SB Nation Arizona - NFL Draft Day 3: Saturday Schedule And Updated Draft Orderhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2011-04-30T16:24:00-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19031322011-04-30T16:24:00-07:002011-04-30T16:24:00-07:00NFL Draft Grades: Four Arizona Defensive Products Earn Highest Marks
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<p>The 2011 NFL Draft is has brought a few surprises and plenty of good news for fans. A distraction from the CBA fight and legal mess over the lockout, the draft gives the promise of hope for teams needing to upgrade their rosters. This year the NFL Draft featured four players from Arizona high schools who were drafted in the top three rounds. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8213/prince-amukamara">Prince Amukamara</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/9116/cameron-jordan">Cameron Jordan</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8861/brooks-reed">Brooks Reed</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/14883/dontay-moch">Dontay Moch</a> a play on the defensive side of the ball and all four grade extremely high for their new teams.</p>
<p>It's possible a class of NFL Draft prospects from Arizona has done better than these four, but if so, we can't remember it. All of these high-grade players will have a chance to impact their teams immediately and one or two could possibly join Maryvale Highschool's Darren Woodson (a classmate of mine) at the pantheon of defensive stars.</p>
<p><b>Prince Amukamara</b>, like Woodson, comes from a west side high school. Apollo High School, home to to Arizona Republic beat writer Paul Coro as well, is proud of Prince who played running back for most of his high school career. It wasn't until his sophomore year at Nebraska that he converted to cornerback where he excelled and was eventually the second-rated CB in the 2011 NFL Draft behind only Cardinal's pick, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36522/patrick-peterson">Patrick Peterson</a>.</p>
<p>Amukamara fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> at no. 19 and they were thrilled to get him. <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2011/4/28/2141063/prince-amakumara-selected-by-giants-instant-analysis" target="_blank">77 percent of Giants fans</a> graded the Prince pick an "A - a home run".</p>
<p><b>Cameron Jordan </b>played high school ball at Chandler High School. One of many great defensive ends in the 2011 Draft, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> selected him with the 24th overall pick. The choice helped <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft/2011/4/29/2141509/nfl-draft-2011-grades-first-round-new-orleans-saints-detroit-lions" target="_blank">earn the Saints</a> a grade "A" in the early draft grades.</p>
<p><b>Brooks Reed </b>not only played high school football at Sabino High School in Tucson, Arizona but he stayed local and played for the University of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-wildcats">Arizona Wildcats</a>. Reed fell out of the first round where the defensive end was projected to go in mock drafts and right into the laps of very happy Houston Texan fans. SB Nation Houston <a href="http://houston.sbnation.com/houston-texans/2011/4/30/2144750/nfl-draft-grades-2011-results-picks-texans-reed-harris-watt" target="_blank">said </a>the following about the Texan's second round (42nd overall) pick. "Grade: A slightly used record of Nena's 99 Luftballons". No, we don't really know what that means either but we are sure it much be positive.</p>
<p><b>Dontay Moch </b>not played high school football at Hamilton High School in Chandler, he <a href="http://arizona.sbnation.com/authors/dontay-moch" target="_blank">blogged regularly here at SB Nation Arizona </a>about his preparation leading up to being drafted early in the third round by the Cincinnati <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a>. <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2011/4/29/2143934/2011-nfl-draft-the-cincinnati-bengals-select-nevada-linebacker-dontay" target="_blank">73 precent of Bengals fans polled</a> like the pick and the other 27 percent just haven't learned enough yet.</p>
<p>Overall, it was a fantastic 2011 NFL Draft for Arizona schools. All four of these guys will certainly have great careers in the NFL and we wish them the best.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2011/4/30/2146173/2011-nfl-draft-grades-Brooks-Reed-Prince-Amukamara-Cameron-Jordan-Dontay-MochSeth Pollack2011-04-30T13:26:28-07:002011-04-30T13:26:28-07:002011 NFL Draft Grades: NFC West, Who Came Out Best?
