Undrafted Free Agent List: Plenty Of Names Available Once Lockout Ends

Typically the days after the NFL draft are reserved for two things. The first is partying by the guys who were drafted and the second is teams scrambling to sign free agents who weren't drafted. Most of those guys just end up in camp as warm practice bodies but every now and then one of those undrafted free agents from the list turns out to be a diamond in the rough. There were after all, 23 undrafted free agents in this year's Pro Bowl.

Some of the top names out there include according to SB Nation's Jason Kirk include:

Kentucky Wildcats RB Derrick Locke, North Carolina Tar Heels DB Kendric Burney, Clemson Tigers SS DeAndre McDaniel, Fort Valley State WR Ricardo Lockette, Central Michigan LB Nick Bellore, UNC DB Deunta Williams, Notre Dame Fighting Irish DT Ian Williams and Fresno State WR Jamel Hamler. Names like Oregon Ducks WR Jeff Maehl and Boston College Eagles LB Mark Herzlich also surely ring a bell?

Here's the list of 2011 undrafted free agents, according to NFL.com. Click the header of a column to sort it:

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Because It's Never Too Soon To Make Things Up

Every year after the NFL Draft we look back at the various mock draft boards and laugh mockingly at how wrong they were. The best experts in the country with the final mock drafts just days before the actual draft got nine of the first 32 picks right. That's an accuracy rate of just 28 percent under the best possible conditions. So, when you look at this 2012 NFL Mock Draft please don't believe it has any connection to reality.

What you can take from such an early look at the 2012 mock draft board is a peak at the college football players that at least two guys think will be important names one year from now. We know for sure that Andrew Luck will be at the top of the list. We likely would have been the top guy taken in the 2011 NFL Draft if he hadn't done the crazy thing and returned to school for another year. It is interesting to think that a guy who would make such a nutty decision could still be considered a top pick, but there you have it.

So, enjoy this peak at the 2012 NFL Draft and just remember that it means very little. Here's the top 10 picks guesses:

1. San Francisco 49ers: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford. Even with Colin Kaepernick on board, it's tough to imagine Jim Harbaugh turning down any opportunity to reunite with his Stanford protege.

2. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina. Even with their franchise quarterback in Cam Newton, this team is probably going to struggle. Coples is an athletic marvel, and the Panthers need a pass rush.

3. Washington Redskins: Matt Barkley, QB, USC. During ESPN's draft telecast this weekend, John Beck's name was floated as a possible starter. So yeah, the Redskins are taking a quarterback early next year.

4. Tennessee Titans: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina. Jake Locker is Tennessee's future. If it's going to be a pleasant future, he'll need more offensive weaponry. Jeffery is very gifted.

5. Buffalo Bills: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma. The Bills still don't have a long-term answer at quarterback; they have Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jones has done nothing but produce at Oklahoma, and has solid upside.

6. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Kalil, OT, USC. Quarterback will be a possibility, but Kalil is next year's top tackle prospect, and the Cardinals won't be able to ignore OT much longer.

7. Seattle Seahawks: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford. Seattle made their line a priority this year, and it will still be a priority next year. Martin would be a bookend for Russell Okung.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State. Geno Atkins is good, but may not be an every-down player. Worthy would team with fellow MSU product Domata Peko.

9. Denver Broncos: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama. Champ Bailey is getting no younger, and Kirkpatrick will enter the league polished and pro-ready, with huge upside.

10. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State. The Browns have a nice mix of young receivers, but maybe not a true No. 1. Blackmon torched the Big 12 as a sophomore.

NFL Draft Results: Demarco Sampson Is Cardinals 'Mr. Irrelevant'

"Mr. Irrelevant" is the ignoble title bestowed on the final pick of the NFL Draft. The Arizona Cardinals don't have that final pick, Houston does. The Cardinals have selected DeMarco Sampson with the 249th pick of the draft which makes him just five spots earlier than the Mr. Irrelevant, Cheta Ozougwu.

Sampson is the eight player selected by the Cardinals in the 2011 NFL Draft so he does earn the team Mr. Irrelevant title. The wide receiver from San Diego State will turn 26 during his rookie season (assuming he makes the team). He had extra years of college eligibility granted due to missed seasons due to injury.

