2012 NFL Draft: 5 Players Arizona Cardinals Could Pick in Round 1

Since about the time the 2011 season kicked off for the Arizona Cardinals, there has been much debate among fans about how the team should address its first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft the following April.

That time is growing closer as the calendar has turned over on another year, and the debate is heating up.

The discussions are not limited to whom they should draft with their first-round pick—No. 13 overall—or what position they should target with the pick; there has also been talk of trading out of the 13-spot to move back in the first and possibly get back into the second round at the same time.

As you all remember, they traded their second-round pick to Philadelphia for quarterback Kevin Kolb.

While all that is certainly possible, this slideshow will be focusing on players in whom the team could be interested (along with a personal choice or two) with the pick they have earned, briefly discussing how they can help the team now and in the future.

Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

This senior is rarely out of position on the field.

Courtney Upshaw seems to be in the right place at the right time almost all of the time, and he possesses adequate sideline-to-sideline speed for his size (6'2", 271 lbs.).

He plays well with a hand in the dirt and is a supreme pass-rusher.

Some may question his character, referring to an arrest in August 2009 for misdemeanor domestic violence, but he was not suspended, nor did he do any time for his crime—Prosecutors dropped the case upon completion of an anger management class by he and his girlfriend.

What he would bring to Arizona is another much-needed pass-rusher to complement the young talent with which the team has been inundated over the past two drafts.

Clark Haggans was solid in his familiar Steelers-style defense in 2011, but he will be 35 when the new season starts and will sooner or later need to be replaced.

Sam Acho has cemented his place at one outside linebacker position. In the NFL you can never have enough pass-rushers, so even though two-year pro O’Brien Schofield showed he can succeed in getting to the quarterback, this pick would not be a bad idea.

Essentially, he could be the next James Harrison—minus the poor attitude.

Jonathan Martin, LT, Stanford

There are not enough good things to say about Jonathan Martin.

He did an outstanding job protecting Andrew Luck’s blind side over the past two years, and when all is said and done, he may be one of the greats in the league during his time.

“Martin plays with great balance and change-of-direction ability. This allows him to anchor and react to any counter-moves,” featured columnist Jon Dove said in his article comparing Martin to USC left tackle Matt Kalil.

Most believe he will be off the board when the Cardinals draft at No. 13, but there is speculation he may fall into their lap. If that happens, expect the decision to be a quick one for General Manager Rod Graves and coach Ken Whisenhunt.

This would be an obvious upgrade to a unit that allowed 54 sacks (second most in the NFL) and 114 QB hits (tied for the most), and would allow Levi Brown the opportunity to return to his natural right tackle position—if he returns at all.

He is owed $17.9 million in 2012 and would need to restructure his contract in order to come back.

Mike Adams, LT, Ohio State

At No. 13 this would be a bit of a reach, as the majority of draft experts have Mike Adams somewhere in the bottom third of the first round.

If Arizona wanted to get back into the second round, this would likely be its opportunity if the first two choices are not available when they draft.

The Cardinals may be able to get Adams in the 19-25 range of Round 1, and depending on what team they can get to switch picks—that’s you, Cleveland (via Atlanta)—they could very well get a second-round pick in return.

Adams is the ideal size for a left tackle, but he has had injury problems in the past and his character has come in to question.

He was among those at Ohio State suspended for selling various memorabilia items for cash and tattoos that led to the resignation of coach Jim Tressel.

He does possess immense potential and raw talent, so his off-the-field issues are the main thing keeping him from being a top-15 pick.

Adams is not as big an upgrade as Martin would be, but the prospect of having an opportunity to move Brown back to the right side may be enticing enough to pull the trigger on this pick.

Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

This young man is going to be superb at the next level.

Undersized Luke Kuechly will need to put on some weight when he gets to the league, as he is listed at 6'2" and just 235 pounds. He has room to add bulk, but if he cannot beef up, he may end up at the outside linebacker position.

He is the epitome of a ball hawk. In three seasons at BC, he totaled 532 tackles and had about three dozen tackles-for-loss.

He may not even be there at No. 13 with the possibility of Miami (No. 8/9) or Buffalo (No. 10) taking him. But if he is there and Martin and Upshaw are both gone, defensive coordinator Ray Horton would likely be more than happy to add him to his defensive arsenal.

In the 3-4 defense, Kuechly could eventually play alongside middle linebacker Daryl Washington—a nasty combination in the middle of a much-improved front seven.

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Much like Larry Fitzgerald in body type, Michael Floyd is a big-bodied receiver who uses his hands well to catch the ball.

He will make just about every catch in the book, but sometimes tends to let the ball travel into his body. This can translate into drops with a big-time NFL arm slinging it to him.

If he wants to be drafted in the top half of the first round, he will need to “wow” teams at the Senior Bowl and at the Combine. He has some questions to answer about his character that teams may overlook if he shows well in the pre-draft workouts and games.

Arizona needs help at the receiver position. With the 2012 crop of free agent receivers ready to hit the open market, the Cardinals are sure to bring someone in to help take some pressure off Fitzgerald.

Floyd could be an option in addition to whoever is brought in via free agency, and learning under someone like Fitzgerald could be just what he needs to get his NFL career off on the right track.

To beat a dead horse, this pick would likely only occur if Martin and Upshaw were not available and if Floyd pulled a rabbit out of his helmet at his pre-draft workouts.