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Is your stomach starting to rumble? We are only two picks away from Dallas being on the clock. Our resident NFL Scout, Birddog26, is in charge of that pick so there is a lot of anticipation on which direction he'll take the franchise he roots for but doesn't work for. In the meantime, we have the pleasure of sitting on pins and needles as two NFC West rivals make the picks immediately preceding the Cowboys and possibly plucking the fur off your pet cat right in front of you.
OK, sorry for that visual.
Seattle has finished under .500 again, but this time there was actually a team in their division worth a darn and they couldn't sneak into the playoffs. They have a lot of talent but also have a lot of holes. Arizona isn't a good team unless they are playing the Cowboys, and they still need self-inflicted igloo chunks to squeak by, but I digress.
Let's let our assigned GM's step up to the podiums and make the selections for their respective teams.
Draft Pick # 12
Team Name: Seattle Seahawks
GM: Staubachfan
Selection: (DE) Melvin ingram
Draft Pick # 13
Team Name: Arizona Cardinals
GM: thebigham
Selection: (LB) Luke Keuchly
(This draft pick is under review by L'Authorities as TBH blatantly is trying to get DeCastro to 14. I hope BD goes a different direction LOL)
Follow the jump for the pick justifications, team needs and prospect profiles.
Draft Pick # 12
Team Name: Seattle Seahawks
GM: Staubachfan
Selection: (DE) Melvin ingram
After a 7 – 9 season the Seahawks have many needs to address and can easily go BPA in the first round of this draft and still address a major need. In a recent poll at Field Gulls, the Seahawks SB Nation blog, shows Defensive End as their greatest need at 66% of the vote followed by Linebacker at 31%. I would say that given the top three players on the board are OG David DeCastro, DE Melvin Ingram, and LB Luke Kuechly. any of these players would be an upgrade to the team.
However, Seattle went Offensive Line in the first round the last two years so I think it's time to focus on a different on a huge need ...improving their pass rush.
Melvin Ingram gives them a versatile player with great size and speed. He immediately upgrades their defensive line and becomes the pass rusher they desperately need to get back into the playoff hunt. Add to that the new look uniforms and the Seahawks instantly contenders in the NFC West.
-Staubachfan
HIGH PRIORITY TEAM NEEDS (lower number indicates higher priority) according to Drafttek.com
-- Threat Level Red (priority 1-2): 43 Defensive End
-- Threat Level Orange (priority 3-4): 43 Outside Backer, Feature Back, COP Back
-- Threat Level Yellow (priority 5-6): Quarterback, Tight End, Middle Backer, Free Safety, Strong Safety, Right Tackle, Guard
-- Threat Level Green (priority 9): All Receivers, Center, Left Tackle, 43 DT, Cornerback
Draft Pick # 13
Team Name: Arizona Cardinals
GM: thebigham
Selection: (LB) Luke Keuchly
This is a tough spot for the Arizona Cardinals they almost favor a trade down. It is true this area of the draft is No Man's Land. The talent gets so jumbled around this area that it almost doesn't make sense to draft someone at 13. The Cardinals will be looking hard for a trade down and could probably get one too.
Michael Floyd would give them a threat on offense other than Fitzy. Cordy Glenn OG/OT seems to be fan favorite. The Cardinals pass though.David DeCastro would instantly upgrade their OL as he would 31 other teams. I can't see them taking him though because of so many other areas of needs. Pass Rushers are gone. The Cardinals need someone to rush the passer and help bolster this young defense. That being said..
Luke Kuechly is by far and away the best player available left on the board let alone the safest and surest defensive pick. Ray Horton comes from Pittsburgh he knows how valuable linebackers are to a defense. He knows a defense is built from the middle out. It is possible he allows them to trade out of the pick but if not they gladly take him. LK will give them a strong competition in their linebacker corps. It will be an amazing camp battle with Washington. We have all seen his measurable's (Thanks Ironman) and they are fantastic. This guy is just too good to pass up for a new DC. He comes from the great coaching tree of Dick LeBeau where defense is king.
A team with several holes, was in the Manning sweepstakes, and a division that is winnable they should stick to their board. Don't over think this. Give your 2nd year DC the "Queen" of his defensive chess board. With the Peterson pick last year and a few more solid draft choices this defense will be in a position to shutdown a division filled with weak offenses.
-thebigham
HIGH PRIORITY TEAM NEEDS (lower number indicates higher priority) according to Drafttek.com
-- Threat Level Red (priority 1-2): Left Tackle
-- Threat Level Orange (priority 3-4): 3-4 Outside Backer, Sam Inside Backer, Cornerback, Free Safety, Strong Safety, Possession Receiver, Slot Receiver, Right Tackle, Guard, Center, Quarterback
-- Threat Level Yellow (priority 5-6): Feature Back, 34 DT, 34 DE, Will Inside Backer
-- Threat Level Green (priority 9): COP Back, Feature Receiver, Tight End
Team | Seattle Seahawks | Arizona Cardinals |
---|---|---|
Player | DE Melvin Ingram | LB Luke Kuechly |
Draftek.com | #37 Overall, #5 Position | #8 Overall, #1 Position |
Wes Bunting, National Football Post | #14 Overall, #1 3-4 OLB | #9 Overall, #1 Position |
CBSSports.com/NFLDraftScout.com | #9 Overall, #1 3-4 OLB | #12 Overall, #1 Position |
Scout.com | #22 Overall, #3 Position | #12 Overall, #2 Position |
Mike Mayock, NFL.com | #1 3-4 OLB | #1 Position |
Each of the above rankings is clickable, leading to a profile from each of the evaluators, some more detailed than others. Consider it one-stop shopping.