Billick breaks down NFC West draft needs
By Brian Billick
FOXSports.com
FOXSports.com analyst and former NFL head coach Brian Billick breaks down the draft needs for the teams in the NFC West.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Finished:
8-8
Drafting: 13th Pick
The
Cardinals were the prototypical team that finished the regular season
well to set up what they hope will be a playoff run next season. The defense started
to come around under new coordinator Ray Horton and figures to pick up
where it left off. Offensively, they made the big trade last season for
quarterback Kevin Kolb but got little for their money because of injury
and lack of protection.
The Cardinals have not been the same
since letting receiver Anquan Boldin go to the Ravens. The offensive
line and wide receiver positions need to be addressed, as do the
secondary and linebackers.
Sitting at No. 13 in the draft, the
Cardinals aren’t in position to get a blue-chipper, but they should have
their pick of players who could help them immediately. Defensive end
Melvin Ingram from South Carolina or Quinton Coples from North Carolina
would be a score. Linebackers such as Luke Kuechly from Boston College
or Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower should be available.
The Cardinals
don't have a second-round pick (given up to Philadelphia), so they
would have to wait until the third round to get a defensive back such as
Leonard Johnson from Iowa State or maybe a guard such as Brandon Brooks
from Miami (Ohio). If they chose to address their guard needs in free
agency, they might look at tackle Senio Kelemete of Washington as a third-round
option.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Finished:
2-14
Drafting: Sixth Pick
The Rams are in great shape to take advantage of their 2-14 season and top-10 pick. After wisely trading their No. 2 pick to the Redskins, new head coach Jeff Fisher has four picks in the first three rounds of the draft.
The Rams were strategic in free agency, adding center Scott Wells from Green Bay as well as linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar and defensive back Cortland Finnegan. But Fisher also will have to use his draft picks to help fill the holes at virtually every position.
The Rams will need a wide receiver to help Sam Bradford return to the promise of his rookie year. After the season, it seemed unlikely that Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State would be available at No. 6, but the Rams may indeed be able to get him. If another team moves in front of St. Louis through a trade, or if Cleveland takes quarterback Ryan Tannehill at No. 4, an elite player will be available to the Rams at No. 6.
It could be running back Trent Richardson, offensive tackle Matt Kalil or defensive back Morris Claiborne. Any of them would be a great addition to a team that was better than its 2-14 record.
If the blue-chip players are gone, the Rams could fall back again and pick up additional picks on the second day. There a number of receivers, such as Kendall Wright from Baylor, Stephen Hill from Georgia Tech, Alshon Jeffery of South Carolina and Rueben Randle of LSU, who would all be upgrades at the position.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Finished:
13-3 — eliminated in NFC title game
Drafting: 30th pick
The
Niners were one of the most aggressive players in free agency,
re-signing some key players such as defensive back Carlos Rogers and
defensive end Ahmad Brooks while slapping the franchise tag on safety
Dashon Goldson.
Of course, getting quarterback Alex Smith back
was a priority once they fell out of the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.
They also added a solid backup in Josh Johnson from Tampa Bay.
Having
done all that, the 49ers desperately needed a receiving threat, which
led to them signing Mario Manningham from the Giants and bringing Randy
Moss out of retirement. Their first-round picks in 2010 and 2011, guard
Mike Iupati and defensive end Aldon Smith, were home runs.
But
their No. 10 pick in 2009, receiver Michael Crabtree, hasn't lived up to
that status. Even with what they did in free agency, receiver and
defensive back still could be a priority in the draft.
If speedy
wideout Kendall Wright of Baylor should drop, he certainly will be
considered. Another option might be Peter Konz from Wisconsin, who could
play guard and be the heir apparent to center Jonathan Goodwin.
If
it turns out the 49ers need a cornerback, Janoris Jenkins, the best in
the draft, could fall to them because of his character issues. Some
teams have taken Jenkins off the board, but the Ravens proved with Jimmy
Smith last year that these types of players can be worth the risk.
Whatever
doesn’t get addressed with the 30th pick, the 61st could yield guard
Kelechi Osemele from Iowa State or they could really luck out and find
wide receiver Stephen Hill from Georgia Tech still on the board.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Finished:
7-9
Drafting: 12th Pick
It was no surprise that the Seahawks' 7-9 record wasn't good enough to get into the playoffs, like it did in 2010 in the anemic NFC West. The defense, particularly the secondary, really began to come alive in 2011. Still, it needs to be able to put more pressure on the quarterback and a premier edge rusher doesn’t appear to be available in this draft.
The Seahawks were one of the more active teams in free agency. The signings of offensive linemen Frank Omiyale and Deuce Lutui, defensive lineman Jason Jones and linebacker Barrett Ruud will put Seattle in better position to challenge the 49ers.
The biggest free-agent signing could be nabbing quarterback Matt Flynn from the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks say it will be an open competition between Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson, but they gave Flynn a $26 million contract with $10 million guaranteed. Who do you think will start? The Seahawks' draft position does not put them in position to get a passer in the first round (unless they have convinced themselves that Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M is the answer).
Seattle is in good position at No. 12 to get a number of its needs addressed. They could end up with guard David DeCastro from Stanford, defensive end Melvin Ingram of South Carolina or even Quinton Coples from North Carolina.
In the second round, the Seahawks could be thinking about Oregon running back LaMichael James. If they don’t address the offensive line in the first round, guard Kevin Zeitler could fall to them or Amini Silatolu from Midwestern State likely will be there.