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There is little doubt that mock draft season brings undue hope or stress, depending on your opinion of the player picked for your team.
One thing I try to always remind people is that these are exercises for the draft experts as much as they are enjoyment or anger inducing reads for the fans.
Mel Kiper is on his third mock of the season, in the first couple of mocks, Kiper had the Cardinals taking Teez Tabor and then Jarrad Davis in mock two.
Now, in his third mock, he gives the Cardinals fans hope... If you are a Deshaun Watson fan.
13. Arizona Cardinals
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Arizona needs a quarterback of the future, and this is a sneaky spot to grab one -- if he's still around. Carson Palmer, 37, showed his age last season, and backup Drew Stanton hasn't proved he's a starting-caliber QB. So now Bruce Arians, who's a brilliant offensive mind, would get Palmer's heir apparent in Watson, who flashes top-five-pick talent at times but was inconsistent in 2016. At 6-2, 221, Watson has the arm strength, toughness and athleticism to play for a long time. He could back up Palmer in the short term while he adjusts gradually to the NFL. Keep an eye on the secondary here, too; the Cardinals lost their two starting safeties plus a corner in free agency.
Kiper brings up an important point at the end. The Cardinals are in need of help in the secondary more immediately than they are in need of help at quarterback, but his pick makes sense.
You can always address the position of safety or corner later, but if all things are equal, getting a QB trumps all other positions.
This would also be another case of the Cardinals addressing the future early and being ready for the next step, something they have done each of the last two drafts.
What do you think?
Picks 1-12:
Browns: Myles Garrett
49ers: Solomon Thomas
Bears: Jamal Adams
Jaguars: Jonathan Allen
Titans: Marshon Lattimore
Jets: O.J. Howard
Chargers: Malik Hooker
Panthers: Leonard Fournette
Bengals: Takkarist McKinley
Bills: Mike Williams
Saints: Haason Reddick
Browns: Mitch Trubisky