Reports: Arizona Cardinals looking into signing QB Blaine Gabbert
May 2, 2017, 2:56 PM | Updated: 8:40 pm
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
All eyes were on the Arizona Cardinals to add a quarterback in the NFL Draft, but it turns out, instead of drafting one, they are reportedly looking into a different avenue.
Multiple reports indicate the Cardinals are interested in free agent Blaine Gabbert, and a source told AZCentral’s Kent Somers the team plans to work him out this week.
Cardinals in talks with quarterback Blaine Gabbert, according to a source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 2, 2017
Arizona Cardinals looking into acquiring QB Blaine Gabbert.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) May 2, 2017
Gabbert, 27, was the 10th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Missouri. After spending three seasons in Florida, Gabbert played for three years with the San Francisco 49ers.
For his career, Gabbert has completed 56 percent of his passes for 7,351 yards, 38 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. In 2016, 49ers starter Colin Kaepernick was benched in favor of Gabbert, who went on to start the first five games of the season and throw for 925 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions on the season.
Gabbert made one of those starts against the Cardinals in Week 5, with Arizona coming out on top 33-21. Gabbert was 18-of-31 for 162 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions.
In Arizona, Gabbert would figure to occupy the third spot on the depth chart behind starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton. Arizona also has Zac Dysert on the roster, as well as undrafted rookie free agent Trevor Knight.
There was ample discussion surrounding the Cardinals and several of the highest rated quarterbacks in the 2017 NFL Draft, such as Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson. With the No. 13 selection, however, the Cardinals saw all three taken before their pick.
In fact, all three quarterbacks were drafted by teams that traded up to get them: Trubisky at No. 2 to Chicago, Mahomes at No. 10 to Kansas City and Watson to Houston with the 12th overall pick. Arizona ended up taking linebacker Haason Reddick in the first round.
That left Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer on the board at the start of day two, who, like Mahomes, was also linked to the Cardinals heavily in the pre-draft process. Like those three teams, the Cardinals traded up, but not to take Kizer. Instead, they selected safety Budda Baker, giving up multiple selections later in the draft.
The Cardinals made seven picks over the the three-day draft, though none were spent on a passer.
