Arizona Cardinals 2009 NFL Draft Analysis

Arizona Cardinals' Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt has a lot of work to do.

Yes, despite only going 9-7 last season and guiding his team through the playoffs all the way to an unlikely trip to the Super Bowl, his team fell to his former employers—the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, he's lost the undying support of running back Edgerrin James and wide receiver Anquan Boldin along the way. While also having to worry about re-signing his current franchise quarterback, Kurt Warner and appease his future one, Matt Leinart.

It seems, at least for the moment, Whisenhunt is truly as smart as he looks, and he has made all the right decisions.

But what about on draft day?

He's already got a stellar corner back in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a solid running back in Tim Hightower.

But can he build his already young and talented team into one that can strengthen their hold on the NFC West crown?

To answer that, first take a look at their current positions that need addressing.

Running Back

It's obvious Edgerrin James wants out, and believe me, he won't be back next year. The only issue is whether Arizona can get anything back for him, and how much his salary is going to cost them?

He'll either get dealt on draft day or they'll cut him this summer.

Another reason they could hold onto Edge is because they don't have his replacement yet.

They watched J.J. Arrington sign with Denver and now all they have at one of the most important offensive positions is an angry veteran, and a guy (Hightower) who clearly isn't the appropriate successor.

The Cardinals will undoubtedly look to address this huge hole in the first or second round, making a handful of college backs strong possibilities.

Their first choice is probably Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells, but there's no telling if he'll still be available. Some mock drafts have him in the top 10, others have him dropping out of the first round. If he's there at the 31st pick, it's a safe bet the Cardinals nab him.

Georgia's Knowshon Moreno and UConn's Donald Brown are two other extremely strong bets for Arizona with that selection.

If one or none of these guys are available and Whisenhunt doesn't like what he sees, they could opt to address their offensive line or their secondary.

If that's the case, Shonn Greene from Iowa is another possibility.

Offensive Line

Another huge area of concern is the overall offensive line. They actually performed quite well last season, keeping Kurt Warner, a.k.a. "human anchor" afloat between the tackles, and helped to keep the ball in his hands.

Still, the offensive line is a corps that always can use an injection of youth, skill, and athleticism.

If, for some reason, any of the three running backs listed above are no longer available, Whisenhunt could lunge for a stud tackle to ensure Warner's immediate safety and protect the future of the golden boy, Leinart.

Arizona's Eben Britton and Ole Miss's Michael Oher are the two most likely tackles who could catch Arizona's eye.

Britton, a three-year starter in the Pac-10, has tremendous strength and drive, and possesses ideal size at 6'6'' and 303 pounds.

Oher is a little on the short side for a tackle, standing in at just under 6'5'', but has just as much strength and push off the line as any other tackle in the draft.

William Beatty out of Connecticut would be a bit of a reach, but would be another tackle for Arizona to at least consider at this spot.

Guards Andy Levitre (Oregon State) and Kraig Urbik (Wisconsin) are two guys who are strong on the inside that Arizona could consider.

But both are also guys they'll be eyeing in the second to fourth round, most likely.

Corner Back

Outside of the aforementioned Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Cardinals don't have much at corner that frightens opposing receivers.

Roderick Hood and Bryant McFadden are both serviceable veterans, but neither are elite.

If they can, the Cardinals need to find an impact player where it matters the most, and where they truly need it the most-on defense.

Since Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins and Illinois' Vontae Davis will be long gone by the end of the first or even the second round, the Cardinals will be forced to improvise.

Considering their first pick is still rather unpredictable, I will operate under the assumption they grab a running back in the first, and leave it open for debate whether to draft a corner or tackle in the second round.

If that is indeed the case, look for them to select either Connecticutt's Darius Butler, or Vanderbilt's D.J. Moore.

Both Butler and Moore have solid speed, but differ completely in the way they react in coverage.

Butler is a physical specimen who covers well, but has a ways to go as far as his play-making ability.

On the other hand, Moore is also a good cover guy and a remarkable ball-hawk, always finding ways to an interception.

Either corner would be a solid addition to a lacking secondary.

Tight End

Outside of running back and offensive line, this is the position most starving of a talent injection. However, the three positions above are likely to get the most attention, causing Whisenhunt to pull some magic out of his hat.

If the draft goes as listed above, the Cardinals will probably still find themselves debating over a couple of solid tight ends that could potentially be huge steals.

The first two guys who come to mind are Rice's James Casey and Missouri's Chase Coffman.

If the Cardinals wait until rounds three or four to pull the trigger on a tight end, these two guys, along with Wisconsin's Travis Beckum, will likely be the top guys available.

Ken Wisenhunt should be so lucky.

Casey was a stand-out for Rice who caught over 100 balls for over 1,000 yards and 13 scores. Casey has outstanding versatility, soft hands, and runs routes like a receiver. His 40 time is slower than his game speed, but it does raise a few eyebrows. He also played mostly in the slot as a receiver in college, so his blocking remains suspect.

Coffman was another stat machine, racking up almost 1,000 yards last season, introducing himself to the nation as one of the best tight ends. He could fall to the mid-rounds due to his lackluster 4.85 40 time.

Travis Beckum, the least likely of the three to end up in Arizona, possesses great hands and athleticism. He can make plays. He's reminiscent of a less athletic Kellen Winslow, minus the attitude. However, without that attitude, he also doesn't have the same kind of passion.

Making the Picks Count

It's as simple as the main fundamentals in football: Get guys to block, guys to move the ball, and guys to get the ball back.

Whisenhunt didn't get lucky last year: He put together a solid draft and coached his underrated team to a Super Bowl.

If he makes some of these moves I've mentioned, he may very well be headed back for another shot at a title.

Well, maybe...