• Cardinals' Arians talks free agency and draft

    Cardinals’ Arians talks free agency and draft

  • Cardinals GM Keim on draft's QBs

    Cardinals GM Keim on draft’s QBs

  • Shot Clock: Which QB do Cardinals draft?

    Shot Clock: Which QB do Cardinals draft?

  • USA Baseball, Trubisky to Cards, Kurt Warner's stolen jersey

    USA Baseball, Trubisky to Cards, Kurt Warner’s stolen jersey

  • Kirk Cousins says he did not demand trade from Redskins

    Kirk Cousins says he did not demand trade from Redskins

  • The issue with Colin Kaepernick

    The issue with Colin Kaepernick

  • Phil Dawson talks about joining Cardinals

    Phil Dawson talks about joining Cardinals

  • NFL free agency and how it affects the Arizona Cardinals

    NFL free agency and how it affects the Arizona Cardinals

  • Reports: Texans trade QB Brock Osweiler to Browns with second-round pick

    Reports: Texans trade QB Brock Osweiler to Browns with second-round pick

  • Tony Romo says goodbye to Cowboys fans

    Tony Romo says goodbye to Cowboys fans

  • Report: Kirk Cousins asked Dan Snyder to trade him

    Report: Kirk Cousins asked Dan Snyder to trade him

  • Shot Clock: Key issues for Cardinals in NFL free agency

    Shot Clock: Key issues for Cardinals in NFL free agency

  • NFL Scouting Combine: Quarterbacks show off their skills

    NFL Scouting Combine: Quarterbacks show off their skills

  • Deshaun Watson says it'd be awesome to learn from a veteran NFL quarterback

    Deshaun Watson says it’d be awesome to learn from a veteran NFL quarterback

  • Patrick Mahomes: I'm a competitor and I want to play

    Patrick Mahomes: I’m a competitor and I want to play

  • NFL Scouting Combine: Teams looking for quarterbacks

    NFL Scouting Combine: Teams looking for quarterbacks

  • John Ross runs fastest 40-yard dash ever at NFL Combine

    John Ross runs fastest 40-yard dash ever at NFL Combine

  • Washington Huskies receiver John Ross on his versatility

    Washington Huskies receiver John Ross on his versatility

  • NFL scouting combine: 49ers high on Kizer

    NFL scouting combine: 49ers high on Kizer

  • Shot Clock: NBA MVP debate, Cardinals DBs

    Shot Clock: NBA MVP debate, Cardinals DBs

  • Cardinals GM Steve Keim on combine process, free agency

    Cardinals GM Steve Keim on combine process, free agency

  • Arians on finding quarterback of the future

    Arians on finding quarterback of the future

  • Shot Clock: Tough free agency decisions looming for Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Tough free agency decisions looming for Cardinals

  • NFL mock draft: How will top 5 picks shake out?

    NFL mock draft: How will top 5 picks shake out?

  • Michael Floyd's message for his critics

    Michael Floyd’s message for his critics

  • Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Shane Doan

    Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Shane Doan

  • Kurt Warner inducted to Pro Football Hall of Fame

    Kurt Warner inducted to Pro Football Hall of Fame

  • Falcons and Patriots advance to Super Bowl LI

    Falcons and Patriots advance to Super Bowl LI

  • On the drawing board: Cardinals lineman Mike Iupati

    On the drawing board: Cardinals lineman Mike Iupati

  • On the drawing board: Tony Jefferson of the Arizona Cardinals

    On the drawing board: Tony Jefferson of the Arizona Cardinals

  • On the drawing board: Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter

    On the drawing board: Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter

  • Cardinals players clear out lockers, reflect on season

    Cardinals players clear out lockers, reflect on season

  • Cardinals looking to play several younger backups

    Cardinals looking to play several younger backups

  • Top underclassmen entering the NFL draft early

    Top underclassmen entering the NFL draft early

  • Time-lapse: On the field during pre-game festivities

    Time-lapse: On the field during pre-game festivities

  • Grass field rolls in at University of Phoenix Stadium

    Grass field rolls in at University of Phoenix Stadium

Super Bowls are won with talent, not omens. But it’s worth noting that Mitchell Trubisky’s nickname is “Mr. Biscuit.” Or biscuit, for short.

