NFC West Poised For Draft

Some random thoughts on the NFC West as we count down the final hours to tonights first round. 

• Despite conventional wisdom that the St. Louis Rams will take Justin Blackmon at #6, I feel strongly about Fletcher Cox there.  The Mississippi State DT looks a lot like Jason Jones, who the Rams tried to sign as a free agent.  Surely, Jeff Fisher is going to be on a mission to build that team defensively, and adding Cox to DE’s Chris Long and Robert Quinn is a nice start.
• The Arizona Cardinals are in a tough spot. They have a desperate need for an OT but after USC’s Matt Kalil the dropoff is severe.  They may get Iowa’s Reily Reiff by staying at #13, but reviews are mixed on his ability to be a franchise Left Tackle.  They don’t have a second round pick (thank you, Kevin Kolb!) so their options are limited.  They could look to trade back in the first round to make up for that and still land a guy like Cordy Glenn, who can play tackle or guard.
• Seattle is a tough read.  G.M. John Schneider says there’s a “ledge” after the 12th pick, and that they’re content with staying there and taking the BPA.  Sounds like “You better come up to our spot if you want your guy” to me.  He told nfl.com there are two players he likes at #12, no doubt both pass rushers in some form.  Suddenly, Syracuse DE Chandler Jones is the chalk pick there by Kiper, McShay and Seahawks beat writer Danny O’Neil.
• No one is talking about the 49ers draft.  Such is life when you go 13-3 and win your division.  You chill at the end of each round with the Packers, Giants, Patriots.  Boring.
• The Rams will go skill position in the second round.  Two picks, and I could see a RB and WR there.  Boise State’s Doug Martin would be a perfect compliment to Stephen Jackson now and his successor next year…. or sooner.
• If the Cardinals trade back in the first round, look for them to jump into that second round WR pool themselves.
• Biggest surprise in the division? The Seahawks will go skill position earlier than you think.  RB or WR no later than 3rd round.
• I’m still bored by the 49ers draft……
• The team most likely to draft a QB in the first 5 rounds? The least QB-needy of them all, St. Louis.  It’s not that the jury is out on Sam Bradford, but it’s a new regime there, and a young backup with upside makes sense.  Oh, and the jury IS out on Bradford.  I’m just sayin….
• South Carolina DE Melvin Ingram is a possibility for Seattle at #12 or lower…. as a Middle Linebacker!  Pete Carroll went out of his way to praise Ingram’s ability to rush the passer from the interior, and mentioned that he has played every Front 7 position including MIKE.
• The Seahawks need a MLB, almost as much as they need a pass-rusher.
• If you don’t know who Chandler Jones is, figure it out.  He’s more than just hype.  If he hadn’t been slowed by a knee injury last year he may have been a consensus Top Ten pick this whole time, and Jones to Seahawks talk makes a lot of sense.

9 hours and counting….

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