Cardinals Mock Draft – Taking a QB in first round

Mock drafts can be equally entertaining and infuriating. As an Arizona Cardinals’ fan I’m sure we’ll elicit one of those emotions as once a week we conduct a Cardinals mock draft.

I will be making a pick in all seven rounds of the draft, but there is a caveat: I am doing my mock drafts from the angle that the picks in the first round will change weekly, giving us an opportunity to run through a gamut of potential Cardinals draft picks, and maybe, just maybe we can all be better prepared and informed come draft day.

Clearly no one knows what’s going to happen on draft day in the beginning of February, and even as the draft gets closer the reality is that even the experts still are mocking what is going to happen.

That means we need to cover every possible scenario, and give ourselves the best chance of knowing what could happen.

Today’s mock draft will be built on the idea of the Cardinals taking a quarterback in round one.

Round 1, Pick 7- Mike Glennon, QB, North Carolina St.

If you’ve read my work here at Arizona Sports you know my feeling of where I think Glennon is in the rankings of quarterbacks coming out this year.

Glennon, though, fits the bill of what new head coach Bruce Arians will be looking for in a quarterback, no matter what adaptation the coaching staff is talking about now. A strong-armed guy that can fit the ball into tight windows down the field, and allow for Arians to dial up his “home run” plays as much as he wants.

Not something I would advocate, but it is a realistic possibility.

Round 2, Pick 38- Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky

If you follow me on Twitter, you have heard about Larry Warford and the fact he is my draft crush this season.

He is light on his feet for a player of his size, but makes his money by mauling in the trenches in a power run scheme.

Warford could answer a lot of potential problems within the interior of the offensive line, and in round two would present “proper value” for the position.

Round 3, Pick 71- Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana

The small school cornerback has now become a main stream name, and for good reason.

Alford came up huge at the Senior Bowl and put his name not just on the map, but became a guy that should be drafted on day two.

The Cardinals currently have only three cornerbacks under contract, and with a new defensive coaching staff in place, it appears that they may not bring back Greg Toler.

Alford wouldn’t just be a value in round three, but could provide another young and versatile option in the defensive backfield.

Round 4, Pick 102- Brian Schwenke, C, California

The interior of the Cardinals offensive line has proven to be a problem, and upgrading the interior may become even more of a priority if the pick of “Cement Shoes” Mike Glennon in round one comes to fruition.

Schwenke looked comfortable blocking and directing traffic in his one year as a starting center in college.
He shows enough power and quickness to run the point in the Arians power run scheme.

Round 5, Pick 135- Theo Riddick, RB, Notre Dame

Again, I am not advocating this pick, and in reality a guy like Riddick may or may not be around in round five, but the position may be one in which the new coaching staff looks to in bring in new talent.

Riddick is a tough, nimble runner, but is also a very good receiver out of the backfield.

Adding Riddick later in the draft would give the new coaching staff another option at the running back position.

Round 6, Pick 166- Michael Mauti, LB, Penn St

The injured linebacker from the famed “Linebacker U” may be a bargain on draft day.

Mauti isn’t a physical freak like some playing the inside linebacker position now, but in the Cardinals 3-4 defense he would be the perfect run-stopping, strong side middle backer next to Daryl Washington.

Round 7, Pick 199- Earl Wolff, SS, North Carolina St

Wolff has been overlooked by many sharing a defensive backfield with David Amerson and Brandon Bishop, but hewas the “quarterback” of the defense for the Wolfpack.

A solid athlete with room to add weight at the next level, Wolff is the ideal developmental safety prospect for when the day comes that fellow North Carolina State alum Adrian Wilson is no longer roving the Cardinals defense.

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There you have it, the Mike Glennon seven-round mock draft.

May not be how I would have done things, but that isn’t supposed to be what mock drafts are about, it’s about projecting what you think may happen come draft day.

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