Draft Preview: QB

[cardpa]

I'm now firmly in the camp thinking that we should draft a QB with the 20th pick. I think this franchise learned the hard way with the Warner situation that you need to plan well in advance when it comes to the QB position. I know that Arians has indicated that we're set at the QB position & we should strengthen ourselves at other positions in order to make a run at a Championship. That may have a measure of truth to it, but Arians is 60+ years old & he certainly isn't as concerned about the longterm stability of this franchise as perhaps Michael Bidwill is. Bidwill saw first hand how bad a team can become when a Pro Bowl QB retires & there's garbage waiting in the wings. I don't think he'll let that happen again.

This team is talented enough to take a QB at 20 & then add depth to the roster the rest of the draft. Take that route & we can still compete for a Championship right now & have a solid QBOF waiting to take over. Furthermore, can Palmer really be the guy to take us to the promised land? I don't think so. He's never been a clutch QB, nor will he ever be a clutch QB. He's not even remotely as good as Warner was. Let's not kid ourselves. Of the top 4-5 QB's, take whoever is still there at 20! If none are there, which is unlikely, then go with BPA.

Just don't see a QB being taken at #20. I really believe BASK when they say your 1st round pick should be able to contribute immediately. No QB in this years draft is going to beat out Palmer. I can see the team taking a QB later maybe even as early as the 2nd round but not in the first. It will be either a safety, LB, Dline or possibly Oline if the right prospect falls to #20.

 

[Cardiac]

Either BA has gone all smoke screen suddenly or we aren't taking a QB in rd1. "Loves how the QB group works together. Palmer is a tough dude who will play much better this year with a real LT, upgrade Oline and everyone on the same page with BA's playbook.

CP has two to four years left so I'm all about not taking a QB this year. Now if BASK draft one then I'll been on board because they have earned my trust but I'd be shocked if the draft one before day 3.

 

[Bodha]

Savage is a BUUUUMMMMM


the worst kind of pre draft superstar



Tape is garbage? Bah, who cares? The kids got a big arm! Hes tall, he can reach the top shelf!

Poor mans Derek Anderson, because at least DA did make a pro bowl.



I would take "cant hit the broad side of a Space Shuttle" Logan Thomas over savage

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Bridgewater is the best QB in this draft. Not even close.

Manziel is an awful pocket QB. He scrambles when his pocket is clean. Much like Kolb did.

Carr is a dinker. Screens. Check downs. 2 yard throw? Hes your man

Bortles is just a big body 1 year wonder


Bridgewater is gold

 

[Mitch]

This is a very interesting draft for the Cardinals, V. 2.0 under the BASK regime. What I thought I would do is go through each position, identify the current players on the roster who may well be on the bubble, forecast what the BASK thinking may be as we approach the draft and make a few predictions as to what we might expect when the dust clears.

QB:

Starter: 9-Carson Palmer.

Bubble: 5-Drew Stanton, 14-Ryan Lindley.

Palmer appears to be primed and ready to pick up where he left off last season, especially now that he is well ensconced in BA's offense. Even he, however, says he understands why the Cardinals might draft a QB.

Rumor has it that the Cardinals appear to be very interested in drafting a QB this year. If they do, what might this mean to the futures of Drew Stanton and/or Ryan Lindley?

Stanton remains a relative unknown. He's athletic and strong armed, but remarkably inexperienced for a #2 QB heading into his 8th season. In the pre-season last year, Stanton looked strong in the pocket and threw the ball with good velocity---but seemed to throw every pass with high velo and thus lacked touch and led to numerous bobbles and ricochets.

Stanton's greatest asset to the team at this point is his knowledge of the offense...an offense that, as we saw last year, is not easy to pick up. His mobility is intriguing, to say the least, especially since he's by far the most mobile of the three QBs.

His biggest liabilities at this point are his inexperience and his salary (14th highest cap figure on the roster, at $2.67 M).

Ryan Lindley played reasonably well in the pre-season last year as the #3 and looks far more comfortable in his own skin under the new system. His arm is good and lively and he has decent, albeit not great, mobility.

