NFL Draft: NFC West Wishes and Needs
Posted: April 26th, 2006 | Author: Zim | Filed under: NFL | No Comments »Seattle set on trying to repeat in the NFC in 2007
49ers, Cards and Rams all pick early–while the Seabags have to wait until nearly dinner time to make a choice in the first round.
by Mike Zimmer
San Francisco 49ers…7th Overall pick in the first round followed by the 22nd pick attained from Denver
The mess that is the 49ers again picks early in the draft, and will no doubt be back in this familiar spot in 2007. The 49ers have plenty of holes to fill and needs on both side of the ball. Once the team of the 80’s and 90’s, San Francisco used to draft very well. Now, it seems that can’t get out of their own way when it comes to the draft. After picking Alex Smith with the first pick last season (Wow, that one isn’t paying off now is it?), the 49ers have to try and plug other holes and the most glaring are not on offense–a place Smith is going to continue struggling in. Cornerback is a need spot despite having Mike Rumph and Ahmed Plummer–once both considered good cover corners. Both however have managed to be hurt more then they have played and there is no telling if either will be worth a damn in 2006. The team is now desperate for Wide Reciever help too with the 49ers trading away both Brandon Lloyd and Rahan Woods, both former early round picks. Throw in a depleted D-Line and Line backing corp and the 49ers are a mess in every sense of the word. What don’t they need? With the #7 pick, a top end defender is going to be available. With any luck, the 49ers will be able to snap up Safety Michael Huff of Texas or take their pick of the best available Corner. They could go a different direction and select Santonio Holmes of Ohio State to plug a gaping reciever problem or, add one of the top flight Tight Ends. The team has been very interested in Vernon Davis of Maryland. Their pick will set up a ton of other teams on the day and there is a real possibilty that teams may either try to trade in front of them or try and trade for their pick. However, they have no hedged their bet by acquiring the #22 overall pick from the Broncos who acquired the pick via the Jets thru the Falcons. Got all that? The #22 pick has changed hands 4-times.
Arizona Cardinals…10th Overall Pick
On the cusp of being competitive, the Cardinals need to make the most of their pick as they intend to make up for a disappointing season a year ago. A Chic pick to win the NFC West last season (sounds silly now doesn’t it?), the Cardinals have improved their running game by signing Edgerin James via free agency and the club will hope to stay healthy this season unlike last. Even with the top passing game in the NFC, they didn’t protect their QB’s very well. To keep Kurt Warner up right, they need someone to play Tackle. USC’s Winston Justice has rising stock of late and the Cardinals were interested sutors. The Cards also need some defensive help as their run stopping abiltiy was poor and they need a Safety. Prime defenders will still be on the board at pick #10. The interesting possibility is if the Cardinals remember their the Cardinals and decide they need to build on the future and pick a QB. Jay Cutler may be an option too tempting for them to pass on. Knowing the Cardinals, they won’t be able to.
St. Louis Rams…11th Overall Pick
It is an understatement to say the Rams need help on defense. With the worst unit in the NFL last season, and worst in team history–St. Louis needs everything. First things first, the team is in a spot where they can stock talented defensive players in the first 3 rounds. Safety and Cornerback are of special need and they may have their choice of guys after That guy from Texas I keep mentioning (Huff). Rising up the charts with incredibly hot stock is Antonio Cromarte of Florida State–a BIG cover corner who only got a short time to show what he had to prove between injuries and being burried on the depth chart. This team also was bad against the run and Iowa’s Chad Greenway at LB might be able to fill a big need to stop the run and chase down opposition QB’s. Leonard Little is the only talent they have on the D-Line and he is a real turd. They will address the D-Line at some point on draft weekend. The Rams are another team that has not drafted well of late and they may be another team that might stretch and make a poor pick. If the Cards pass on Cutler, they may not–as Marc Bulger has not shown he can stay healthy yet, and the Rams might be thinking of a contingiancy plan.
Seattle Seahawks…31st overall pick
Seattle had the steal of the draft in NFC Rookie of the year Lofa Tapupu last season in the late 2nd Round. They hope they are so lucky when it comes to picking from a deep defensive talent pool. The most pressing needs would seem to be in the secondary where they were a M*A*S*H* Unit all last season–especially at Safety. However, there are more talented CB’s available where they pick at #31 and they will have their choice of the second wave of top guys. Defensive Line and perhaps more LB help could be addressed in the form of DT Broderick Bunkley of Florida State or Bobby Carpenter of the Ohio State Buckeyes as outside help to Tapupu.
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