Sampson missed the 2006 and 2007 seasons due to a  foot injury and was kicked out of school for poor grades in spring 2008. In his best season, 2010, Sampson had 67 catches, 1,220 yards, and 8 TDs for the Aztechs.

Good luck, Sampson, at least expectations are low.

And so concludes the 2011 NFL Draft. Stay tuned for more analysis and discussion in the coming days.

NFL Draft Results: DL David Carter Developmental 6th Round Pick By Cardinals

David Carter was a defensive tackle for the UCLA Bruins but at 6-4, 294 will likely be moved to defensive end at the NFL level. Carter was picked 186th overall in the later part of the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. 

Carter showed flashes but was a fairly inconsistent player in college. Cardinals team blogger, Daren Urban, believes he will compete for a spot backing up Calias Campbell or Darnell Dockett on the Cardinals defensive line. Carter started just one season at UCLA, prompting beat writer Kent Somers to consider him a developmental player.

Revenge of the Birds blog relayed this report from Sports Illustrated about Carter's play at the East/West game.

After a disappointing senior season Carter responded with an all-star type performance every practice. He's looked incredibly athletic, beating blockers off the snap then quickly changing direction to sack quarterbacks or catch ball carriers in backside pursuit. Opponents were forced to double team the Bruin lineman in an effort to stop him. Scouts are hoping the light has gone on for Carter and he continues to play at this high level in the NFL.

The Arizona Cardinals have one pick remaining in the 2011 NFL Draft. At 249, their seventh round compensatory pick is just five slots beneath Mr. Irrelevant, the final pick of the draft.

Quan Sturdivant Taken By Cardinals In 6th Round To Help Inside Linebacker Corps

Quan Sturdivant may or may not turn out to be a solid football player for the Arizona Cardinals. The inside linebacker drafted in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL Draft is the 171st player taken which automatically makes him a bit of a gamble like most other players taken in the late rounds. Certainly there's examples of guys doing really well who were drafted late but there's far more busts coming out of the sixth round. 

One thing about this pick, we aren't likely to forget his name. Quan Sturdivant has a nice ring to it. It's bound to stick in the craw for a few years regardless of what the young man out of North Carolina does in a Cardinals uniform.

Quan has a few clouds hanging over him. He missed five games during the 2010 season due to a hamstring injury and only participated in some of the drills at the NFL Combine. He was also cited for possession of marijuana in 2010. Sturdivant should compete for a job right away as the Cardinals have plenty of holes to fill on the linebacker corp. They are expected not to bring back Gerald Hayes.

2011 NFL Draft Results: Arizona Cardinals Fill A Need By Taking Quan Sturdivant - Revenge of the Birds
It looks like the Cardinals have found their guy to compete with Paris Lenon and possibly line up next to Daryl Washington. Quan Sturdivant, ILB, North Carolina is the choice and he is a guy that Arizona Cardinals fans should see as pick that fills a need.

 Sturdivant was projected to go in the third or fourth round by Mel Kiper Jr. from ESPN, so for the Cardinals to pick him up in the sixth round means that they got tremendous value with their pick.

Cardinals Continue To Ignore Needs, Draft FB Anthony Sherman In 5th Round

While you are out at the pool or playing golf or mowing the lawn (sorry), the 2011 NFL Draft is moving right along. In the fifth round of the draft, the Arizona Cardinals continued the "best available" theme and went with full back Anthony Sherman out of Connecticut. 

Sherman is a beefy 245 pounds at just 5-10 and is rated as a very good special teams player who is considered a "hard-nose blocker and reliable receiver".  He had 63 special team tackles as UConn Huskie.

Asked by the media at Cardinals Draft HQ about not taking an offensive lineman, GM Rod Graves said, "Again, we are allowing our (draft) board to dictate our selections."

Sherman seems to understand his role in life fairly well and reportedly said, "You gotta have a couple screws loose to be a fullback. I don't know if everyone can do it, but there are a few of us doing it every day out here."

Here's Revenge of the Bird's take on the Sherman pick:

2011 NFL Draft Results: Arizona Cardinals Draft Fullback Anthony Sherman In The Fifth Round - Revenge of the Birds
Looks like the Cardinals really want to run the ball more. They haven't upgraded the Offensive Line at all yet, but they have selected Ryan Williams in the second round, and in the fifth round they have added Fullback Anthony Sherman from UConn.

