NFL Mock Draft 2015: Arizona Cardinals Select Jalen Collins

Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

Last year this team may not have performed up to par down the stretch, but it showed it had enough to limp into the playoffs. The front office did shore up a leaky o-line by signing Mike Iupati away from the 49ers,  but make no bones about it: minus imperfect offensive line play, this team was far from perfect.

Just think of what they could have done if they had better quarterback play. Carson Palmer showed he can drive the Cardinals offense and his backups (Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley) showed they are not Carson Palmer.

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The Needs

RB-Any team with Larry Fitzgerald starting for them will ALWAYS have play action as a weapon. Problem is this team does not have a threat at tailback. This team has ALWAYS been snake bitten at running back since Ottis Anderson last played for them in 1986!

LB-Sean Weatherspoon was a good headhunter in the middle of the Atlanta defense when he was  healthy. Pass rush came on late last year, which saved the season. Yet both have too many question marks about them.

CB-Antonio Cromartie left for GREEN-er pastures. (Pun intended) Who takes over opposite Patrick Peterson?

QB- Just think of what they could have done if they had better quarterback play. Carson Palmer showed he can drive the Cardinals offense and his backups (Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley) showed they are not Carson Palmer.  Once upon a time, Carson Palmer was a top ten quarterback.  That was eight years ago. He is still a pretty decent game manager, however, the position can use an upgrade.

There are no quarterbacks available that are graded this high. The linebacker class is either graded high or low in the first. Neither of which are worth reaching for and when you are on the cusp of being a good team, you can't afford to reach.

REDBIRD NATION,  that leaves cornerback and running back as the options for the Cardinals.

Collins gets the nod because:

A) There's an abundance of talent at tailback in this draft that allows the Cards to evaluate other options NOW, however.....

B) ...the cornerback talent level will go down considerably after Collins in the draft.

C) The cornerback talent level will go down considerably after Patrick Peterson.

Louisiana State University has been good to the Cardinals in recent years.  Between Mathieu, Peterson, Minter and now Collins,  no good reason why they can't have Death Valley West.

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Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.

Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2015 CSC Community Mock Draft Hub.