2018 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting every first round selection
player. 32. . QB. Louisville. Lamar Jackson. 15
After an impressive career, Carson Palmer announced in January that he would retire from the NFL. That came shortly after the retirement announcement from Arizona Cardinal’s head coach Bruce Arians. The team has since hired Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator Steve Wilks as their new head coach, but the quarterback position remains a mystery.
Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton are not the answer. They’ve both had their chances in the NFL and neither has proven to be starting quarterback material – at least not to the level of being viewed as a potential long-term solution. It’s more likely that one of the two will serve as a bridge to their quarterback of the future, Lamar Jackson.
The former Heisman Trophy winner, Jackson will be passed over in the draft for some of the more “pro-ready” passers. That’s more or less what happened last year with Deshaun Watson, and he turned out alright.
Jackson beat out Watson for the Heisman Trophy in 2016 and improved this season. He’s elevated his passing game and improved significantly on pocket presence. Jackson threw for 7,203 yards and 57 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Louisville. He’s much more than the run-first quarterback that some have made him out to be. There will be a learning curve, but the raw athleticism will prove too enticing for the Cardinals to pass up.