Redskins Stockpile Four Picks In 5th & 7th Rounds: What's The Goal?

Sam Acho Defensive End Cardinals Need, Selected In 4th Round Of NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals needed a defensive lineman in this weekend and in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft they got one in Sam Acho. Acho was a defensive end at Texas but will likely convert to outside linebacker in the Cardinals 3-4 defense. He lacks elite speed of some of the guys the Cardinals passed on earlier in the draft so it will be a waiting game to see if the can provide the pass rush that older vets Joey Porter and Clark Haggans didn't provide.

Acho's top-rated skill according to the ESPN scouting report is his intangibles. Reading through this list of accomplishments, it's easy to see him being a Ken Whisenhunt guy.

Team captain that won team's most valuable player award, most valuable defensive player award and a strength and conditioning award in 2010. Won several other team awards during time at Texas. Head coach Mack Brown called Acho one of the team's best special teams' players. Won several prestigious academic awards including the William V. Campbell Award and community service awards including the Wuerffel Award in 2010.

Representative at NCAA Leadership Council and recipient of Arthur Ashe Award a national award given to minority student-athletes in 2009. Speaks Spanish and has taken multiple trips to Nigeria where his parents grew up.

Cardinals blog Revenge of the Birds will surly be happy with this pick. They targeted Acho before Saturday's portion of the NFL Draft started.

If Available, Should The Cardinals Draft Sam Acho? - Revenge of the Birds
Right now, a lot of us are frustrated that the Cardinals took Running Back Ryan Williams and Tight End Robert Housler instead of some of the pass rushers who were available like Akeem Ayers, Brooks Reed, and Dontay Moch.

 Acho played Defensive End for the Texas Longhorns, and while they vastly underperformed as a team last season he had a good year racking up eight sacks with 60 tackles...He also preformed well in the Combine posting a 4.63 in the 40 yard dash, along with a 37.5 inch vertical leap and good performances in the Linebacker drills.

The Cardinals have one pick each in the fifth (136), sixth (171), and seventh (249) rounds with an extra pick (184) in the sixth. 

Ryan Williams 15th-Ranked Player On Cardinals Board, Beanie Wells 'Excited'

When the Arizona Cardinals selected running back Ryan Williams with the 38th pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, many people were surprised. The Cardinals defense was seen by most to be a bigger priority and there were still two available edge rushers that most experts had going in the first round of the draft, Brooks Reed and Da'Qaun Bowers.

The Cardinals then drafted their third skill player of the draft in the third round with tight end RobHousler at 69. Coach Ken Whisenhunt explained the picks to the media late in the day on Friday.

"To be quite honest with you, we're looking at pick 38 and we've got the 15th-ranked player starting us back in the face so that's something you really have to consider," the Cardinals' head coach explained.

It seems like the Williams pick means that either Beanie Wells or Tim Hightower won't be coming back. Wells, 22, in his second season with the Cardinals saw his productivity drop and his durability became an issue as he missed three games and only carried the ball 116 times. Of course many, including Wells, felt like he wasn't given enough opportunities to run the ball. 

Tim Hightower, 24, played in all 16 games and started 13 of them. He posted a career-high 4.8 yards per carry but he also continued to fumble the ball at key times. Hightower is a free agent this offseason. Late in the season young LaRod Stephens-Howling, also 23, started to get more opportunities. He finished with 23 rushes and an impressive 4.9 yards per carry.

No one knows what the Cardinals are going to do with their group of running backs now that Ryan Williams is in the mix. Whisenhunt provided no answer to that question other than to say that the pick wasn't designed to send a message to any of his existing players.

Wells for his part sent out a tweet about the Williams pick, "Excited about him! Think he will be great fit for the cards!"

Whisenhunt added more thoughts on Williams, "He brings a lot of things to the table as a running back that are unique -- size, speed, the way he runs. I think he's a very good receiver out of the back field, which, if he can handle the protection aspect of it, give us a good element."

As for the third round pick of tight end Rob Housler, Whisenhunt admitted the young man out of Florida Atlantic needed to work on his blocking game but is confident he has the desire and ability to improve that. Adding another element to the offense was the prime reason for taking Housler.

