NFL

2017 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting What Could Happen in the First Round

Joe Redemann  —  @TheIDPGuy Mar 3rd, 2017
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13. Cardinals: Mitch Trubisky, Quarterback

Top Needs: QB, WR, IOL, CB

The Arizona Cardinals know they need to find their quarterback of the future, with Carson Palmer on the verge of retirement and slumping to a middling 16th-best ranking in Passing NEP per play. Here they select North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, who may have the most potential of passers this year.

Many folks knock Trubisky for only having started one year before declaring for the Draft, but in this scenario, he gets a year to have head coach Bruce Arians groom his strong arm. He does the fundamentals right: looks off safeties, reads through progressions calmly, and moves out of the pocket smoothly and looks to throw before scrambling.

Trubisky put up a 68.01 percent completion rate this year, which was sixth-best among 82 FBS quarterbacks who attempted at least 300 passes. He added an 8.38 yards per attempt (21st), a 6.71 percent touchdown rate (23rd), and 1.34 percent interception rate (3rd). He’s the perfect project for the Cardinals to mold.

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