Arizona Cardinals: First-round opinions differ

The Arizona Cardinals have been linked to quarterbacks, linebackers, receivers, and even tight ends in the first-round of the 2017 NFL Draft

What will the Arizona Cardinals do tomorrow night in Philadelphia for the first-round of the NFL Draft?  Conventional wisdom says quarterback or defense.

We know the Arizona Cardinals have been anything but conventional over the last several years. The Cardinals also won’t tip their hand as to what they are thinking of doing with their first-round choice at number 13.

Depending on who you ask, you will get different opinions on who the Cardinals will select at number 13.  Not much of a surprise there.

Cbssports.com:

Rob Rang – Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

Pete Pricso – Patrick Mahomes

Dane Brugler – Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

Ryan Wilson – DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

Others:

Walterfootball.com – Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

Bob McManaman, azcentral.com – Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Louis Reddick, ESPN.com – O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Peter King, mmqb.si.com – Jonathan Allen, OL, Alabama

So as you can see, there are varying opinions on what the Cardinals will do in the first round. Patrick Mahomes is overwhelmingly the opinion amongst all mock drafts that were located.  I still don’t believe he will be there at 13.  Even if he is, I think the Cardinals go in a different direction.

The idea of getting a receiver in the first round still seems a bit far-fetched to me.  They may get one, but not that early.  As you can see there is even an opinion for a tight end and offensive lineman.

If there is a top-notch defender still on the board at 13 or a quarterback they love, that has to be the likely direction the Cardinals go in.

The idea of coach Bruce Arians taking a tight end in the first round seems the most unlikely of scenarios to me. I’d almost say there is a better chance of drafting a kicker than reaching for a tight end that early.