"As much as we run three wide receiver sets, that when you add a combination of a guy that has that type of speed and receiving ability he can make you a very dynamic offense," Whisenhunt said.

Video of Ken Whisenhunt talking to the media provided by Arizona Sports.com.

NFL Draft 2011 Round 3, Picks 65-74: Cardinals Take Tight End, Patriots Take Mallett With 74th Pick

With their third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals passed on Ryan Mallett for a third time with the 69th overall pick and selected tight end Rob Housler instead. Arizona certainly made a sound move and addressed a need at that position.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted running back Demarco Murray from Oklahoma. Dallas already has several running backs (Felix Jones, Tashard Choice and Marion Barber), and this pick could just complicate their backfield situation even further.

The Patriots, with back-to-back picks, took running back Stevan Ridley and quarterback Ryan Mallett. Mallett, projected as a possible first-round pick, slipped all the way to number 74 in this year's draft. Whether the Patriots turn Mallett into a project and try to groom him for life after Brady or whether they trade him for value remains to be seen.

The second and third round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 3 p.m. (AZT) on Friday, April 29, and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare: NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it out at SB Nation's NFL Draft page and our NFL Draft blog, Mocking the Draft or for Cardinals coverage, visit Revenge of the Birds.

NFL Draft, Round 3: Robert Housler Becomes Third Skill Position Pick For Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are done for Day 2 of the 2011 NFL Draft. With their second round pick (38th overall) they surprised many with Ryan Williams, a running back from Virginia Tech. With their third round pick (69th overall) the Cardinals completed the skill position triumvirate by taking tight end, Robert Houseler from Florida Atlantic.

Housler was ranked as the 124th best player in the 2011 NFL Draft according to ESPN's expert rankings but according to the Cardinals front office he either fills a need that's far more desperate than most people think or he's a lot better football prospect than believed. 

According to Sideline Scouting.com, Housler has, "natural athleticism, good size, very good speed, and was the fastest tight end at the combine." The negative on Housler is his inconsistent concentration and poor blocking. He was listed at 215 lbs but checked in at the combine at 248 lbs and is considered a multi-year project.

At Florida Atlantic, Housler averaged 15.7 yards per catch and totaled eight touchdowns and 1,228 yards in four years.

The second and third round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 3 p.m. (AZT) on Friday, April 29, and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare: NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it out at SB Nation's NFL Draft page and our NFL Draft blog, Mocking the Draft or for Cardinals coverage, visit Revenge of the Birds.

Dontay Moch: NFL Draft Day Has Arrived

Hamilton High School and University of Nevada alumnus Dontay Moch's blog about his journey to the NFL - THE NFL DRAFT.

NFL Draft 2011 Round 2, Picks 59-64: Round 2 Ends With Green Bay Taking Another Wide Receiver And Ryan Mallett Still On The Board

The second round of the 2011 NFL Draft 2011 is officially in the books. The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns smartly took wide receivers to improve their passing offenses. The Ravens ranked 20th and 29th, respectively, in passing offense last season.

The Washington Redskins could have taken Ryan Mallett with the 62nd pick, but they instead traded it to the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins chose to pass up on Mallett and took running back Daniel Thomas instead.

The second round concluded with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert and the Green Bay Packers taking wide receiver Randall Cobb. Yes, that's right: add another wide receiver to the Packers' already deep pool.

Quarterback Ryan Mallett still remains on the board as round three gets set to begin.

The second and third round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 3 p.m. (AZT) on Friday, April 29, and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare: NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it out at SB Nation's NFL Draft page and our NFL Draft blog, Mocking the Draft or for Cardinals coverage, visit Revenge of the Birds.

NFL Draft 2011, Round 2, Picks 48-57: Pats And Lions Select Running Backs While Other Teams Stock Up On Defensive Players

Defense has taken over the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Raiders took a safety (Stefen Wisnieswki), the Chargers took a cornerback (Marcus Gilcrhist), the Buccanneers took Da'Quan Bowers (finally), and the Giants took a defensive tackle (Marvin Austin) all in succession.

The Patriots changed things up and took running back Shane Vereen, and thus another Patriots' draft-pick project gets underway. The Pats are looking to compliment their current run attack of Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis with Vereen.

