The Cardinals have taken the strategic position of letting everyone know they will listen to offers, yet they are emphasizing that they aren't soliciting offers for Boldin.

It's clear, however, they want teams to call and they want to know what Boldin's worth. If the Cardinals could receive first and third-round picks in return for Boldin, they likely would make that deal.

That would give them 10 picks in the draft, giving them the inventory to trade up and get multiple targeted players.

General manager Rod Graves usually doesn't get fancy on draft day. When he has made trades, they generally have not worked out for the Cardinals. In 2003, he traded the sixth overall pick and the chance to draft pass rusher Terrell Suggs for the 17th and 18th selections, where he selected receiver Bryant Johnson and Calvin Pace.

In 2007, the Cardinals traded their fourth-round pick to Oakland to move up to the top of the second round. They took nose tackle Alan Branch, who has been a bust in two seasons.

The Cardinals aren't going to trade Boldin unless they receive what they deem to be a solid offer. Boldin was unhappy all of last year, beginning in training camp when he ripped the organization and criticized coach Ken Whisenhunt for being too involved in negotiations.

The situation in 2009 can't be any more poisonous than that, so the Cardinals aren't worried about Boldin returning to the team after he's been on the market.

If the team doesn't make a deal for Boldin, it likely will play it conservative in the draft. They have no desire to make any moves far up the draft board, so they will likely use their assigned 31st overall pick and take a running back or outside linebacker to fill an immediate need.

They would be thrilled if a quality running back is available at 31. Players such as Georgia's Knowshon Moreno, Ohio State's Chris Wells and Connecticut's Donald Brown are attractive.

TEAM NEEDS: Running back, outside linebacker, tight end, interior offensive line.

RB -- Coaches don't think Edgerrin James is an elite running back and he likely will be released. That leaves Tim Hightower as the No. 1 back and Jason Wright as the third-down back. Hightower probably isn't ready to assume the No. 1 role and the Cardinals would like to get someone who provides a contrast in styles. Hightower is a powerful, one-cut runner but he doesn't have great speed. The Cardinals would like to draft someone who brings an added dimension as a runner and receiver. If they don't that player in the draft, there's a remote possibility James could return.

OLB -- The team has four solid veterans at the two outside linebacker spots, but it needs to get younger. On the weak side, starter Travis LaBoy dealt with injuries all last season. Backup Bertrand Berry will be 34. On the strong side, starter Chike Okeafor and backup Clark Haggans are both over 30 and have dealt with injuries in recent years. The Cardinals are moving to more of a 3-4 look, and the outside linebacker spot is a difficult one to play in that scheme. It can take a few years to learn the intricate defense, and the club has no younger players in the pipeline. The Cardinals could take multiple linebackers in this draft.

TE -- The Cardinals have been searching for a solid tight end for the better part of the past two decades. Starter Leonard Pope has been banged up the past two years and nuances of the offense sometimes escape him. Backup Ben Patrick has some ability but can't get past nagging injuries. Stephen Spach signed last October and became the team's No.1 tight end, an indication of just how weak the position has been. But Spach suffered a torn ACL in the playoffs and might not be ready when the season starts. In the Cardinals' offense, the tight end needs to be able to block, and that's been a struggle for the Cardinals youngsters.

C/OG -- Ken Whisenhunt believes you can never have enough offensive linemen, and the Cardinals could use some depth on the interior line. Center Lyle Sendlein played better as last year progressed, but coaches would like to have some to push him. The same can be said of right guard Deuce Lutui. The Cardinals have a couple of young tackles in Levi Brown and Brandon Keith, whom they think will develop into solid players. The focus will be the interior offensive line spots.