Arizona Cardinals 2009 Draft Preview
(Sports Network) - The Cardinals allowed the most touchdown passes in the league last year, though strangely enough, the team looks more or less set in the secondary. The attempt at turning around that stat will likely start within the pass rush, especially after Antonio Smith defected to the Texans via free agency. An upgrade at MLB over Gerald Hayes is in order as well. The biggest problem offensively is along the line, which has been a poor run- blocking group and could use some help on the interior. The running back position has not offered much either, and it's hard to imagine that the team thinks Tim Hightower, Jason Wright, or Edgerrin James can be a load-carrier in 2009. Finally, another quality target must be added to the roster given that Anquan Boldin's days in Arizona seem numbered.2008 Record: 9-7 First Pick: No. 31 Number of Selections: 8 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7) RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2008 - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB, Tennessee State); 2007 - Levi Brown (T, Penn State); 2006 - Matt Leinart (QB, USC); 2005 - Antrel Rolle (CB, Miami-Florida); 2004 - Larry Fitzgerald (WR, Pittsburgh), 2003 - Bryant Johnson (WR, Penn State), Calvin Pace (DE, Wake Forest); 2002 - Wendell Bryant (DT, Wisconsin); 2001 - Leonard Davis (OL, Texas); 2000 - Thomas Jones (RB, Virginia); 1999 - David Boston (WR, Ohio State), L.J. Shelton (OT, Eastern Michigan); 1998 - Andre Wadsworth (DE, Florida State); 1997 - Tom Knight (CB, Iowa); 1996 - Simeon Rice (DE, Illinois); 1995 - none; 1994 - Jamir Miller (LB, UCLA); 1993 - Garrison Hearst (RB, Georgia), Ernest Dye (OT, South Carolina); 1992 - none; 1991 - Eric Swann (DT, no college); 1990 - none.
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