Quarterback vs Cornerback: The Arizona Cardinals First Round Pick
By Jeremy Meek
It looks like the Arizona Cardinals will be choosing between a quarterback and a cornerback in round one
The 2017 NFL Draft is just a month away, and teams around the league have begun to put together a list of players and positions they want to target. The Arizona Cardinals, like every other team, came into the off-season with needs. They’ve used free agency to fill some of them, but some obvious holes remain.
The Cardinals have three big needs that could be addressed with their first round draft selection. On offense, Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald could be playing in their last seasons, so both positions could be addressed. On defense, they still need a starting cornerback across from Patrick Peterson.
Wide receiver will likely be on the back burner this year. They really like the young guys they have behind Fitzgerald, and the draft seems loaded at that spot every year. They could feel like they can wait until next year to focus on that.
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That leaves the Cardinals, in all likelihood, deciding between a quarterback and a cornerback next month when the 13th overall pick rolls around. There are pros can cons for each.
The quarterback position is an interesting one this year. There is no consensus top player, and all of the potential first round picks have flaws that could doom them. If they decide to use the 13th pick on a passer, it would most likely be DeShone Kizer or Patrick Mahomes. Both are strong-armed throwers who fit what head coach Bruce Arians likes to do on offense.
On the flip side, both Kizer and Mahomes have question marks, and could be risky picks that early. Both would get a year to learn behind Palmer, but so would a guy like Davis Webb, who could probably be picked on day two.
With the loss of several starters on defense, including some capable pass rushers, solidifying the defense makes sense as well. The Cardinals have tried to find a number two cornerback, without much success. This year’s draft class is loaded at that position. Talented players like Marlon Humphrey, Quincy Wilson, and Gareon Conley all could be tempting when Arizona goes on the clock.
There is an argument to be made for waiting on a cornerback as well. The crux of that argument is the depth there. Round two is going to have some terrific talents still on the board. Players like Jalen Tabor, Fabian Moreau, and Ahkello Witherspoon, among others could make waiting on a cornerback a better value option.
The Cardinals are trying to make one last run with Palmer and Fitzgerald, but need to plan for the future as well. It’s obvious that no matter which option they choose, they’re going to get a talented player. Which should they take?
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Quarterback is the most important position on the field, but it wouldn’t help them in 2017 as much as a cornerback would. However, there is a bigger dip in talent from round one to round two at quarterback. There is no good answer to the question of which way they should go. Fans will be happy, whether they pick cornerback or quarterback, so in the end it doesn’t matter. But it would be surprising to see them pick anything but one of those two positions.