A lot of Arizona Cardinal fans were not ready for the season to be over (including me), but it happened so quickly. We are officially in focus of the major college games about to incur. The Senior Bowl, the NFLPA Bowl Game, and the East-West Shrine Game are officially in full swing.
The Cardinals have the 29th Selection, and for good reason, the Cardinals will be very intrigued with the major players in the games this year. I will analyze who the Cardinals should be scouting the postseason collegiate bowls. They comprise of Senior Bowl, Shrine Game, NFLPA Bowl, and other college evaluations. Here are five postseason collegiate bowl prospects.
1. Reggie Ragland – ILB
Alabama – Senior
6-2, 253 Pounds
Est draft round: Mid-to-late 1st round
Senior Bowl
There is a lot to like about Ragland, a rangy linebacker with killer insticts and a stout frame. Ragland would be a perfect fit for a Cardinals team looking to improve a linebacker corps who requires flexibility in a 3-4 defense.
Arizona doesn’t really need to draft an inside linebacker with the amazing development of Deone Bucannon, but Ragland would be able to spell Bucannon so he could cover the tight end or running back. Everyone knows that this is a passing league, so the Cardinals just need a little boost to help them with blitz packages.
So far during the Senior Bowl, Ragland has been the typical mold of an Alabama linebacker; fast, physical, and tenacious. I go as far as to wonder if the Cardinals would keep Ragland at mike linebacker, but he could end up in most coverage situations for the Cardinals. Timing is everything, it is yet not known if he would need some time to develop, but if he grasps the playbook, anything is possible.
Next: A quarterback in the rough?