According to coach Bruce Arians, the Arizona Cardinals have been on the verge of selecting a quarterback in each of the last two NFL drafts.
This year, the Cards are facing even more pressure to find the man who could eventually replace veteran Carson Palmer, who contemplated retirement following the 2016 season.
It's impossible to say whom the Cardinals will target in the 2017 draft, which begins April 27 -- but if they end up selecting a QB, it's looking more like that man could be Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Mahomes contributed 53 total touchdowns (41 passing, 12 rushing) for the Red Raiders last season. He threw for 540 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions, and he rushed for 44 yards and a TD, in Texas Tech's 68-55 loss at ASU on Sept. 10.
Mahomes is the son of former pitcher Pat Mahomes, who played for six MLB teams from 1992-2003. Patrick Mahomes himself was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 2014 MLB Draft but did not sign with the team and decided to pursue a career in football.
Mahomes' NFL.com draft profile says he's "a big, confident quarterback who brings a variety of physical tools to the party" but will have to improve his decision-making at the pro level.
NFL Network reported Mahomes worked out for the Cards late last week -- and on Wednesday, Houston Texans beat writer Aaron Wilson said Mahomes impressed the coaches in attendance.
Arizona Cardinals have worked out Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes privately, sources say he excelled for large contingent of staffers
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 30, 2017
A number of experts have the Cards taking Mahomes with their first-round pick (13th overall), though not everyone views him as a first-round-caliber QB. Also, the Cardinals could have significant competition for Mahomes' services, as his 18 total official visits and private workouts are more than any other prospect in this year's draft, according to Wilson.
Other quarterbacks the Cardinals could target early in the draft include Deshaun Watson from Clemson, DeShone Kizer from Notre Dame and Mitch Trubisky from North Carolina. All three QBs are projected first-round picks.