The Lions also took a running back, Mikel Leshoure of Illinois. Detroit struggled running the ball last year with Jahvid Best, and Mikel Leshoure just might be the man to take the starting job away from him. Either way, this is shaping up to be a great draft for the Lions.

NFL Draft Round 2, Picks 39-47: Brooks Reed Goes To Texans While Lions And Rams Pick Up Receiving Options

The second round of the 2011 NFL Draft continued in the wake of the Cardinals' pick with a pair of offensive linemen (Akeem Ayers of UCLA and Bruce Carter at UNC) coming off the boards to the Tennessee Titans and the Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

Arizona's defensive end Brooks Reed was taken two picks later as the 42^nd overall pick (and the tenth pick of the second round) by the Houston Texans. He will surely bolster the Texan's much maligned defense.

The Lions decided to complement their first round pick of Nick Farley with wide receiver Titus Young of Boise State. This gives Detroit another weapon to pair with receiver Calvin Johnson.

The Denver Broncos had the next two picks- the first of which they acquired from the Brandon Marshall trade last year- and they chose safety Rahim Moore of UCLA as well as offensive guard Orlando Franklin of Miami.

The St. Louis Rams selected tight end Lance Kendricks of Wisconsin with the next pick (15^th of the second round). This is a good move by the Rams as they try to improve the receiving core around quarterback Sam Bradford.

Da'Quan Bowers Joins Tampa Bay, Finally Drafted 51st Overall

Da'Quan Bowers was supposed to be a top ten pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He is an explosive defensive end who racked up 61 tackles last season as a member of the Clemson Tigers.

After "legitimate concerns" were raised about Bowers' knee, which is being reported as prone to injury, Bowers fell from grace faster than Derek Lowe after getting a DUI.

From top ten pick to 51st overall, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up the embattled defensive end. Bowers is great at stopping the run, and is also well-suited to getting sacks. Should his knee hold up, he is a can't miss talent, and Tampa Bay was wise to risk a second round pick on this player.

After two rounds, the Buccaneers have added a ton of quality talent to their team for the upcoming season, including Bowers and Adrian Clayborn, another defensive end out of Iowa.

Going into the 2011 season, two healthy rookies on the outside edges will put Tampa Bay right into the Super Bowl discussion. Drew Brees and Matt Ryan should be scared now.

NFL Draft Round 2: Cardinals Surprise With Running Back Ryan Williams

The second round of the 2011 NFL Draft quickly moved through five picks. Two quarterbacks were taken and two cornerbacks were taken and one defensive lineman is off the board. That left plenty of options available to the Arizona Cardinals with the 38th pick (sixth of the second round). With that pick the Cardinals took a running back, Ryan Williams from Virginia Tech. 

All the talk about the Cardinals needing help rushing the quarterback, or getting a quarterback, and the Cardinals switched things up and went with a running back. This obviously tells us that coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't happy with his duo of Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells. 

Ryan Williams put up 477 yards in 110 carries last season with Va Tech. Williams was rated as the second-best running back on many experts boards but like Beanie Wells there's durability concerns. 

It's an interesting pick in many ways, both what it says about the Cardinals current core of ball carriers but also passing up on a couple of interesting defensive lineman like Brooks Reed, and Da'Quan Bowers or outside linebacker Akeem Ayers. This is just another pick that proves the uselessness of trying to predict what teams will do on draft day.

NFL Draft 2011, Round 2 Picks 34-37: 49ers Trade Up For A QB, Bengals Take Dalton

The second round of the 2011 NFL Draft continued with picks 34 to 37. 

With the 34th pick the Buffalo Bills passed on a quarterback and instead took the second defensive back of the second round, Aaron Williams of Texas. Since the Patriots held on to their pick and the Bills passed on a QB, that made things easy and obvious for the Cincinnati Bengals. So with the 35th pick on the second round, Andy Dalton becomes the first red headed QB taken in the 2011 NFL Draft.

With the 36th pick of the second draft, San Francisco traded for the Broncos pick and got quarterback Colin Kaepernick of Nevada. He's a project but if there's a coach suited to develop the young man it's Jim Harbaugh.

The 49ers gave up the 45th, 108th and 141st picks in exchange for the 36th pick from the Broncos. Obviously, they didn't want to miss out on getting the QB they liked.

