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Cardinals could go defense, QB with 1st pick

By WTOP Staff

BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Coach Bruce Arians says his Arizona Cardinals do not have “any glaring needs,” so they could go in a number of directions with the No. 20 pick in the NFL draft.

Safety, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, offensive tackle, even a quarterback are possibilities for a team entering its second draft under general manager Steve Keim.

Keim’s first draft got great reviews, especially with his decision to nab safety Tyrann Mathieu in the second round and electrifying running back Andre Ellington in the sixth.

Adding a few pieces like that could do a lot for a team coming off a 10-6 season and believing it is on the cusp of contending with Seattle and San Francisco in the rugged NFC West.

“You shoot to hit on three guys who are at least impact players and starter types,” Keim said. “Last year I really think we did that with Tyrann and Andre and really obviously I think Coop (first-round pick Jonathan Cooper) is the real deal, but just had the unfortunate injury (broken leg). And then try to have two guys who can at least play a significant role offensive or defensively and help you on special teams.”

The Cardinals have identified 20 players they like, Keim said, and will choose the top ranked of those players still available when the No. 20 pick comes around.

Here are five things to look for in the Cardinals’ draft:

A QUARTERBACK MAYBE?: Someday in the not-too-distant future, the Cardinals have to find a replacement for Palmer, and they could pick that guy this week, even if it’s not in the first round.

Arians, who has worked with the likes of Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck, likes the classic drop-back passer that fits his system.

Several mock drafts have them taking Derek Carr out of Fresno State. If not, perhaps the second tier of quarterbacks would provide a pick in the subsequent rounds.

“There are a few quarterbacks that we like in this draft and we think they fit what we do,” Keim said. “I’ve said many times, before, whether it’s a 20, 52 or 84, if they’re the best player on our board, we’ll take him.”

Arians, though, downplayed the idea of getting a quarterback in the late rounds, saying he doubted that person could beat out Arizona’s No. 3, Ryan Lindley.

MORE PICKS: The Cardinals have only six picks, having dealt a seventh-round selection as part of the trade that brought Palmer from Oakland. But there’s a strong possibility the team would trade down to get additional picks.

Arizona did that last year in the sixth round, and used the picks to select guard Earl Watford and Arrington. Trading up, on the other hand, is unlikely.

“There are a few scenarios that we’ve talked about that we would consider moving up in the draft in the right circumstance,” Keim said, “but for the most part I think our philosophy would be to acquire more picks and move back. We do think it’s deep enough that you’re going to get third-round players in the fourth and fifth rounds, guys who can come in and be immediate impact players.”

BOOSTING THE DEFENSE: The Cardinals will look at safety, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and the line to add depth to a defense already considered one of the better ones in the league.

Safety is a critical spot, given the advent of big play-making tight ends, Arians said. John Abraham had a big year at outside linebacker last season, but he turns 36 on Tuesday and can’t be counted on to perform at that level forever.

The Cardinals lost inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, the team’s leading tackler, to free agency. The team is looking to add line depth behind the strong unit of Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett and Dan Williams.

ANOTHER RECEIVER: Arizona still has Larry Fitzgerald, and Michael Floyd had a breakout season, but Andre Roberts left for free agency and Arians always is looking for speed.

This, he said, is a particularly strong draft at the receiver position.

“You would never pass up a guy who could crack your roster and add depth to the position,” he said. “This draft in the receiver class can do that for a lot of teams.”

TACKLE AN ISSUE: The Cardinals’ biggest free agent prize is left tackle Jared Veldheer, but the team needs a replacement for Eric Winston at right tackle.

Keim mentioned in-house candidates Bobbie Massie and Bradley Sowell, but drafting someone at that position remains a distinct possibility.

___

AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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