47 40 at the combine. But
if Floyd's on the board, all the fans hoping for a slightly sexier pick
than the best offensive lineman on the board will have the backing of
one rather prominent voice. It'll be interesting to see if the Cards
listen.
- Matt Swartz
