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listen Listen: John Clayton, ESPN NFL Insider
Clayton joins Doug and Wolf to talk about Alex Smith trade rumors and the NFL combine.

For all we know, the Arizona Cardinals went into the NFL Scouting Combine interested in taking one of the quarterbacks with their first round pick.

But if that was indeed the case, they may be leaving with a different idea. Because, according to ESPN NFL insider John Clayton, no one really helped themselves over the weekend.

"I thought this was going to be one where one or two or three quarterbacks who have been working out for five, six weeks, testing everything and trying to get their games better, I thought somebody was going to light it up and nobody lit it up," he told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf Monday. "But that doesn't mean they're not going to go in the first round; it just means they're going to go in a lower part of the first round."

West Virginia's Geno Smith, USC's Matt Barkley, Arkansas' Tyler Wilson, Florida State's EJ Manuel, North Carolina State's Mike Glennon, Syracuse's Ryan Nassib and Tennessee's Tyler Bray are all intriguing talents, as are Kansas State's Collin Klein and Arizona's Matt Scott.

The Cardinals, as we know, are picking seventh, which may be a bit high for a passer in this draft.

And all it takes is for one team to fall in love with a player and take him earlier than most think he should go for all the dominoes to start to fall.

Seemingly every year a team or two "reaches" for a signal caller earlier than most think they should, and there's nothing saying new coach Bruce Arians and his staff won't I.D. a player and make sure they get him.

"I still think it's going to be two or three," Clayton said of quarterbacks taken in the first round. "But you just don't get excited about it because this group isn't as good as the group in the last two years."

Adam Green, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

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    Lee A. wrote...
    All I Can Say Is....
    ... DUH! Where has Clayton been that now he suddenly proclaims there's no one to get excited about among the QB crop? And he further says this group isn't as good as the last two years? Where do I sign up for Clayton's job because if this is the best he can come up with, I'll take his place for far less money.
  • Abuse
    CardsFan_ wrote...
    @Lee
    I think you missed the point, and the headline writers certainly didn't help. Check the 3rd paragraph - I think Clayton's point was more that the combine didn't change any minds in that regard, not that he was just proclaiming what everyone already knows.
  • Abuse
    CoachK wrote...
    Cardinals need to focus on Bray
    Tyler Bray may be the guy who improved his NFL draft stock with his position-specific drills. He showed off both his elite arm strength and good accuracy, consistently putting the ball where the drills called for. While pressure at the NFL combine is 100% mental – no pass rushers in your face – Bray and also Geno Smith took instructions well from the coaches at those QB drills. Both guys were throwing the deep ball over the receiver’s outside shoulder, which is what the drill called for. Some of the other QBs looked lost as they were looking to complete the pass.
  • Abuse
    Lee A. wrote...
    The Headline Didn't Help
    True on that count but I guess I'm tired of the experts basically regurgitating what we already know. TELL me if someone stands out, TELL me if someone falls flat but don't waste time telling me the status quo. I guess that was my point.
  • Abuse
    mrpeary3189 wrote...
    Agree with Lee A.
    I was tired of hearing about Bray to the Cards. Personally, I didn't like his attitude and leadership qualities. Plus I thought he was too skinny. But after watching him at the combine, I'm hopping on the bandwagon. He has the arm that Arians loves. He's still a little skinny for someone who is 6'6", but he can grow into his body. If he cleans up his attitude (where Arians and Moore will definitely hold him accountable) he can be a good QB for years to come. He's certainly someone to watch in the 2nd or 3rd Round.
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