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AP: 0587fd40-eaa6-4421-b4c2-f4d3387eacc6
West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith (12) looks to pass during the second quarter of their NCAA college football game against Kansas in Morgantown, W.Va., on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Christopher Jackson)
It's never too early to start thinking about the NFL Draft, especially if you're a fan of a team that's in the middle of a nine-game losing streak.

That's the boat Arizona Cardinals fans are in. And considering the woeful play the team has gotten from the quarterback position during the skid, fans will be happy with what ESPN/Scouts, Inc. draft expert Todd McShay has Arizona doing in his very early 2013 mock draft.

McShay has the Cardinals tabbing West Virginia signal caller Geno Smith with the eighth overall selection.

There is still a lot of work to do on the top quarterbacks, but the question at this point is how high a team will reach for the top player a the position. It's easy to argue the Cardinals need a quarterback as badly as any team in the NFL right now, and when Smith is on, his mechanics, footwork and confidence make him an effective passer.

Smith got off to a tremendous start in 2012, throwing for 1,996 yards with 24 touchdown passes and zero interceptions during the Mountaineers' 5-0 start. West Virginia finished the season 7-5 and Smith ended up throwing 40 touchdowns and finished fifth in the nation in passing efficiency.

Smith stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 214 pounds -- decent size for an NFL signal caller. McShay currently has Smith ranked as the top quarterback in the 2013 draft crop and 23rd-ranked player overall.

The Cardinals last drafted a quarterback in the first round in 2006, when they nabbed USC's Matt Leinart with the tenth overall pick.

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    cmjone24 wrote...
    Depends
    December 13, 2012 11:47 am
    If the Cards can land Jake Long they can shift Levi to right guard and then your line instantly becomes better. In that case, you can draft a QB and maybe an RB in the second depending on who's there. Weanie needs to go and I don't think anyone trust Ryan Williams anymore. As bad as the Cards have been they are one of the few teams that can turn it around quickly since they already have the defense.
  • Abuse
    AZCrazy wrote...
    Grab Geno if you can
    December 13, 2012 11:59 am
    He's the only first round-worthy qb coming out this year. It's been expected all along he would go first to KC. I'm all for taking Joeckel or a defensive playmaker, but if a legit qb is there for the taking, it has to happen. 1. Smith 2. Joeckel 3. Moore 4. Jones 5. Teo
  • Abuse
    tracerm17 wrote...
    Need a QB
    December 13, 2012 12:07 pm
    We can draft a QB with the first round pick, and grab offensively linemen with every other pick and still get quality o-linemen. If we only want offensively linemen, the Cards should trade their first round pick for a lower pick and a veteran o-linemen.
  • Abuse
    hugUhbear wrote...
    QB talent in this upcoming draft is 'iffy' at best
    December 13, 2012 12:22 pm
    Geno certainly does not appear to be a top 5 pick; his rating on ESPN Draft is 90 or around the #22 pick. Their are 2 OL that are rated at 96 by ESPN>FOOTBALL>DRAFT2013 :Chance Warmack(OG) & Luke Joeckel(T). Cards have got a top5 pick if they don't screw it up worse and win any of the next 3 games. I think we should be focusimg on our line so that we can run the ball a heck of a lot more next year and also to protect Kolb. I think we need a QB but reaching for one that has a 90 rating with a our top5 pick sounds very bush league
  • Abuse
    AZSPORTFAN wrote...
    Draft O-Line
    December 13, 2012 1:01 pm
    Kolb never had a chance at succeeding without an o-line or running game. I also believe Kolb could have a breakout year if they worked on his strenghts without going back and forth on who's going to be the starting QB. O-line should be first in the draft, and then a running back and make Kolb the starting QB without all the back and forth BS.
  • Abuse
    mesa mad man wrote...
    @hugUhbear
    December 13, 2012 1:05 pm
    while ratings are great, you have to look at positions too. A guard will not go in the top 5 even if he is higher rated than the top qb. espn had Decastro as a 93 and he fell to 24
  • Abuse
    AzFoRkEm wrote...
    This is not even a question...
    December 13, 2012 1:07 pm
    YOU DRAFT A OFFENSIVE LINEMAN WITH THE 1ST ROUND PICK WITHOUT A QUESTION! This is a draft that is heavy on OL and they are a few studs to choose from...STAY AWAY from USC QBs...seems like they are a bust these days at the NFL level a la Cassell, Leinhart, Palmer. Get a lineman or two in the draft with a bruiser type RB first and foremost. There is really no sure thing or even close to a NFL ready QB in this crop of QBs of this years draft but there are OL studs. Here's hoping to a top five pick...GO LIONS!
  • Abuse
    Dave H. wrote...
    QB yes Geno no Landry yes
    December 13, 2012 1:19 pm
    The QB that would step right into the pocket QB offense the Cardinals are trying to build is Landry Jones out of Oklahoma University ... Big 12 career passing records for yardage, dozens of OU career records, 3rd NCAA all-time career passing yardage, there are currently 7 starting QBs and 5 backups from Big 12 in NFL and he has better winning record, ... Head-to-head against Geno Smith this year he threw for 554 yards and 6 TDs ... the following week he threw for 500 yards against Okla State ... he's 40-11 as a 4 year starter in a major conference ... knows how to win ...
  • Abuse
    Patrick Peterson's Talent wrote...
    O Line
    December 13, 2012 3:32 pm
    Offensive line has to be addressed first and foremost. No QB, including Warner, could survive with this line. The QB's in this draft class aren't franchise QB's. Build up the offensive line and let's see what we've got in Kolb - he played well this year when healthy. A new, young line can offer more time for Kolb to throw and lanes for Beanie and Ryan. I don't understand why we would blow this team up. We have a lot of good pieces. Geno Smith isn't the answer.
  • Abuse
    DanTheTimid wrote...
    Really depends
    December 13, 2012 5:10 pm
    It really depends for me whats available. For example, if Joeckel is available, I don't see how you can afford to pass on that kind of talent at a position of such incredible need. That said, theres a good chance he won't be and after him things get a bit muddier. I think whether or not we can get Kolb to restructure will play a big part, as if we do part ways with Kolb, Joeckel is literally the only guy I'd pick over Geno. That said, I liked the improvement I saw out of Kolb this year and I'm not convinced Geno would be better, so I hope we keep Kolb and draft O-Line.
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