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Branch ready to prove doubters wrong
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Mel Kiper was one of the Alan Branch naysayers, apparently, and the newest Cardinal defensive tackle isn’t going to forgive or forget the ESPN draft analyst.
“Mel Kiper has been riding me the whole time,” Branch said after the Cards selected him with the first pick of the second round in Saturday’s NFL draft. “After these next couple of years, I’m going to make sure he eats every word he said.”
Branch tumbled in the draft and he isn’t sure why. Neither were the Cardinals, who had Branch ranked as one of their top players on the draft board — many mock drafts at one point put Branch in as Arizona’s pick at No. 5 overall — and decided to be aggressive as he fell out of the first round.
The Cards dealt their fourth-round selection to Oakland for the chance to swap second-round selections, moving up five spots.
It made sense to coach Ken Whisenhunt, who wanted a space-eater inside on his defense, a player who had impressed the Cards’ coaches during both his interview and workout.
“For that type of player,” vice president of football operations Rod Graves said, “it was worth a fourth round (pick).”
Branch had a couple of sacks and six tackles for loss in 2006 for Michigan, but he was knocked for being underproductive and some wonder about his motivation.
Still, Graves said the reason for Branch’s draft drop was “nothing I could put my finger on, especially that far.”
Branch will play tackle, Whisenhunt said, but is versatile enough to play defensive end and will see some time there.
Branch, who hails from Rio Rancho, N.M., was thrilled to be drafted by a team “right down the street.”
In college, Branch had a chance to go head-to-head against new teammate and Penn State tackle Levi Brown.
“He actually (pan)caked me a couple times during games, so I’m sure he’s going to have a couple jokes waiting,” Branch said.
That’s OK with Branch, who is ready to repay the Cardinals for their level of interest in him.
“I feel I’ve gotten some love from them,” Branch said. “They actually really want me bad to make a trade. I’m going to try my hardest so they didn’t do it in vain.”
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