Cardinals pick QB Luke Falk in third round of Kiper Jr.’s latest mock
Apr 11, 2018, 11:23 AM
Washington State quarterback Luke Falk (4) throws to wide receiver Gabe Marks (9) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Another day, another first 100-player mock draft and another analyst leaving the Arizona Cardinals without a quarterback through their first two picks.
ESPN’s Todd McShay drafted the best players for each team in a 100-player mock draft Tuesday and colleague Mel Kiper Jr. went through the exercise on Wednesday with similar results when it comes to head coach Steve Wilks’ Cardinals.
Kiper Jr.’s three-round mock based on team need and his own big board has Arizona selecting UCLA offensive tackle Kolton Miller with its first-round choice at No. 15 overall and follows McShay in the Cardinals drafting SMU wideout Courtland Sutton in the second round.
If Arizona passes on a quarterback at No. 15 — in this scenario, Lamar Jackson and Mason Rudolph are still available — offensive tackle is at the top of the Cardinals’ list of needs. Are they really going to rely on Andre Smith at right tackle? The 6-9, 309-pound Miller is rising after he was one of the most athletic big men at the combine. He’s my top-ranked tackle.
It’s not until the third round where Arizona finally gets its young quarterback, Washington State gun-slinger Luke Falk, at 79th overall.
He’s not the most athletic quarterback, but he’s accurate when he has time to set his feet. The Cardinals have short-term answers in Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon and still need a guy who will be their QB1 long-term.
The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Falk had a rocky senior season that included benchings, but he still completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,593 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as a senior.
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Playing in head coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid, spread offense, he put up more mind-boggling numbers as a sophomore and junior, completing about 4,500 yards with 38 touchdowns in each season while pushing a completion percentage of 70 percent.
Kiper Jr. rounds out Arizona’s class in his latest mock with the Cardinals selecting Central Florida outside linebacker Shaquem Griffin.
The NFL Scouting Combine star who holds a linebacker record with a 4.38 time in the 40-yard dash is expected to become the first player with one hand to be taken in the draft during the NFL’s modern era.
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