MVN - Most Valuable Network

Cardinals pick up some Undrafted Rookies

The NFL draft is over, but the Arizona Cardinals keep making calls to pick up the left overs. I shouldn’t call some of these guys left overs because a few of them are pretty good. I don’t think these players will be the only undrafted rookie free agents picked up by Arizona, but for the time being here’s the list.

Keilen Dykes is a DT from West Virginia University. Dykes was first team all Big-East in 2006 and in 2007. His production went down a little bit in 2007 but that’s because he was being double teamed and schemed against. I’m surprised he wasn’t picked up by someone. This could be a nice back up especially since Gabe Watson is out with an injury. At his Pro Day, Dykes ran a 5.08 40 and did 33 bench reps. Keilen is 6′5″ 300 lbs. Nice pick up.

Bryan Robinson from Division III Wesley College was another pick up. Robinson is a Division III all American Defensive Tackle. Bryan is the Atlantic Central Football Conference’s all-time leader with 47 sacks and 92.5 tackles for loss. It looks like he could be another solid depth guy and potential edge rusher.

Offensive guard out of the University of Hawaii, Hercules Satele, who bench pressed 225 pounds 40 times at last month’s Pro Day, has also reached a deal with the Arizona Cardinals. This guys a monster, I’m excited to see what Russ Grimm can make out of him.

It looks like LSU linebacker Ali Highsmith was picked up by Arizona today. Highsmith was early on considered a first day draft pick. But after a slow 40 time at the combine, Ali’s draft stock dramatically dropped. I’m still very surprised Highsmith didn’t get drafted. I thought he’d go in the mid rounds especially after he redeemed himself by running a 4.7 at his Pro Day. Ali is a little small for an NFL linebacker (6-0, 230) so that didn’t help but he still was a First-Team All-American! He was a stud in college and produced in big games so you know he can play football. This could be a real steal to get him undrafted.

Penn State QB Anthony Morelli was another pick up by the Cardinals. I guess all I can say about this pick up is sure, why not? You never know who could be the next Kurt Warner right? Maybe they saw some encouraging things and maybe this could be a new back up.

I really like this particular pick up. Arizona signed massive 6-8 305 lbs OT, Thaddeus Colemen from Mississippi Valley State. Here’s a video of Colemen. Thaddeus is very raw having no position coach in college and basically working on his own. Russ Grimm is probably salivating over this guy. With a little practice we could see Colemen be a starting OT.

Some other signing I just received word about are

OT Carlton Medder, Florida- Can play both Guard and Tackle. Played on the O-line for a national championship team. Could be the next Lyle Sendlein who came from a similar situation.

FB Dionte Johnson, Ohio State- Could become a special teamer and a back up to Terrell Smith.

S Dennis Keyes, UCLA- Keyes led the Bruins in tackles with 115 tackles his senior year. He also had 3 INT’s one for a touchdown.

CB Marcus Brown, McNeese State- 4.39 40, 43.5 inch vertical. Was a Long Jumper on McNeese State’s track and field team and a lot of small college guys can really turn out to be gem’s if they can make the practice squad and develop.

DE Jason Banks, Grambling- don’t know much about him but he’s a very large person. 6-5 300 lbs.

OT Peter Clifford, Michigan State- 6 foot 7, 312 lbs. Another guy that could have been drafted but slid into the free agency list.

WR Lance Long, Mississippi State- Mel Kiper said, “Lance Long the big time burner at receiver coming out of Miss. State, does a great job at getting up over defenders and bringing the ball down.”

All of these guys have great potential. I look forward to seeing what they can do. I’m surprised Arizona has still not brought in a Punter. Maybe something will happen in the next few weeks with that. In all regards, a pretty solid group of free agents that keep up the concept of building this teams lines and depth.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.