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<p>Ah, the NFC West. You've been the laughingstock of the NFL for a few years now, and last season a 7-9 team won the division. Did the 2011 NFL Draft do anything to improve these mediocre squads? Lets break it down, starting with the division champs, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a>.</p>
<p><b>Seattle Seahawks:</b> The 'Hawks wanted to improve their porous offensive line, drafting OT James Carpenter and OG John Moffitt. These guys are both good picks for this team, and will give their QB more time to make decisions. After that, they picked up three guys for the secondary, a wide receiver and a linebacker. All in all, pretty good draft for Seattle. Grade: B-</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a>: </b>"<span>Sam Bradford</span> needs weapons. We must supply him with the goods," was the mantra of the 2011 draft by management. DE Robert Quinn was the obvious choice in the first round, but then the Rams grabbed TE Lance Kendricks (who torches teams), WR Austin Pettis and WR Greg Salas. Those three should give Bradford some more options as he looks to bring the Rams back to the playoffs. Great job by St. Louis. Grade: A-</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a>: </b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36926/aldon-smith">Aldon Smith</a> was a risky pick by the Niners in the first round. I'm not sure I like any of their picks, other than <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/14842/colin-kaepernick">Colin Kaepernick</a> (he looks like he could be decent). <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/10832/chris-culliver">Chris Culliver</a> is not a good pick in the third round, and none of their other draft choices appear to have the right tools to be great. Harbaugh better know what he's doing over there. Grade: D</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a>: </b>Shore up the secondary? Check. Get a few more offensive weapons? Check. Grab a potential stud linebacker? Check. Draft a franchise quarterback? Fail. Arizona better have lined up a good QB to come in and play under center, or this team will win 5 games again in 2011. Grade: B+ (C- if <span>John Skelton</span> is Arizona's QB).</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2011/4/30/2145764/2011-nfl-draft-grades-nfc-west-who-came-out-bestCory Williams2011-04-30T08:00:52-07:002011-04-30T08:00:52-07:00NFL Draft Day 3: Saturday Schedule And Updated Draft Order For Round 4
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<p>The 2011 NFL Draft enters it's final day on Saturday with Rounds 4 through Rounds 7 scheduled to start at 9:00 p.m. (PT). The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh round are the time we separate the casual fans from the hard core college and pro football junkies. For those who have nothing better to do on a Saturday, the action is broadcast live on TV on either ESPN or the NFL Network. You can also watch online at NFL.com.</p>
<p>SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft" target="_blank">NFL Draft Hub</a>, will continue its coverage of over pick. Here's a summary of the picks in each round: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft/2011/4/28/2139892/nfl-draft-2011-round-1-time-tv-schedule">first round draft picks</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft/2011/4/29/2143035/nfl-draft-2011-second-round-time-tv-schedule-draft-order">second round draft picks</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft/2011/4/29/2143746/nfl-draft-2011-round-3">third round draft picks</a>. They also have a complete list of the <a href="http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/4/29/2134714/updated-2011-nfl-draft-top-players-available">best available players remaining.</a></p>
<p>Here's the full updated draft order for Round 4 and <a href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-vikings/2011/4/30/2144513/nfl-draft-2011-time-news" target="_blank">here's a list of all the remaining picks in the 2011 NFL Draft</a>:</p>
<p>98) Carolina <br>99) Seattle (from New England via Denver) <br>100) Buffalo<br>101) Cincinnati<br>102) Cleveland<br>103) Arizona<br>104) Philadelphia (from Washington) <br>105) Houston<br>106) Minnesota <br>107) Seattle (from Detroit) <br>108) Denver (from San Francisco) <br>109) Tennessee <br>110) Dallas<br>111) Miami<br>112) St. Louis <br>113) Oakland<br>114) Jacksonville<br>115) San Francisco (from San Diego) <br>116) Tampa bay<br>117) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> <br>118) Kansas City<br>119) Indianapolis<br>120) Philadelphia<br>121) Jacksonville (from New Orleans) <br>122) Buffalo (from Seattle) <br>123) Baltimore<br>124) Cleveland (from Atlanta) <br>125) Oakland (from New England) <br>126) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> <br>127) Washington (from Chicago) <br>128) Pittsburgh <br>129) Green Bay <br>130) Tennessee (compensatory) <br>131) Green Bay (compensatory)</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2011/4/30/2144978/2011-nfl-draft-day-3-saturday-schedule-and-updated-draft-order-round-fourSeth Pollack2011-04-28T15:48:42-07:002011-04-28T15:48:42-07:00Tragedy In Alabama Keeps NFL Draft In Perspective