The Cleveland Browns had the 37th pick of the second round and with that pick they took Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh. 

NFL Draft Round 2, Results: New England Patriots Don't Trade, Pick CB Ras-I Dowling

When the New England Patriots actually used their 33rd pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. That itself is a surprise given Bill Belichick's propensity for wheeling and dealing. For a few moments before the first pick of the second round was announced it did look like a deal was going to be made but in the end, Ras-I Dowling became the 33rd pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Ras-i Dowling is a big cornerback out of Virginia. Dowling's big question mark is durability. He played in just five games in 2010. He had hamstring and knee issues and then ended up breaking his left ankle.

And with this pick, the second and third rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft are underway.

Grading NFL Mock Drafts: Mel Kiper And Mike Mayock King Of The 2011 Mocks

We spent a lot of time looking at mock draft boards going into the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. We pour over these things like they are gospels from the prophets who have devine power to see into the future and tell us what picks our favorite NFL teams will make. Now it's time to look back on these projections and find out who was the most accurate soothsayer and crown a King of the Mock Draft for 2011. Hint, Mel Kiper and Mike Mayock are who we thought they were.

There's a few different ways to sparse the data such as correct picks or how far off the mock draft picks are since perfection is an awfully high standard. For simplicity sake we will look just at correct picks. Here's the list of well-down mock draft experts in order of how many picks in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft they got right (name, affiliate, number of correct picks).

Mel Kiper, ESPN - 9

Mike Mayock, NFL.com - 9

Todd McShay, ESPN - 7

Don Banks, SI - 7

Peter King, SI - 6 

Chad Rueter, CBS - 5

Pat Kirwan, NFL.com - 5

Wes Bunting, NFP - 5

Pete Schrager, Fox - 5

The guys they whiffed on most was Vikings surprise pick of quarterback Christian Ponder. Ponder, in retrospect, seems to be a good fit with Minnesota's West Coast offense and the Vikings need a QB now that Brett Favre is truly retired (right?!). Peter King had Ponder going late in the first round but no one had him going that high in the 2011 Draft. 

Mel Kiper, Todd McShay Update NFL Mock Drafts For Round 2 Focus On Skill Positions

Just because the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft is over doesn't mean the mock drafts are dead. Two of the noted experts at ESPN Draft Central, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper, have both updated their mock draft boards for Friday's second round action. With four quarterbacks and a record 12 defensive lineman taken in an impressive list of first round prospects, the attention now turns to other skill positions like tight end and safety.  

Todd McShay in his updated mock draft for the second round of the NFL Draft has Arizona's Brooks Reed going to the New England Patriots with the 33rd overall pick and the first of the second round. McShay previously had Reed going in the first round so this isn't a surprise. Mel Kiper agrees and also has Reed coming off the board first once Friday's NFL Draft resumes at 3:00 p.m. PT.

From there Kiper has LB Martez Wilson, QB Andy Dalton, CB Aaron Williams, WR Titus Young and to the Cardinals, TE Kyle Rudolph. McShay has the order at the top of the second round a bit different with OLB Akeem Ayers, QB Andy Dalton, DT Stephen Paea, DE Da'Quan Bowers and then he also has the Cardinals taking TE Kyle Rudolph.

Da'Quan Bowers is the guy they disagree on most. Kiper has him falling all the was to the Vikings at 43 and says, "If Bowers is healthy, this is a potential top-five pick. Tremendous value at this point and worth the risk."

Kiper has Ryan Williams as the next running back coming off the board at 41 to the Redskins. McShay has Williams falling to 49 which is also a Redskins pick as a result of the trade with the Browns.

Second and third round action of the 2011 NFL Draft gets underway at 3:00 p.m. PT. 

Arizona Cardinals Draft Needs: Plenty Of Options Still Available In Rounds 2 And 3

The Arizona Cardinals had many needs headed into the 2011 NFL Draft and cornerback wasn't high on the list. That didn't stop general manager Rod Graves from taking Patrick Peterson with the fifth pick. Peterson was generally considered one of the best football players in the 2011 draft and the Cardinals weren't "bowled over" by any offers to trade down in the draft. 

