Arizona Cardinals facing NFL draft dilemma

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.

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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.