Very little seems predictable about the top ten of the upcoming draft. Practically the only the thing the national media agrees on is that the Cardinals are likely to take Blaine Gabbert if he’s available at No. 5.
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, for what’s worth, made comments Wednesday that run contrary to that notion.
“There is nobody [at quarterback] that really stands out like Sam Bradford did last year,” Whisenhunt told Mike Jurecki on WTAR via Mike Sando of ESPN.com.
“There are a lot of guys that are intriguing athletically like Blaine Gabbert, like Cam Newton, because of the skill set, some of the things they can do. But I don’t think they have shown the ability to do some of the things that you have seen in the past by some of these guys like a Matt Ryan or, obviously, like a Sam Bradford.”
Sando thinks Whisenhunt isn’t blowing smoke; he’s just being honest. Most NFL people agree: Gabbert and Newton are shakier top-five picks than some quarterbacks over the last few years.
While the national guys all think the Cardinals will take Gabbert (if he’s available), it’s worth noting Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic is going in a different direction.
“On Gabbert, my opinion is Cardinals will pass to take someone who can help in 2011,” he wrote on Twitter.
Whisenhunt’s draft history supports that theory. So do his words on Wednesday.
“We need somebody at that spot [fifth overall] that is going to have an impact for us this year, that can make some of those plays,” Whisenhunt said.
UPDATE: Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com thinks the Cardinals will go defense.