







The Cardinals pulled a shocker in the second round, passing on pass rushers, to select Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams.

Williams might have been the only person outside the Cardinals draft room who was not surprised when the team took him in the second round with the 38th overall pick.

"When I went on my visit, they told me how interested they were in me," Williams said. "They told me that they hoped and prayed that I don't get past pick 38, because at pick 38 I'm going to be a Cardinal. I'm not sure if they told anybody else that....but they were (men) of their word. I really respect that."

Williams ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at the combine but said that wasn't a concern. "I think 40 speed and game speed are two different things," he said. "So it didn't concern me at all, because I play football. I'm just glad the Cardinals realized that I'm a football player and can help this team win."

Running back is not an immediate need for the Cardinals, who have Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling returning. Williams' selection will lead to speculation that one of the returnees could be traded.

Williams played just two seasons at Virginia Tech and rushed for 1,655 yards and 21 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. He was hampered by a hamstring injury as a sophomore and rushed for 477 yards in 10 games, including five starts.

The Cardinals passed on the opportunity to take UCLA outside linebacker Akeem Ayers, Arizona outside linebacker Brooks Reed and Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers.