Arizona Cardinals--Monitoring Team Needs--Free Agency to the 2009 Draft

 Keeping track of a team's dynamic roster gain/loss throughout the offseason is one of the keys to understanding their draft day moves and choices.  Enter Monitoring Team Needs, an at-a-glance way of checking up on your team's latest roster flux, as we count down through Free Agency, and into the days before the 2009 Draft.

Below is a table that breaks down this roster flux, showing who has come and gone, as well as updating the neediest areas of the team and some of the top names that have a good chance of being available when they pick in the Draft.  Draft prospects are linked to their Mocking the Draft Profiles and any names or positions highlighted in bold should be considered either to be positions of particular need and emphasis, or players of particular relevance and interest to the team's situation.  Below the chart we will discuss some of the names and situations described, and as always, you can join in on the discussion in the comments.

See you below the fold!

• The Cards have a number of higher priority signings, but none may have the urgency getting QB Kurt Warner back into the fold.  Reports right now are that he has an offer around $10-12 million per year, but he seems to be waiting to see what other moves the team makes.  He has made ti clear he doesn't want to start over for another team, so if he doesn't sign with the Cards, he will most likely retire.  Other reports have his agent pressuring the Cardinals for Top-5 QB money, something in the neighborhood of $12-14million.  The thing about Kurt, is that the Cardinals would like to get his deal out of the way first:  retaining him could be a key component for resigning many of their free agents to reasonable deals, and no one can doubt the production that Warner put up in 2008.
• One of the things likely holding up Warner's decision, is waiting to see how the Cards handle WR Anquan Boldin's demands to sign a lucrative contract or be traded.  The WR depth is there for the Cardinals, so they don't want to be bullied, but at the same time, they put themselves into this position, so backing out now looks bad from an organizational standpoint.  There really isn't a great win-win situation here, but doing what they have to to keep Boldin should be the first step towards soothing ruffled feathers on both sides.
• Arizona could take a serious look at pretty much any top RB they want in this draft.  Since the values of top picks Knowshon Moreno, Georgia,and Chris Wells, Ohio State, are expected to fall due to the needs of teams at the top of the draft, those two, or any of a slew of other talented backs will be available at #31.  LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh and Shonn Greene, Iowa, are both excellent backs who could fit what Arizona is looking for, namely the replacement of RB Edgerrin James who has practically all but left at this point, and to complement RB Tim Hightower, who shows flashes, but not the consistency to be relied on going forward as an every down back.
• UFA Breakdown:  Some are keepers, some come with price limits, and some should be left alone to do what they want.  Among the Keepers, DE Antonio Smith is worth every penny, but with Calais Campbell waiting in the wings, the Cards shouldn't  keep him.  The biggest keeper is of course Warner.  In the "Price is Right" category, RB JJ Arrington, LB Monty Beisel, DE Bertrand Berry, CB Ralph Brown, P Ben Graham, OLB Clark Haggans, and FB Terrelle Smith should all be $1million dollar a year players, or less.  All would be valuable to retain, but are replaceable, especially Terrelle Smith, since Tim Castille is already there.  The rest of the UFAs either can or should walk.
• ERFA and RFA Breakdown:  DT Gabe Watson should get some interest on the open market, but the Cards have tried to secure him with a 2nd round pick tender.  TE Leonard Pope was tagged with an "equal to-
   tender, in this case a 3rd round pick.  The EFRAs tend to be solid special teamers, though the team's future at TE is also tied up here.  In general the Cards will likely make an effort to keep all or most of the ERFAs.  [As of the 26th the following ERFAs were given offer sheets by the club:  CB Michael Adams, FB Tim Castille, TE Ben Patrick, TE Stephen Spach, LB Pago Togafau, C Lyle Sendlein and OT Elliot Vallejo.