2011 NFL Mock Draft: Von Miller Gone Before Cardinals Pick

Von Miller has long been considered the favorite to be be the draft selection for the Arizona Cardinals. Mel Kiper has him being taken by Arizona in two versions of his mock draft. He is seen here in this community as the favorite choice because of the pass rushing skills and the great need the Cardinals have of a pass rusher. In the latest Yahoo mock draft, though, Miller is not available at number five. He gets selected at number three by the Buffalo Bills. 

Whom do the Cardinals select?

Arizona addresses the other glaring need with their selection and are projected to make the first quarterback selection of the draft, picking Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert. 

Here is the explanation: 

When Kurt Warner retired, the Cardinals' offense was left in shambles and the team cycled through quarterbacks, unable to find a solution. Gabbert is still raw, but Ken Whisenhunt is a master of bringing quarterbacks along slowly, as he did with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, and could tailor a game plan that allows Gabbert to step into the starting lineup readily.

With the likelihood of a new rookie salary scale, I am warming to the possibility of drafting a quarterback at number five, although Miller still is my personal favorite. The monetary risk will not be as great. Plus, if the Cardinals are unable to trade for a younger quarterback, drafting a guy to develop and compete with John Skelton and whatever veteran the Cardinals possibly pick up would not be a bad plan.

If Miller is unavailable at number five, what would you do? Put on your Rod Graves and Ken Whisenhunt hat and give it a shot.