NFL draft: Cardinals creating cloud of confusion at No. 1 pick

By Bryan Perez | Apr 5, 2019

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 13: General manager Steve Keim of the Arizona Cardinals talks on the sideline before the start of the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

If the Cardinals aren’t willing to trade QB Josh Rosen, then they probably aren’t going to select Kyler Murray, right? Who knows…

The Arizona Cardinals are playing the 2019 NFL draft game perfectly. Despite holding the No. 1 overall pick and having a second-year franchise-caliber quarterback already on the roster, they’ve managed to create absolute chaos with the rumor they’re leaning toward Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray with the first selection.

I wouldn’t fault them for taking Murray at all. In fact, I think it’s the right pick. Sure, there are many in the draft industry who will say otherwise, but in my opinion, a franchise can’t worry about who they drafted last year or the year before that. If an upgrade is available at the game’s most important position, you take him. And in this case, Murray projects as an upgrade for Arizona in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

But are they actually going to take him?

Rumors have turned into near-concrete projections that Murray is the guy, but according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cardinals have yet to engage in substantive trade talks with other teams for Josh Rosen.

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In fact, Rosen is expected to participate in Arizona’s off-season workout program which gets started on Monday.

“Despite being the subject of rampant trade speculation, Arizona QB Josh Rosen is expected to report to and participate in the start of the Cardinals’ off-season workout program on Monday,” Schefter tweeted. “Some players who have been subject of trade speculation have declined to report to workouts.

“Plus, the Cardinals still have not engaged in active trade discussions to date on Josh Rosen. Other teams have asked about him, but to date, the Cardinals have not shown a willingness to trade him. To date.”

So, let’s get this straight. Arizona is going to draft a quarterback with the first overall pick, but they aren’t willing to trade the quarterback they drafted in 2018 with the 10th overall pick? Are they really going to keep two quarterbacks selected in the top 10 in back to backs drafts?

The answer is no. There’s no chance they’ll keep both. Which, if Schefter is correct and the Cardinals aren’t willing to trade Rosen, suggests they aren’t going to draft Murray.

And we’re right back where we started.

By the time the draft is all said and done, expect Murray to be a Cardinal, Rosen to be a Giant, Charger or Patriot, and for balance to return to the NFL universe.