The Cardinals have traded 29-year old WR Anquan Boldin and a 5th round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft to the Ravens for a 3rd and 4th round pick in the 2010 draft.  Boldin played in 15 games for the Cardinals last season and he caught 84 passes for 1,024 yards (12.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 12 yards (4.0 ypc) last season.  Boldin played in 95 games in his 7 years with the Cardinals in which he caught 586 passes for 7,520 yards (12.8 avg) with 44 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 36 times for 209 yards (5.8 ypc) with 1 TD run with the Cardinals.  The Cardinals will be counting on their young receivers to step up with Boldin going on to the Ravens in 2010.

1st round pick Beanie Wells (RB) was very solid for the Cardinals sharing time with Tim Hightower.  He played in 16 games for the Cardinals last season and he carried the ball 176 times for 793 yards (4.5 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  Wells also caught 12 passes for 143 yards (11.9 avg) as a rookie.  The sky is the limit for Wells as he can do it all.  The 2nd best pick for the Cardinals last April didn’t come until the 7th round (#240 overall) which is where they selected RB/KR LaRod Stephens-Howling.  Stephens-Howling played in all 16 games for the Cardinals last season in which he carried the ball 6 times for 15 yards (2.5 ypc) and he caught 10 passes for 83 yards (8.3 avg) with a TD.  He also returned 52 kickoffs for 1,257 yards (24.2 avg) with a 99-yard TD return.  He also had 22 tackles on special teams for the Cardinals.  Safety Rashard Johnson was picked in the 3rd round (#95 overall) out of Alabama.  He played in 10 games for the Cardinals and he made 20 tackles and defensed 1 pass.  CB Greg Toler was selected in the 4th round (#131 overall) out of St. Paul’s (VA).  He played in 13 games for the Cardinals last season and he made 11 tackles, defensed 2 passes and he had 1 interception.  Linebacker Will Davis was selected in the sixth round out of Illinois (#204 overall).  He played in 11 games for the Cardinals last season and he made 19 tackles and he also had 2 sacks.  Linebacker Cody Brown (2nd round, #63 overall) out of U.Conn. missed last season due to injury but the Cardinals like him a lot.  Guards Herman Johnson (5th round, #167 overall) out of LSU and Trevor Canfield (7th round, #254 overall) out of Cincinnati didn’t play in any games last season for the Cardinals.

GRADE FOR 2009:  B-

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  B+

22-year old RB LaRod Stephens-Howling is making a name for himself as a rookie this year.  Stephens-Howling has played in all 13 games for the Cardinals so far this season and he has carried the ball 4 times for 9 yards (2.3 ypc).  He has also caught 10 passes for 83 yards (8.3 avg) with a TD grab.  But, Stephens-Howling has really excelled on special teams for the Cardinals this season as he has returned 41 kickoffs for 1,013 yards (24.7 avg) including a TD return of 99 yards.  The Cardinals appear to have hit the jackpot with Stephens-Howling who was a 7th round pick out of Pittsburgh last April.

The Arizona Cardinals will be without 23-year old linebacker Will Davis for the next 4-6 weeks due to surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.  Davis has played in 10 games for the Cardinals this season and he has 13 tackles and 2 sacks.  He was a sixth round pick out of Illinois last April and the Cardinals are very pleased with his play so far this year. 

LaRod Stephens-Howling knew he was going to have a hard time making the team as a 7th round pick out of Pittsburgh.  He played hard in the pre-season and training camp earning a spot on  the Cardinals’ opening day roster.  He not only earned a roster spot but he won the job as the kickoff returner.  He has returned 12 kickoffs for 251 yards (20.9 avg) so far this season and he has 5 tackles on special teams.  If Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower continue to struggle then Stephens-Howling could get a expanded role in the offense.  To this point in the season he only has 1 carry for 2 yards and he has caught 3 passes for 22 yards (7.3 avg).  Expect Stephens-Howling to bide his time on special teams until he gets his big chance on offense.