If you'll allow me to abandon my journalistic integrity for a moment and just be a true blue football fan, I must say that Carson Palmer is the absolute man. Following a bitter split from the Cincinnati Bengals, two forgettable years with the Oakland Raiders and a scond torn ACL last year with the Arizona Cardinals, Palmer is arguably playing the best football of his career right now.
In 13 games, Palmer is completing 64.5 percent of his passes and has already thrown for 4,003 yards with 31 touchdowns against just four interceptions. His passer rating of 107.2 ranks second behind only Russell Wilson and the Cardinals, 11-2, are one of the most complete teams in the league.
Yet Palmer is 35-years-old and likely doesn't have too much longer before he calls it quits. As such, ESPN NFL Insider Todd McShay projects Arizona to select North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz with the No. 30 overall pick in his Mock Draft 1.0.
"Wentz would be the ideal quarterback for Bruce Arians to groom behind soon-to-be 36-year-old Carson Palmer," McShay wrote. "The FCS product isn't ready to start from Day 1, but he has a lot of developmental upside, with good size, arm strength and mobility. He's coming off a wrist injury, so his draft stock could be impacted by how that checks out with teams. But it won't surprise me if Wentz winds up in the top-40 picks."
Speaking of Wentz's size, the senior signal-caller stands 6-6 and weighs 235 pounds. He has appeared in six games this year, throwing for 1,454 yards with 16 touchdowns against just two interceptions. He's also completing 63.7 percent of his passes.
With 41 games under his belt, Wentz is one of the more experienced QBs in this year's draft class. Though he still needs to work on his eye control and the way he manipulates defenders, his physical skills make him worth developing over a couple of seasons. Who better to learn under than the resurgent Palmer?
