Arizona entered the 2008 Draft with needs at several positions. Cornerback was the team’s most glaring need, with obvious holes in depth at the Running Back, Defensive End and Linebacker positions.

Arizona executed what looks to be a fairly good draft, addressing some of these issues while not reaching for any player simply because of need. The Cardinals also managed to strengthen some of their strengths, a maneuver that all successful teams need to get accustomed to.

Several of these picks will play an immediate part in any success that Arizona will have in an NFC West that seems, again, up for grabs.

-Arizona filled its greatest need with one of the draft’s top flight Cornerbacks. Rodgers-Cromartie saw his draft stock begin to rise with his stellar performance at the Senior Bowl, wowing the coaches with his ball skills in practices and earning MVP honors in the game itself. His great speed (4.33-40) translates into playing speed as the fluidity of his back pedal and flip has wowed scouts for years. He should become an immediate part of Arizona’s nickel packages and should press CBs Eric Green and Rod Hood for playing time later in the year, particularly if the starters continue to fail to produce interceptions.

- While he had something of a disappointing Senior season for Miami, Campbell’s upside is significant. Early knocks on him included losing focus and not playing every down, but he is quite fast (5.12-40) and considered very dexterous for such a large player. His inside rushing game has long been considered an NFL-ready strength. He will likely spend most of the 2008 season as a reserve on the edges. In today’s game, that means he’ll likely be on the field in rotation in a limited capacity. In passing situations, he could excel immediately on the inside when Arizona chooses to go to a 4-3, his huge frame and pterodactyl wing span becoming the stuff of nightmares for opposing QBs and their passing lanes.

-"I’m not a 4.3 guy … I never will be. But I’m a football player, so that’s all that really matters." (The Sports Xchange/AZRedReport.com). Doucet is a really good WR. How is that for insightful analysis? None of his tangibles point towards actual greatness, but he seems to have no holes in his WR game. He has good size and strength, decent speed (4.53-40), good hands and an elusiveness that is equal parts finesse and brawn. While WRs tend to take at least two years to grasp the game at the NFL level, Doucet should push WRs Jeherme Urban and Ahmad Merrit early and perhaps challenge them for playing time at the #3 WR as the season wears on. Mr. Doucet was very high on Arizona’s wish list as early as the second round and it points to fine draft discipline that they held off. That WR is probably the strongest unit on the team probably made that discipline easier but also makes this third round get that much sweeter. I love this pick.

-Iwebema might well have gone late in the third based on his talent, but he has been tagged with a reputation for inconsistency in both effort and technique. Arizona’s DL Coach Ron Aiken coached Iwebema at Iowa and seems to think he can be coached up to NFL effectiveness. Like Campbell, Iwebema might get into the rotational mix on a limited scale, though he is likely a year or two away from significant contribution. All in all a pretty good value at a position of need in the fourth.

-As of the days after the draft, Arizona is still an Edgerrin James injury shy of being a complete disaster at the RB position. That said, Hightower belongs in the conversation with the top dozen or so of 2008’s RB class. While the level of competition he faced in the Colonial Athletic Association might raise some legitimate suspicions about his effectiveness at the NFL level, 327 rushes for 1924 yards and 20 TDs in his Senior year is nothing to sneeze at. While not a burner (4.6-40) he exhibited some skill at advancing the ball and making people miss. He will likely compete for RB (((Marcel Shipp’s)) job as James’ primary back up, though this looks to remain a one-back system.

- Arizona went to the pass-rushing well once again in Harrington, a Defensive End at Texas A&M, who will transition to the OLB position. This continues the stockpiling of versatile defenders that should help complete Arizona’s transition to a 3-4 first defense. Harrington is long on effort and brings legitimate speed (4.86-40) to the OLB position. Even if he succeeds as projected as a back up at the NFL level, Harrington adds great depth to what suddenly looks like a very good Cardinal pass-rush.

- The Cardinals might have lucked into a diamond in the rough in Keith. And luck has got to be a huge part of success when a very important position gets addressed in the very last round. Keith brings an NFL body with NFL speed (5.26-40) and very good foot work to Arizona. Physically he could easily be considered a top 12 OT but has earned a reputation for being soft and lacking a bit in grasping techniques. OL Coach Russ Grimm has a lot of work ahead of him with this project, but his upside could make him an incredibly valuable get in the seventh.