Draft 2004.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

DRAFT DISH: WR Larry Fitzgerald will help coach Dennis Green mold an offense in the image of the high-powered ones he coached with Minnesota. With Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, who caught a rookie-record 101 passes last season, the team has a receiving duo that is big, physical and productive. If WR Bryant Johnson, a 2003 first-round pick, develops as he should, the team will be set at receiver for years. Fitzgerald runs precise routes, has great hands and body balance and is a willing blocker. He is capable of making the acrobatic catch. OLB Karlos Dansby will contend for a starting job. He has good pass-rushing skills and is an effective blitzer. Dansby is a welcome addition to a team with an anemic pass rush. The Cardinals got great value when they took DT Darnell Dockett, who is perfectly suited to playing the "under" tackle in Green's defensive system. That position puts a premium on quickness and penetration, traits Dockett regularly showed while setting a Florida State record for tackles for loss.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: It would have been a nearly flawless draft if a cornerback, such as Will Poole, could have been taken. Green doesn't seem to be as concerned about that position as others; he's confident Duane Starks (knee) will be healthy and David Macklin and Renaldo Hill will be fine. But that might be asking too much. Robert Tate, who didn't play last season, is now the team's fourth cornerback, so depth is a concern--especially because the Cardinals play in a pass-happy division. The team also didn't draft a running back. Green seems content with Marcel Shipp starting and Emmitt Smith backing him up, even though their combined average was 3.4 yards per carry in 2003. Green likes KR/RB Josh Sc0bey's speed, so he could get a larger role. Damien Anderson, who's returning from a car accident, also is in the mix.--Kent Somers

 
Arizona 
Cardinals 
 
Rd./Pick    Player/School                              Pos.     Ht/Wt. 
 
 1    3     Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh                WR      6-3/225 
Too player on team's board; will contribute right away. 
 2   33     Karlos Dansby, Auburn                      OLB      6-3/251 
Will start or be a pass-rushing specialist in nickel sets. 
 3   64     Darnell Dockett, Florida State              DT      6-3/297 
Ability to penetrate backfield will have him in the mix to start. 
 4  100     Alex Stepanovich, Ohio State               C/G      6-3/304 
Can play two positions; team needs starting right guard. 
 5  135     Antonio Smith, Oklahoma State               DE      6-2/264 
A project; his production hasn't matched his athletic ability. 
 6  167     Nick Leckey, Kansas State                  C/G      6-2/290 
Versatile player who likely will be a backup guard. 
 7  202     John Navarre, Michigan                      QB      6-6/246 
Developmental player has great size but not athletic ability. 

ATLANTA FALCONS

DRAFT DISH: Taking CB DeAngelo Hall was an easy decision. He has the ability and the confidence to become a shutdown corner in the near future. Signing free agent Aaron Beasley reduces the pressure on Hall to start immediately, but look for him to win the job by midseason, at the latest. Hall has exceptional speed, and he can handle zone and press coverages. WR Michael Jenkins, whom the team traded up to get, will be one of the bigger receivers in the league. He is 6-4 and has a wide frame. He moves pretty well, too. Jenkins will compete with Brian Finneran and Dez White to start opposite Peerless Price, who will run more diagonal routes this season. But don't be surprised to see Jenkins win that job, especially because White is a better fit backing up Price. Also, Jenkins and White are the team's fastest receivers, so having them on opposite sides of the field makes sense. The drafting of QB Matt Schaub drew some criticism, but coordinator Greg Knapp likes Schaub's work as a short-range passer and his experience in running a version of the West Coast offense. And last year's injury to Michael Vick showed that it's important to have a good backup. Still, it was a surprise pick, especially because it went against the stance taken by G.M. Rich McKay before the draft. Schaub will begin as the No. 3 quarterback, with Ty Delmer at No. 2. The team landed strong second-day picks in OLB Demorrio Williams and DT Chad Lavalais.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The team still covets free-agent WLB Ian Gold, but his price must come down significantly. Williams is a candidate to work behind Chris Draft at outside linebacker, but the coaches would prefer for Williams to play mostly on special teams as a rookie. The team's salary-cap situation prevents it from bringing in another quarterback, so it will have to go with Detmer and Schaub behind Vick.--George Henry