SI’s King: Lindley could start at QB this season

The Arizona Cardinals, by most accounts, had a solid 2012
NFL Draft.

The Cards gave their offense a new weapon by drafting
Notre Dame star receiver Michael Floyd in the first round,
addressed needs by drafting three offensive lineman and
also invested in their defensive secondary by using picks
on cornerback Jamell Fleming and safety Justin Bethel.

One of the more intriguing picks was their sixth-round
selection of San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley.

Lindley started for four years at SDSU,
throwing for 12,690 yards and 90 touchdowns.

One NFL insider believes that experience will be a huge
factor for the Cardinals, who he believes are still
looking to find their quarterback solution.

The expert is SI’s Peter King, who picked
Lindley to have
the fourth-biggest impact of any rookie quarterback in
2012, behind only Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and
Brandon Weeden, who were all first round picks.

Whoa, you say. Pump the brakes, pal. Nope.
Lindley started 49 games in a pro-style offense in
college, and the Cardinals aren’t sold that Kevin Kolb is
the long-term answer. Something tells me Lindley will have
his shot to play by midseason.

So could King be right? Could Lindley take over the reins
of the Cardinals offense this season?

That remains to be seen, but Arizona head coach
Ken
Whisenhunt
had glowing things to say about the former
Aztec signal caller Tuesday with Doug & Wolf on
Arizona
Sports 620.

“This year [Lindley] lost his receivers,” Whisenhunt said.
“He wasn’t as productive this season, but he’s been a
productive college quarterback and he’s a big guy that can
move so when you come to that point in the draft and you
see him on your board and he’s sticking out and his
measurable, his height, his size, his speed, his arm
strength, they were all good.”

Follow @Vincemarotta