Whom better to lead the Cardinals into the future, a team that lives by a “no risk it, no biscuit” philosophy?

The symbolism is striking. The marketing possibilities would be endless. The only uncertainty is whether the young quarterback from North Carolina can actually succeed at the NFL level, where the game changes drastically for the players who matter most.

It also underscores a fascinating dilemma for the Cardinals, who own the 13th pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Their window of opportunity is closing fast. They badly need a starting cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson and an impact wide receiver to balance their offense. Their win-now mentality dictates they select a player who will contribute in 2017, and not hold a clipboard.

This has been something of a problem for General Manager Steve Keim, who has done many wonderful things to change the competitive culture in Arizona. The exception are his two previous first-round picks (D.J. Humphries, Robert Nkemdiche), players who provided nothing of value in their rookie seasons. That can’t happen a third time, especially with the stakes involved.

RELATED: Keim: Free agent losses sign of a healthy team

Or can it?

Every year, the pressure and allure of snagging a franchise quarterback skews the draft process. Teams that reach badly often get burned, furthering the gap between the NFL elite and those stuck in the basement. It happened in 2011, when Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder were all selected in the first 12 picks. It might be happening again.

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson flashed championship pedigree in the College Football Playoff, displaying great poise while beating an Alabama defense loaded with NFL prospects. Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes is wowing scouts with his incredible arm strength, a kid who can throw a football 65 yards from his knees. Meanwhile, ESPN drafty analyst Todd McShay reported that one NFL personnel director just compared Trubisky to a young Aaron Rodgers, citing his quick release and ability to stay in balance while moving his feet.

There was a time when talent evaluators wondered if any quarterback was worthy of a first-round pick in the 2017 draft. Now, three of them could be off the board in the first 15 picks. The NFL never learns because successfully projecting college quarterbacks is more than an inexact science. It’s nearly impossible.

CLOSE

Shot Clock: Why isn’t Paul Goldschmidt playing? Will Cardinals draft QB Mitchell Trubisky? Kurt Warner also had a Super Bowl jersey stolen? The Shot Clock tackles the burning topics in Arizona sports.

The Cardinals must consider other factors. If they return to playoff contention this season, if their 7-8-1 record in 2016 was truly an anomaly, they will not enjoy the luxury of a top-15 pick in the near future. The time to win is now, but there might not be a better opportunity to draft Carson Palmer’s successor while Palmer is still in uniform.

There is also the value Palmer can provide as a mentor. The Cardinals quarterback recently raved about the education he received in Cincinnati from former quarterback Jon Kitna, who selflessly showed Palmer the ropes even though he was effectively grooming a rookie to take his job. To this day, Palmer says Kitna taught him more than any other coach in his football career.

Palmer is a generous teammate, constantly deflecting credit, once inviting John Brown to spend the offseason working out with him in California. If the Cardinals want to take advantage of Palmer’s brain and teaching abilities, they need to get their next franchise quarterback in uniform as soon as possible.

Sort of changes things, doesn’t it?

The Cardinals don’t have much history at drafting quality quarterbacks. Since moving to Arizona in 1988, they’ve selected only one in the first round, going bust on Matt Leinart. By contrast, they’ve drafted two in the last round (Chris Greisen, John Navarre), with predictable results. They’ve also taken fliers on late-round, cringe-worthy talent like John Skelton, Ryan Lindley and Logan Thomas.

BICKLEY: Cardinals must find a better blend of players

Maybe it’s time to take the plunge. Trubisky has been on Keim’s short list for some time, and his nickname is only an added bonus. Here’s my advice:

The Cardinals need to identify their quarterback of choice and draft him if he’s still available at No. 13. Otherwise, they should use the pick to select the best cornerback available. They should not choose the best quarterback left on the board if their guy is gone, a move that would reek of desperation.

It’s a risky proposition. The Cardinals have regressed in free agency. They have significant holes left to fill on both sides of the ball. Nothing is more important than winning a Super Bowl in 2017, which could be the last season for Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald and head coach Bruce Arians. But nothing could be worse than scrambling for a quarterback after Palmer is gone for good.

We’ve seen that movie before. A repeat showing must be avoided at all costs.

Reach Bickley at [email protected] or 602-444-8253. Follow him on twitter.com/dan.bickley.  Listen to “Bickley and Marotta” weekdays from 12-2 p.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

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