The upside to this decision is Peterson, a guy who will likely start right away at corner and get a chance to return kicks and punts as well. Great stuff for sure but the pick also leaves several big holes in the roster for the Cardinals to fill in the later round. 

Quarterback

Obviously, quarterback is the biggest hole in the Cardinals team and since they reportedly didn't have one for the available QBs at the top of their draft board they have other plans in mind. There was a report on Thursday that the team has an "understanding" in place with free agent Marc Bulger. There are, however, several interesting QB prospects left on the draft board. The top three remaining quarterbacks to keep an eye on in Friday's second and third rounds of the NFL draft are Andy Dalton, Ryan Mallet and Colin Kaepernick.

We have a hard time seeing the Cardinals taking one of these guys with their second round pick (38th overall) but perhaps is one is available when the Cards draft in the third round (69th overall) they could snatch one up.

Defensive Line

The Cardinals were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season when it came to putting pressure on the quarterback. Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell just didn't get the job done on their own and last year's first round pick, Dan Williams, is more of a run-stopper than pass rusher. Help needs to come on the edges and there's several interesting names left on the draft board.

Arizona's Brooks Reed, Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson, and OLB Akeem Ayers of UCLA are three of the most highly rated rushers still available. In addition Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh and Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia are on the board as is Hamilton High School star and SB Nation Arizona blogger, Dontay Moch who could be available in the third round.

Offensive Line and Tight End

The offensive line faces the potential of losing veterans Deuce Lutui and Alan Faneca who are both without contracts for next season. Tight end has been a hole for several years which makes Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph a name to watch. Clint Boling from Georgian and Wisconsin's John Moffitt are two names to monitor here.

The second and third round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 3 p.m. (AZT) on Friday, April 29, and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare: NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it out at SB Nation's NFL Draft page and our NFL Draft blog, Mocking the Draft or for Cardinals coverage, visit Revenge of the Birds.

Todd McShay Round Two NFL Mock Draft: Many Pass Rushing Prospects Available

As many have noted, the 2011 NFL Draft is very deep when it comes to pass rushing defensive linemen and outside linebackers. The mock draft from Todd McShay demonstrates this with numerous interesting football players in the second round who could help a team get after the opposing quarterback.

In his final mock draft before the actual 2011 NFL Draft, McShay listed three top flight pass rushing prospects in the first round who weren't actually taken. Arizona's Brooks Reed was slotted to go 28th, Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson 27th, and OLB Akeem Ayers of UCLA 30th to the Jets.

All three of those guys are still on the board and available early in the second round for a team like the Arizona Cardinals who need help at that position.Another couple of names to throw out there are Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh and Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia.

There were a total of eight defensive ends taken in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and only one outside linebacker, Von Miller. Bottom line, there's still quality talent to be had when the Cardinals sixth pick of the second round is on the clock.

NFL Draft 2011, Round 2: Brooks Reed Among Top Talent Still Available

The 2011 NFL Draft had some surprises in the first round with a few guys slipping like Glendale's own Prince Amukamara falling to 19th (Giants) and in some cases there might have been a reach here or there like the Tennessee Titans taking Jake Locker with the eighth overall pick. The experts and fans alike seem very pleased with the Arizona Cardinals choice of Patrick Peterson at the fifth spot. Round 2 action begins Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. and there are still many fine football players left on the board.

Media expert Todd McShay's list of five best remaining includes DE Da'Quan Bowers, DE Brooks Reed, TE Kyle Rudolph, CB Aaron Williams, and RB Ryan Williams.

Brooks Reed of course, is a product of the University of Arizona. The long-haired pass-rusher certainly fills a critical need for the Cardinals as he's projected to slot in as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. He's exceptionally fast, a great leader and has a high motor. We will have to wait and see if Reed is still on the board when the Cardinals sixth pick in the second round (38th overall) is on the clock.

Da'Quan Bowers is another option for Arizona's need but there are concerns about his knee. He probably would have gone in the middle of the first round if it weren't for these issues outlined by ESPN's draft report:

Missed two games due to a knee injury (MCL and PCL strain) in 2009. Also underwent arthroscopic knee surgery following the 2010 season and could not workout at NFL combine as a result. Appeared to still be favoring the knee during his April 1 workout for NFL scouts, which has only added to his long-term durability concerns. Some believe knee will eventually require microfracture surgery.