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<p>While most of us are following intently our teams' selections and the trade and pick rumors in the 2011 NFL Draft, there are some who are suffering real tragedy. While most of us have complained about a lack of offseason NFL news other than lockout rhetoric, people in Alabama are suffering the aftermath of yesterday's tornado. </p>
<p>Our hearts go out to those who have suffered losses in the South, particularly Alabama long snapper <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35184/carson-tinker">Carson Tinker</a>. He was <a href="http://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-bulldogs/2011/4/27/2137734/tuscaloosa-tornados-alabama-bryant-denny-stadium" target="_blank">caught in the middle of the storm</a> and lost his girlfriend in it. He himself was injured, being flung 50 feet from his home. The girlfriend, Ashley Harrison, also a student at the University of Alabama, and was reportedly the first Alabama student to have been found deceased in the storm. </p>
<p>So while we are cheering or booing our teams and hoping for a great player of value and/or impact, let us also keep a place in our minds and hearts to remember that at the end of the day football is not the be-all, end-all in life. We have friends and family and should remember for at least a moment how fleeting life can be. </p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2011/4/28/2140398/tragedy-in-alabama-keeps-nfl-draft-in-perspectiveJess Root2011-04-28T15:02:06-07:002011-04-28T15:02:06-07:00Patrick Peterson Radio Interview: 'It Would Be A Pleasure To Play' In Arizona
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36522/patrick-peterson">Patrick Peterson</a> conducted a radio interview with Phoenix radio station, Sports 620, just hours before the 2011 NFL Draft. Peterson has ties to Arizona via his cousin, <span>Bryant McFadden</span>. McFadden was a member of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> in 2009 and Peterson visited Phoenix to watch his cousin play in the Cardinals playoff game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> in January 2010. McFadden had seven tackles in that game by the way.</p>
<p>Peterson seems to have the media script down pat. He said, "yes, sir" a lot and answered questions as you might expect. He says his goal is to be drafted first overall but is "blessed just to be in this position." He called himself a winner and just wants to help whatever team drafts him.</p>
<p>As for coming to the Cardinals as many of the mock drafts suggest, Peterson seemed happy with that prospect. He was excited about the idea of playing against <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> in practice and thrilled if he didn't have to play against Fitz on Sunday. </p>
<p>Peterson said he loves the weather in Phoenix (smart man) and that, "It would be a pleasure to to play in the red and white uniform."</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2011/4/28/2140304/patrick-peterson-radio-interview-arizona-cardinalsSeth Pollack2011-04-28T14:15:43-07:002011-04-28T14:15:43-07:00Rick Gosselin's NFL Mock Draft Has A 'Prince' Of A Surprise In Store
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<p>Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News is one of the top mock draft experts. His mocks over the years have consistently been noted for their accuracy. Peter King cites him, along with Mike Mayock, as top sources for 2011 NFL Mock Draft information. Gosslin's <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/nfl-draft/20110428-rick-gosselin_s-final-mock-draft-cowboys-settle-on-ot-tyron-smith.ece" target="_blank">latest mock draft</a> is behind the pay wall, but thanks to our friends and overlords at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft/2011/4/28/2138898/rick-gosselins-mock-draft-quarterbacks" target="_blank">SB Nation HQ</a>, we have a peak under the skirt for you.</p>
<p>Gosselin's top five in his mock draft looks very similar to what the other experts -- Kiper, McShay, Mayock -- are reporting. <span>Cam Newton</span> first, followed by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37943/von-miller">Von Miller</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35182/marcell-dareus">Marcell Dareus</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36143/a-j-green">A.J. Green</a> in the two through four slots. Like most of the mocks, Gosselin also has <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36522/patrick-peterson">Patrick Peterson</a> going fifth to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a>.</p>
<p>Where things get interesting is with the quarterbacks. Gosselin has five (FIVE) quarterbacks going in the top 12. They are: Newton to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36902/blaine-gabbert">Blaine Gabbert</a> to the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/9622/jake-locker">Jake Locker</a> to the <a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Titans</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/4827/christian-ponder">Christian Ponder</a> to the 49ers and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/12996/andy-dalton">Andy Dalton</a> to the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a>. That's a lot of reaching right there.</p>
