Cardinals OC Mike McCoy can help Josh Rosen find long-term success

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen’s face has been all over ESPN’s crystal ball.

On Thursday, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano predicted that Rosen will make the most starts over the next three years of any quarterback drafted in the 2018 class.

Coaching and roster talent are critical factors in long-term success, but nothing is more important than individual skill. Based on scouts’ assessments, Rosen is the best decision-maker and the most accurate passer in this year’s draft class.

That’s lofty praise, especially considering Rosen was the fourth quarterback taken off the board and the Cardinals didn’t need to empty the bank to trade for him.

ESPN NFL writer Kevin Seifert also said Rosen is the quarterback from this class best-suited for long-term success.

Seifert’s prediction isn’t just about Rosen’s skill, though. He also praised the coaching staff.

The Cardinals’ roster looks bare at the moment, but offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has a history of making the most of the talent available.

McCoy was an offensive assistant in 2003, when Jake Delhomme led the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl berth. McCoy was the quarterbacks coach from 2004-08, helping take Delhomme and the Panthers to two more playoff appearances.

As the Broncos offensive coordinator from 2009-12, he oversaw the Tim Tebow rise — and fall — and coached Brock Osweiler in the former ASU quarterback’s rookie season.

McCoy then spent four years as the head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 2013-16, making the playoffs once with Philip Rivers at quarterback.

Though the Chargers underwhelmed with McCoy at the helm, Rivers averaged 4,486 yards, 31 touchdowns and completed 65.6 percent of his passes over the four years.

Rosen will be unique. Like Tebow, he has hype. But the Cardinals’ QB is thought to have a more NFL-ready skill set.

How he grows will be up to him and the coaching staff.

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