Raising Zona
FanSided

Arizona Cardinals 7 round mock draft, SEC only edition

By Cody Potanko

COLLEGE STATION, TX - SEPTEMBER 26: A detail view of the Southeastern Conference logo with all 13 member universities is seen during a press conference for the Texas A&M Aggies accepting an invitation to join the Southeastern Conference on September 26, 2011 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - SEPTEMBER 26: A detail view of the Southeastern Conference logo with all 13 member universities is seen during a press conference for the Texas A&M Aggies accepting an invitation to join the Southeastern Conference on September 26, 2011 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 8
Next
OXFORD, MS – OCTOBER 20: Wide receiver Darius Slayton #81 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball by linebacker Mohamed Sanogo #46 of the Mississippi Rebels during the forth quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS – OCTOBER 20: Wide receiver Darius Slayton #81 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball by linebacker Mohamed Sanogo #46 of the Mississippi Rebels during the forth quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Best described as a speed merchant without a crazy 40-yard-dash time (4.39 seconds), Slayton can be a real threat in the NFL. That same speed translates into his vertical route-running and elusiveness as a ball-carrier. In

Slayton can consistently make the first defender miss and can accelerate at an elite pace after slipping through tackles. He is heavily incorporated in the screen game because of YAC ability. He has a solid frame as well at 6-foot-1 and 190-pounds but could use some NFL weight training to get his mass up.

His versatility was shown in his time with the Tigers as he played all around the field, and has the size and speed combination that will most likely continue at the pro level. While generally used as a deep ball and space player, his constantly evolving game could mean he is a steal late in the draft.

However, he needs to get the dropsies out of him and is far from complete. But, he should be a nice compliment to Kliff Kingsbury’s YAC dependent offense. Ultimately, he’ll fall to the sixth due to the talent and productiveness in the draft. While he put up just 79 receptions for 1,605 yards and 11 touchdowns on a 47.9% catch rate in college, his talent says he could be very good in the NFL.

Jonathan Ledbetter, an edge rusher from Georgia is one of my sleeper picks in this year’s draft. With a Pro Football Focus rating of 83.2 and ranking fourth in run stopping percentage at 10.9%, he is an analytics gem but tested poorly at the combine, including a putrid 5.14 second 40-yard-dash — which continues to signify that his first-step is average.

However, he has a great swim move to work over blockers as a pass rusher, and functional strength hands to wreak havoc as a bull rusher. He can lull blockers to sleep before snapping into a plan of attack as well. He’s simply a tough, physical football player and at 6-foot-4, 280-pounds he won’t be scheme dependent.

But, if he can lose 15-20 pounds, Ledbetter might be able to gain some explosiveness in his step that he needs to beat the edge. He’s a high-risk medium-reward prospect that may not offer much in special teams, but he could be a nice situational pass-rusher or edge setter. However, that depends on if he loses weight and can gain some burst in his front step.

Home/Cardinals Draft