Speaking of QBs
Mike Tannenbaum, ESPN Mock draft
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Look, QB availability is crucial in today's NFL -- 66 passers started at least one game last season -- and
Kyler Murray hasn't played a full season since 2020. I really like McCarthy's long-term upside. The 21-year-old averaged 9 yards per attempt and completed 72.3% of his throws last season, and he bulked up to 219 pounds at the combine. In short, I think he's a better, younger and more durable quarterback than Murray right now, and I'm not passing up this chance.
You might point to Murray's contract (which includes $35.3 million guaranteed for 2024 and $29.9 million guaranteed for 2025), but teams routinely eat substantial dead money these days for a better opportunity at the position. And besides, I think the Cardinals could get a first-round pick back in exchange for him -- stay tuned there, I might have something up my sleeve.
Mock projected trade: Vikings address their QB issue
Cardinals get: No. 11
Vikings get: QB
Kyler Murray and No. 66 (third round)
I drafted
J.J. McCarthy at No. 4 to take over under center for Arizona, so Murray becomes a trade candidate and Minnesota is still searching for QB answers after missing out on the top four passers in the class. I don't love the scheme fit for Oregon's
Bo Nix in Minnesota, and it's too early for Washington's
Michael Penix Jr.
So here's my proposition to clear some cap space for the Cards, officially start the McCarthy era in Arizona and fix the Vikings' QB issue. In my mind, the No. 11 pick for Murray straight up is too rich, and No. 23 -- Minnesota's other first-rounder -- on its own is not enough. So I'm attaching that third-rounder to the No. 11 pick to level this out. It's similar to what the Cardinals did during the 2022 draft, when they
traded their first-round pick (No. 23) to Baltimore for receiver
Marquise Brown and a third-rounder.
From the Vikings' standpoint, everything I said earlier about Murray's durability still matters, but he's cheaper and younger than
Kirk Cousins would have been to re-sign and gives them a chance to compete this season rather than rebuild.
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell had an outstanding combine, running a 4.33 in the 40, jumping 38 inches in the vert and posting a 10-foot-2 broad jump. I was also impressed with his Senior Bowl practice week. Mitchell has standout man-to-man skills and the ideal 6-foot-1 size to play outside corner. His ball production is elite, with 39 pass breakups and six interceptions over his time in college. Arizona
signed Sean Murphy-Bunting, but this team struggled on defense (specifically against the pass) last season and needs more. The Cards gave up a staggering 7.6 yards per pass attempt (27th). Pairing Mitchell with Murphy-Bunting would make for a much-needed upgrade to the Cardinals' secondary.
Mike Tannenbaum puts GM hat back on and makes his selections for each team in the first round of the 2024 draft.
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