2015 NFL Mock Draft: Arizona Cardinals Select OLB Shaq Thompson at No. 24

With the No. 24 pick in the DBN 2015 NFL Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select...

Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington

The selection and write-up were made by a2342432a:

The NFL has ever changing ways throughout the years on what is going to succeed. Nowadays, versatility is gaining more importance, to help stop teams like the power heavy Seahawks or the Airborne Broncos. Now Shaq Thompson is a linebacker, a safety, he's a guy you can put all over the field, because he's a big guy who can run and is very fluid with his movements. Not much more you can ask from a defensive player, especially. He has all the tools to be a playmaker that the offense can't just simply ignore, in a 3-4 scheme, he might not be the prototypical OLB you're looking for, he's a smaller guy (6'1 230), but he has the aggressiveness and agility to make up for his smaller frame. Let's not forget that he is also great on special teams, so if the coaching staff feels he isn't quite ready, he can still contribute.

His rookie season, if the coaching staff helps him learn more of the nuances better, he can move everywhere around the field. With John Abraham gone, he will have an open spot to fill, but come time when the Cardinals are down, and the opposing team is running the ball, switch Mathieu (FS) out for Thompson and put another big body on the field at OLB, and see if the running defense improves even better from being elite last year. Not to mention he can come in for Andre Ellington in goal line situations and give a big push through the line. He has experience playing tailback in college. In the end he plays three different positions in college, and I believe he can continue to in the NFL and succeed.

While Thompson is one of the more intriguing players in the draft, ultimately, the team that drafts him is going to need a definitive position for him. Is he an outside linebacker? A safety? A running back? Do you have the luxury of rotating him in to different spots as a rookie on a defense that already has some good talent? Would you want to take reps away from your true running backs in favor of a defensive player?

The Carolina Panthers are up next, led by PaduaDSP.

2015 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)