The twenty-sixth pick in the inaugural edition of the Cincy Jungle Mock Draft is brought to us by member indesignkat, selecting for the Arizona Cardinals. His explanation for the pick is after the jump. Thank you for your participation indesignkat.
With the twenty-sixth pick in the 2010 Cincy Jungle Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select...
Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
The Cardinals are coming off back-to-back playoff seasons, but you wouldn't know it looking at their roster. Key players such as Kurt Warner, Karlos Dansby, and Anquan Boldin are gone. There are few real stars left aside from Larry Fitzgerald and they have many holes to fill.
The biggest needs are nose tackle, cornerback, linebacker, and offensive line. As luck would have it, a top-15 caliber NT fell considerably in the first round leaving this a very easy choice to make. The Arizona Cardinals select Tennessee DT Dan Williams.
6'2"
328lbs
40 yard dash 5.17
Bench reps: 27
Broad jump: 8'0"
Dan Williams is a very big, very strong DT who has the ability to push o-linemen back into the pocket. His wide body eats up space and blockers, which is vital for a 3-4 nose tackle. The University of Tennessee has a long and proud history of NFL defensive tackles, the latest of which being John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth. Dan Williams looks to be the next in that line, and even worked with Albert Haynesworth prior to the 2009 season.
The Cardinals have a poor track record on drafting defensive tackles and need to finally get one right. In 2007 they selected Alan Branch, who has only 27 tackles and 2 sacks in three years. 2006 4th round pick Gabe Watson has 74 tackles and 2 sacks in four years. Their #12 overall selection in the first round of the 2002 draft, Wendell Bryant, managed only 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks in three NFL years and was last seen trying out for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. Admittedly stats don't always show the value of defensive tackles, but these selections have done very little to improve the Cardinals defense.
Dan Williams started for three full seasons at Tennessee, the last of which under the brilliant tutelage of Monte Kiffin. Last year the Cardinals made do with under-performing Alan Branch and 35 year-old Bryan Robinson at nose tackle. With sub-par competition, Williams has an excellent chance to start in week one. Defensive ends Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell should benefit immediately from having Williams in the middle. This should also help keep o-linemen off the linebackers, which is another area of need.
Other considerations included CB Devin McCourty, OLB Jerry Hughes, OT Bruce Campbell, and WR Dez Bryant. With the unusual depth of this draft class it looks like the Cardinals will be able to fill other positions like CB and LB in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. Play-making linebackers like Brandon Spikes, Koa Misi and Sean Lee may still be available by their 2nd pick, as well as CB prospects like Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Perrish Cox. There hasn't been a wide receiver taken yet in this draft so it's hard to predict when they'll start to go, but even as late as the third round (where they have back to back picks) they could have options like Taylor Price, Eric Decker, Jacoby Ford, and Desmon Briscoe.
Dan Williams Highlights:
(via RockyTopTalk)