<p>Another surprise involves Apollo High School (Glendale, AZ) star, CB Prince Amukamara. Prince is a top 10 pick in most mock drafts but Gosselin has him falling all the way to the 25th pick and going to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a>. That's a double-gut punch for Arizona football fans, but fortunately, this is just one man's mock.</p>
<p><b><i>The first round of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft">2011 NFL Draft</a> starts at 5 p.m. (AZT) on Thursday, April 28, 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 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft">NFL Draft page</a> and our NFL Draft blog, <a href="http://www.mockingthedraft.com/">Mocking the Draft</a> or for Cardinals coverage, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://revengeofthebirds.com/">Revenge of the Birds</a>.</i></b></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2011/4/28/2140185/rick-gosselins-nfl-mock-draft-has-a-prince-of-a-surprise-in-storeSeth Pollack2011-04-28T13:59:10-07:002011-04-28T13:59:10-07:00NFL Draft Trade Rumors: Falcons Coming Hard For Cardinals Pick Glazer Reports
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<p>Everyone seems to want Patrick Peterson. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> were previously mentioned in rumors as teams interested in a trade with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> to get the fifth pick and nab the talented LSU cornerback. Now it seems, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nfl-draft/2011/4/28/2140099/nfl-draft-trade-rumors-falcons-cardinals-browns" target="_blank">we can add the Atlanta Falcons</a> to the list of potential suitors.</p>
<p>Jay Glazer of Fox Sports <a href="http://www.twitlonger.com/show/a4upt9" target="_blank">reported </a>via twitter that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> are aggressively looking for a play maker and want to get into the top seven and are, "talking w Cards, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> w Browns the most likely spot."</p>
<p>Earlier this week SI's Peter King reported that the Falcons wanted to trade into the top 10 to acquire WR A.J. Green or WR Julio Jones according to SB Nation's Joel Thorman.</p>
<p>With all these teams wanting the Cardinals pick, one might think the Cardinals, a team with a lot of needs themselves, might also consider using it to take a sweet player to help them, you know, win more games.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2011/4/28/2140148/nfl-draft-trade-rumors-atlanta-falcons-arizona-cardinals-jay-glazer-patrick-petersonSeth Pollack2011-04-28T12:58:10-07:002011-04-28T12:58:10-07:00NFL Draft Trade Rumor Update Via Peter King: Cardinals Could Trade Down With Houston
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<p>Peter King has spoken his last words before the 2011 NFL Draft via his wisdom-filled column at <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/04/28/nfl-draft-preview/index.html?eref=sihp" target="_blank">SI.com</a>. King starts by summarizing the mock drafts of two other media experts, Mike Mayock of NFL Network and Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News. Both Mayock and Gosselin agree on their top seven picks and both have LSU's Patrick Peterson going to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> with the fifth pick.</p>
<p>Peterson, in King's world, is <i>the </i>hot commodity of the 2011 NFL Draft. Todd McShay thinks that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> are so desperate to get Peterson that the will bribe the Cardinals into trading down. We've<a href="http://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/4/27/2136775/2011-nfl-draft-trade-rumor-update-adam-schefter-reports-cardinals" target="_blank"> previously heard a similar rumor</a> about the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a>. </p>
<p>His highness*, Peter King, isn't so sure that the Texans would be willing to pay the price the Cardinals would likely demand:</p>
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<p>I've been told in the past couple of days that Houston GM Rick Smith is loathe to use so much draft currency to move up from 11 to five or seven to get Peterson (it would likely cost him the Texans' second-round pick to do so).</p>
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<p>In other King news, he believes <span>Cam Newton</span> will indeed go number one to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a> and thinks Blaine Gabbert will be gobbled up by Cincinnati or Arizona. He also thinks there's a chance the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> will trade one of their three picks in the top 33 for a 2012 first round. But honestly, who cares. </p>
<p>One thing King is most certain about is the unpredictability of tonight's draft action. We appreciate that honesty but at the same time it makes us wonder why we bother with all these rumors and mock drafts in the first place? The answer, of course, is because you read them.</p>
<p><i>* No offense intended towards Mr. King. His name is "King" so we feel honor-bound to make at least one bad joke at his expense.</i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2011/4/28/2139951/nfl-draft-trade-rumors-via-peter-king-cardinals-texansSeth Pollack