Can Cardinals Find Another Diamond In The Rough In Draft?

Feb 22, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisiana State quarterback Zachary Mettenberger speaks at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

It is very easy to say that last year’s sleeper player for the Arizona Cardinals was safety slash slot corner Tyrann Mathieu with all of the off field issues that dropped his draft status. Mathieu has been nothing short of a model citizen thus far and on the field has made an immediate mark in the Cardinals secondary in such a short period of time before the season ending knee injury.

Mathieu is very young and energetic and should make a speedy and healthy recovery hopefully in time for the start of training camp. This years draft may also have some diamond in the rough type of players for many different reasons, but can the Cardinals find another gem hiding in the haystack of draft prospects in this year’s draft.

I’m looking at tape on all the prospects in the draft and comparing them to the Cardinals needs, there are a few that would make excellent picks next year at pick number 20 in the draft.

I think the Cardinals can use their number one pick on a play making deep treat for coach Bruce Arians style of offense. But the position that needs to be filled must be the franchise quarterback, even though Arians was quoted saying they are fine at quarterback and that may be the case as coach Arians also believes Carson Palmer may be able to play until he’s 36 or 37, that would have him as the teams starter for 3 more years should they decide to keep him. At some point a young guy needs to come in and get groomed under Palmer and coach Arians so that the transition to the next guy will not have another 4 to 5 year drought.

I’m looking at all of the talent at quarterback that will be long gone in the first two rounds of the draft, and the Cardinals have no chance at landing the top prospects unless they trade to get in position and that is highly unlikely. So who is the gem sitting in the background with a question mark stopping his draft status, and I believe is a perfect fit for the Cardinals in the second round and that is quarterback Zach Mettenberger.

This kid is the perfect fit for a Bruce Arian’s offense he can make every throw with decent accuracy, has a cannon for an arm and is tall standing at 6’5 235  and will be( in my opinion) over looked in this draft because of a serious knee injury suffered in a bowl game last year.

Mettenbergers stock is low key and just primed and ready for a perfect fit Cardinals team to steel him. The system that Mettenberger played in at LSU was a NFL pro style offense and he has great ability to read coverage and step up in the pocket when needed. Mettenberger , like any other draft prospect does have a few flaws that over time can be corrected.

Nevertheless a steeal waiting to happen and the Cardinals can get him in the later rounds and give him plenty of time to learn under Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton over the next 3 years, because in my opinion he will be a typical NFL quarterback in due time.