Cardinals select former Irish WR Floyd at No. 13

There was so much speculation going around with the Cardinals facility on whether or not they would keep the 13th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft.

After all, there was so much wheeling and dealing going on ahead of them that they could’ve made their pick and no one would’ve noticed. That’s how crazy it was leading up to their time on the clock.

But when the time came, things seemed to slow down considerably, and Arizona stuck to their selection, and took wide receiver Michael Floyd from Notre Dame at No. 13.

“We’re very delighted with Michael,” general  manager Rod Graves said. “He has all the tools and the potential to be a very exciting player, and we’re excited to have him.”

What Floyd gives the Cardinals a big, strong, explosive receiver, who if given some starts, could be a very nice complement to Larry Fitzgerald on his opposite side.

Floyd says he was flattered when he heard that Fitzgerald wanted him on the team.

“It’s great,” Floyd said. “It’s exciting to me that one of the best players in the game wants you on his team.”

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt says the infrastructure is already in place for Floyd to succeed with the Cardinals.

“We feel like we have a culture with our wide receivers about doing it the right way and being physical and making plays,” Whisenhunt said. “Certainly he can come in and adapt to that.”

Floyd’s off the field issues while at Notre Dame have been highly publicized, and most definitely came up during the “courting” process between he and the Cardinals.

“We were very comfortable with the way he handled himself and the discussions we had with him,” Graves said. “We had a sense that he’d matured.”

“They wanted to see if I had improvements since that time, and I have,” Floyd said.

In his time in South Bend, Ind., Floyd broke numerous records, including receptions (271), receiving yards (3,686) and touchdown catches.

Floyd lettered in basketball while at Cretin-Derham High School in St. Paul, Minn., which no doubt helped him develop his post-up skills in football.

Irish head coach Brian Kelly says the Cardinals got a gem in Floyd.

“Probably in my 23 years as a head coach, the best practice player I have ever had,” Kelly said. “He just has a passion and a love for the game of football.”

The Cardinals don’t have a second round pick, as a result of the Kevin Kolb deal with the Eagles, so it’s a waiting game now for them, as their next pick isn’t until No. 17 in the third round.

“I think we’ll have an opportunity to get good football players, and hopefully we’ll be able to address the offensive line,” Graves said.