ARIZONA CARDINALS

ESPN’s Jaworski: Arizona Cardinals taking Blake Bortles ‘would not surprise me’

May 7, 2014, 11:39 PM | Updated: 11:40 pm

LISTEN: Ron Jaworski, ESPN NFL analyst

What the Arizona Cardinals will do with the 20th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft is anyone’s guess.

For his part, ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski thinks they should add to their defense.

“I still believe there’s probably a need for a safety on the football team,” he told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Wednesday. “There’s probably a need for that good outside pass rushing linebacker during this draft.”

That would seem to fall in line with what most pundits think, with the idea being that the Cardinals are maybe one or two pieces away from having a dominant defense, and thus should focus their efforts there.

But when you’re picking as late as the Cardinals are and with just six picks (for now) in the draft, Jaworski said it will be up to GM Steve Keim to really navigate his way through the three-day event and come out with some impact players.

And really, the only position the Cardinals could draft that isn’t likely to make an impact, at least in 2014, would be quarterback. With Carson Palmer entrenched as the starter, they wouldn’t think of “wasting” a pick on his future replacement, right?

“I think in principle I would agree with that,” Jaworski said. “But the guy I like is (Blake) Bortles. I would not be shocked if they went for Bortles at number 20.

“I think he’s a guy that projects well for the type of offense that Bruce likes to run, that Tom Moore likes to run. The ball explodes out of this guy’s hand. He has every throw. He’s tough, he can hang in the pocket.”

A 6-foot-4 quarterback, Bortles is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,581 yards and 25 touchdowns. He led the University of Central Florida to an upset win over Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, and is regarded as one of the top passers in the draft.

But at the same time, Jaworski — like many others — is reluctant to say there are any franchise quarterbacks in this draft, which is perhaps why he expects the passer to be available when the Cardinals are on the clock.

“Bortles would not surprise me at number 20,” he said. “I think that’s the only quarterback that’s going to go in the first round.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Nick Bosa, 49ers...

Jesse Morrison

49ers ‘war daddy’ Nick Bosa to challenge Cardinals’ Paris Johnson

Paris Johnson Jr. has a huge task in Week 4 against San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa but he is excited to face the 49ers' star.

15 hours ago

Wide receiver Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals prepares for the snap during the second ha...

Arizona Sports

Injury report: Cardinals’ Marquise Brown questionable to play vs. 49ers

The Arizona Cardinals enter Week 4 with No. 1 receiver Hollywood Brown injured heading into a game against the San Francisco 49ers.

16 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort (Tyler Drake)...

Kevin Zimmerman

Cardinals GM ‘won’t hesitate’ to activate Kyler Murray, downplays USC-ASU scouting

Kyler Murray, Joshua Dobbs and Caleb Williams were all on the mind of Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort this past week.

18 hours ago

Defensive end Chandler Jones #55 of the Las Vegas Raiders talks to fans before a game against the N...

Arizona Sports

Former Cardinals LB Chandler Jones arrested in Las Vegas

Former Arizona Cardinals linebacker and current Las Vegas Raider Chandler Jones was arrested in Las Vegas on Friday.

19 hours ago

Joshua Dobbs #9 of the Arizona Cardinals on the field after defeating the Dallas Cowboys  at State ...

Dan Bickley

Have Arizona Cardinals found hidden treasure in QB Josh Dobbs?

The early results from Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs have been a revelation and is making the new regime look good.

2 days ago

Zaven Collins at practice...

Arizona Sports

Eye patches and blurred vision: Cardinals LB Zaven Collins describes ‘freak’ injury

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins explained how he suffered an injury that caused him to wear an eye patch for a few days.

2 days ago

ESPN’s Jaworski: Arizona Cardinals taking Blake Bortles ‘would not surprise me’