NFL execs link Arizona Cardinals to trading up for QB in NFL Draft
Apr 12, 2018, 7:07 AM | Updated: 1:40 pm
Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim does an interview with The Doug & Wolf Show on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Matt Layman/Arizona Sports)
(Matt Layman/Arizona Sports)
There were many questions surrounding the Arizona Cardinals after their disappointing 8-8 season. After Carson Palmer retired, however, there was no more glaring problem than the quarterback situation.
While it may have seemed that the Cardinals solved this issue in March by signing NFL veteran Sam Bradford, it appears the team may still be looking for a quarterback of the future in the NFL Draft.
According to NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah, three of the five NFL executives he reached out to believe the Cardinals are the most likely team to trade up for a QB in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Cardinals currently have the No. 15 pick in the first round of the draft. However, both ESPN writers Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold being selected before Arizona’s pick.
“The Cardinals need to get their quarterback of the future. Every other team in that division is set with a talented, young QB. I’m sure they’ll do their best to move up for one of the top guys in this year’s group.”
While Arizona may be looking into trading up, one executive makes it seem as though they aren’t the only team thinking about doing so.
“I’d probably lean toward Arizona, but there are a lot of teams in the QB market. Several teams outside the top 10 have been doing a ton of homework on the quarterbacks. Teams like the Steelers, Chargers, Dolphins could be candidates to move up.”
While some may dismiss these rumors because of the Bradford signing, other believe it was the perfect move to make before moving up for a rookie quarterback.
“Initially I thought Buffalo, but the more I look at it, I will say Arizona. (Sam) Bradford’s presence allows them to develop someone for a year. A rebuild has begun already, but other parts of an aging core group will be gone in the next couple years. Perfect timing to hand the QB job over to someone like Josh Allen.”
