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Draft fallout: Floyd could lift Cardinals' passing attack

253 draft picks transformed the NFL in a matter of days. Around the League will examine the aftershocks by asking one post-draft burning question for all 32 teams.

Did Cardinals find Fitzgerald's dance partner?

The Arizona Cardinals are known for sticking to their draft board. This time around, value and need met in the middle with the selection of wide receiver Michael Floyd at No. 13.

When the Cardinals shipped Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens for third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks in the 2010 draft, it left the franchise's biggest star, Larry Fitzgerald, without a legitimate No. 2. Steve Breaston caught 47 passes in Boldin's absence in 2010, but left for the Chiefs before last season. Early Doucet and Andre Roberts have clear-cut ceilings -- especially now that Michael Floyd is on the roster.

"There's been a lot of talk about us needing a No. 2 (receiver)," Whisenhunt told the team's official website. "We've added another good young player to the mix. One of the things our defense said is when you have a player like (Floyd), it can create matchup problems."

Fitzgerald told SI's Peter King before the draft he hoped Arizona would land Floyd, and the chemistry is certain. The pair have been friendly since Floyd was in high school and share the same trainer in Minnesota. Fitzgerald and the rookie are well-known text buddies, so this is off to a promising start.

"I saw the 602 (area code) coming in and I wanted to jump for joy," Floyd told the team's site. "But I kept it calm."

Here's something for NFL defenses to ponder: Fitzgerald in 2011 totaled 1,411 yards -- the second-best output of his career, achieved against a constant cloud of double and triple coverage. All this on a team that saw quarterback Kevin Kolb start only nine games due to injury.

Floyd changes the complexion of Arizona's offense. Instead of fitting someone into the No. 2 role, they have a player who resembles Fitzgerald. Strong, big-bodied with a knack for making tough catches.

Now only if we they could coax Kurt Warner out of retirement.

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