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Arizona Cardinals: The Jake Coker Story

By Johnathan Henson

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 6, 2016; Oxnard, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during rookie minicamp at River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2016; Oxnard, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during rookie minicamp at River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

253. That’s how many players went off the board in the NFL draft. 15 quarterbacks were drafted. Jared Goff of California goes number one, Carson Wentz of North Dakota State goes number two, Paxton Lynch of Memphis goes number twenty-six. First round quarterbacks who are going to start in the near future.

Christian Hackenberg to the New York Jets in the second round, Jacoby Brissett to the New England Patriots and Cody Kessler to the Cleveland Browns in the third round. Connor Cook to the Oakland Raiders, Dak Prescott to the Dallas Cowboys, and Cardale Jones to the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round.

Kevin Hogan went to the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round. Nate Sudfeld went to the Washington Redskins, Jake Rudock to the Detroit Lions, Brandon Allen to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jeff Driskel to the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round. Brandon Doughty was the last quarterback chosen, he went to the Miami Dolphins.

All the names, none were the NCAA Champion this year, the guy who held that honor, Jake Coker, was sitting at home, wondering what went wrong. The Alabama gunslinger, was a big reason why the Crimson Tide won, as he threw 16 of 25 passes, 335 yards, 64.0 completion percentage, and 2 touchdowns. Biggest number was the zero turnovers during that championship game.

With much of the hype being on the top three, many thought the Cardinals would take a quarterback, I think the Cardinals got the right quarterback for Bruce Arians. Coker is a big-bodied quarterback with a lot to prove. It’s almost a perfect marriage.

My most case and point, Carson Palmer came to Arizona as a hand-me-down quarterback who was traded for a pickle jar. A pro-bowl quarterback and MVP candidate was traded for a pair of 6th round selections. The guy wasn’t able to overcome the Panthers in the NFC Championship Game, but he’s been pretty damn good for the Cardinals.

Next: Coker has an opportunity

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