The Cardinals have a need at inside linebacker

Blake Baratz, the agent for fourth-round pick O'Brien Schofield, reported that the two sides were making headway. With third-round pick Andre Roberts signed, it's a bit surprising that Schofield's deal isn't done. General Manager Rod Graves gave a hint as to why last week, when he said that Schofield's knee injury was a factor in the talks.

But the knee injury, suffered in the Senior Bowl in January, was the reason Schofield, an outside linebacker, slipped to the fourth round. Graves seemed to acknowledge that on draft day when he said of Schofield: "We feel like he's a first-round talent."

Baratz hasn't commented at length, but I would assume he is making the point that his client already has paid the price for the injury.

As I noted last week, negotiations have not soured. And it sounds like the deal will be done this week.

Jordan Woy, the agent for linebacker Daryl Washinton, the second-round pick, is encouraged by talks and said he expects Williams to sign before camp starts on Saturday.

I don't have an update on the status of talks with nose tackle Dan Williams, the first-round pick.

-- In other news, the story broke over the weekend that former Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck chose the Giants over the Cardinals.  Bulluck had surgery seven months ago to repair a torn ACL, but apparently is ready to go.

Bulluck visited the Cardinals jerseys last week, but chose the Giants because he is from New York. The Cardinals have a need at inside linebacker, especially with starter Gerald Hayes coming off back surgery. Bulluck would have been a good fit when it comes to age. Like starting linebackers Clark Haggans and Joey Porter, he is 33.

With NFL training camps set to start up soon, ESPN has released their off-season Power Rankings.

This list, which ranks all 32 NFL teams from top to bottom, has the usual suspects at the top.

But another predictable team is your new Arizona Cardinals jerseys who placed 15th on the rankings.

For a team that has been in the playoffs the last two seasons, this is somewhat low.

ESPN had the Cards ranked 8th at the end of last season and their Larry Fitzgerald seven-spot drop is one of the biggest drops on the list. The Philadelphia Eagles fell ten spots, the most of any team.

For their quick comment on each team, here's what ESPN had to say about the Cards: "Keep an eye on youngsters Beanie Wells (RB) and Early Doucet (WR) this season. Arizona needs them."

Hmmm. That may be putting it nicely. Yes, the team will need them. But so will Matt Leinart, who is still the biggest question mark on the team.

And now that Kurt Warner has decided to hang em' up, the pressure falls Anquan Boldin on the pretty boy from USC.

ESPN pundits clearly see the Cards taking a step or two back this season as they aren't even the top-ranked team in the NFC West. That honor (if you can call it that) belongs to the San Francisco 49ers who are ranked 12th and have jumped up seven spots from 19 from the last list.

The good news for the Cards is that the division crown should be a two team race. Seattle and St. Louis are among the bottom level in the league and aren't expected to contend for the division this year.