2014 NFL Mock Draft: Arizona Cardinals Select...

Looking at the way the board fell I couldn't help but feel the same disappointment that Cardinals fans everywhere felt after desperately cheering for their 10-6 team to sneak in to the playoffs. Prospects like Calvin Pryor and Aaron Donald that I so coveted were taken earlier than I expected, leaving me to scramble for another 1st round grade player that would address the major needs on this Cardinals roster, few as they may be.

The more I got to thinking though, the more I realized I had the freedom to get creative with this pick. Personally, I can't help but think the Cardinals are missing one key ingredient to their defense. Something the division rivals in Seattle and San Francisco have in spades - guys that can get to the passer. Now the D-Line in Arizona is pretty nasty, but across from Sam Acho they're a little lonely. So why not go with the guy who's come on strong in the past months?

With the 20th pick, the Arizona Cardinals select Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn.

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Dee Ford was the stand out by far at the Senior Bowl this year - his performance even had select Steelers fans clamoring for him to be taken at 15. Ford was a stand out on Auburn's defense that made it to the national championship, and he led them with 29 tackles (14.5 of them for a loss), 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Ford will be a handful for tackles at the next level, and could potentially be a double-digit sack guy in the next few years.

What better to add to an already potent defense that's featuring (in my opinion) the best cornerback in the league? It may be a bit of a reach to some, but since trading down is not allowed in this mock, I'm sticking to my guns and calling for the Cardinals to take Dee Ford.

	Team	Player	Pos	School	BTSC rep/link to pick
1		Blake Bortles	QB	UCF	SteelerWolf
2	via	Johnny Manziel	QB	Texas A&M	Jack Finn
3		Teddy Bridgewater	QB	Louisville	twault
4		Jadeveon Clowney	DE	South Carolina	Double-Eagle
5		Jake Matthews	OT	Texas A&M	diehardsteelerfan625
6		Khalil Mack	LB	Buffalo	Erik Stone
7		Sammy Watkins	WR	Clemson	TheCommish
8		C.J. Mosley	LB	Alabama	VinnySteel
9		Greg Robinson	OT	Auburn	Sean Geddes
10		Anthony Barr	OLB	UCLA	JDSpartan
11		Justin Gilbert	CB	Oklahoma St	slatts17
12		Mike Evans	WR	Texas A&M	omara891
13		Ha Ha Clinton-Dix	S	Alabama	Panther pride 76
14		Aaron Donald	DT	Pittsburgh	Michael Uhlhorn
15		Darqueze Dennard	CB	Michigan St	(BTSC vote)
16		Calvin Pryor	S	Louisville	steeler fever
17		Taylor Lewan	OT	Michigan	Steelers_Fan_to_the_Core
18		Eric Ebron	TE	North Carolina	DropTheHammer
19		Zack Martin	OT	Notre Dame	steeler_chris_5
20		Dee Ford	OLB	Auburn	Wichita SunSteeler
21					NoVaBurgher
22					c63tho
23					WelcomeToReality
24					Steel Spike
25					L-Ray
26	via				AMKrup
27					Ike Evans
28					asmith87
29					Mr MaLoR
30					Collision Course
31					alexryan
32					Thoroughbred of Sin