If BASK are genuinely considering drafting a QB, possibly early in the draft---what this strongly suggests is that they do not view Stanton or Lindley as long-term possibilities.

If a QB is taken---then there becomes the issue of snaps and reps. BA is going to want to give the draftee plenty of them---which then relegates Stanton and Lindley to the sidelines, more than certainly either one of them would prefer.

The Cardinals appear to be committed to taking a QB in this year's draft.

According to Peter King, the Cardinals are particularly high on Derek Carr (6-2, 215, Fresno St.) and A.J. McCarron (6-3, 214, Alabama). Some recent mocks have Teddy Bridgewater (6-2, 205, Louisville) and Johnny Manziel (6-0, 210, Texas A&M) sliding into the late portions of the first round. Some pundits speculate that the Cardinals are targeting the likes of McCarron, Zach Mettenberger (6-5, 235, LSU) or Tom Savage (6-4, 230, Pittsburgh) in rounds 2 or 3 of the draft.

And---this is purely speculation on my part---but I could see why Steve Keim might like David Fales (6-2, 220, San Jose St.) for his uncanny accuracy/clutch performances and Tajh Boyd (6-1, 222, Clemson) for his arm and excellent mobility. Neither one of them has the size that BA typically covets, but the intangibles may sway to their side if the Cardinals still haven't drafted a QB by the start of the 4th round. I would also think that smaller sized, but highly productive QBs Aaron Murray (6-1, 201, Georgia) and Brett Smith (6-2, 206, Wyoming) might be of cosideration.

The wild card here is Logan Thomas (6-6, 250, Virginia Tech), who manifests superior physical traits, but mind-boggling inconsistencies. BA, a fellow Hokie, worked Thomas out himself and has every inside angle on the kid. With Carson Palmer expected to play for the next two years, BA would have two years to try to groom Thomas. That window could make sense, if they decide to go with a project rather than a more ready to plug in and play option, like Carr, McCarron, Bridgewater, Manziel or Mettenberger.

There's also a project QB in this draft who has recently attracted a fair degree of interest from teams: Seth Lobato (6-6, 223, Northern Colorado)---a former basketball player turned QB who is tall in the saddle, strong armed and athletic.

And---for all the tapes of eligible QBs I've scoured over the past few months, I have grown an affinity for Keith Wenning (6-3, 220, Ball St.), whom I liken to a young Kurt Warner. I have no idea whether he is even on BA&SK's radar.

If they pick a QB early (Rounds 1-3), BASK will have to make a tough decision on Drew Stanton. They could ask him to take a pay cut---which he would in all likelihood refuse. Or they could release him and save $1.3M on the cap, but lose $1.3M in dead money.

BASK could decide that Stanton is too important to keep and they would therefore eventually waive Ryan Lindley.

The $1.3M they could add by releasing Stanton could come in handy after the draft, if and when players like G Evan Mathis and RB LaMichael James become available. It also could be used to re-sign T Eric Winston.

The biggest question I have---and I think it is a fascinating one---would BA&SK draft Johnny Manziel, if he were available at #20?

While I think Manziel will be long gone by #20---I actually believe that BA&SK would draft Manziel and that they would envision in year one spelling Palmer a couple of times a game and give Johnny Football a package of plays, that quite possibly could raise the roof at U of P.

At Palmer's age that might not be such a bad thing and it could keep him healthy. which will be a challenge to do for a second straight year.

I do know this---if the Cardinals take a QB in round 1---BA doesn't believe in first round QBs sitting. While Palmer will enter camp as the starter, there will be an impetus to play the first round QB, whomever he is.

The Wild Card has been played. Logan Thomas is a stunning pick.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

The Wild Card has been played. Logan Thomas is a stunning pick.

You gave him the wild card and BA took it

Agree, I'm stunned for now also

 

[BigRedFan]

There is the Va Tech connection, that explains it. Should have waited 1 or 2 rounds and addressed other needs in my opinion.

 

[dylanbw]

Mitch nailed the wild card, very impressive.

 

[gmabel830]

Mitch nailed the wild card, very impressive.

He damn near mentioned every draft eligible QB in some way shape or form.

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