NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals take Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers with first pick

Will the Arizona Cardinals stick with Kyler Murray as their quarterback in future seasons?

While a lot of NFL writers seem to think that Arizona will stay with Murray under center, judging by their most recent picks for the Cardinals in 2024 NFL mock drafts, not everyone is convinced.

Jonathan Gannon's team currently is in line for the No. 2 pick in that draft. Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is a very trendy pick for the Cardinals with that selection, but another selection in a recent NFL draft projection really caught our eye.

It had GM Monti Ossenfort selecting a quarterback with that second overall pick for Arizona.

And an interesting QB at that.

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Cardinals take Texas QB Quinn Ewers in 2024 NFL mock draft

Yardbarker had the Cardinals drafting Texas QB Quinn Ewers at No. 2 in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Yeah, that's different. Most NFL mock drafts have USC QB Caleb Williams as the first QB off the board for 2024, with North Carolina QB Drake Maye the second.

Many don't have Ewers as a first-round pick and it's not a given that he will even enter the draft.

That doesn't stop Yardbarker from making that pick for the Cardinals.

Seth Trachtman writes: "Despite missing time to injury, Ewers has taken a giant leap when he's played this season and could head for the NFL with Arch Manning breathing down his neck in Austin. Arizona doesn't have a strong quarterback need following Kyler Murray's return from a torn ACL, but they could reset their roster by trading Murray and adding a cheap quarterback."

Williams goes No. 1 to the Chicago Bears in Trachtman's projection, while Maye goes No. 3 to the New England Patriots.

Harrison Jr. goes No. 4 overall in his mock draft, also to Chicago.

Previous NFL mock drafts: Arizona Cardinals replace Kyler Murray with top pick Caleb Williams

Could the Cardinals trade quarterback Kyler Murray?

Trading Murray may not be an easy feat, because he has a very big contract with the Cardinals.

That's why several other NFL mock drafts have the Cardinals passing on a QB and picking Harrison Jr. at No. 2 in their latest mock draft projections for the 2023 NFL draft.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler explains the Cardinals' situation with his Harrison Jr. pick to Arizona.

He writes: "Another embattled quarterback under an organizational microscope: Kyler Murray, as he returns from last season’s injury. Neither Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort nor head coach Jonathan Gannon drafted Murray or signed him to his lucrative extension, which creates plenty of unknowns for this franchise. But we do know that a trade of Murray is unlikely — who’d trade for that contract? — and cutting him would be easier to stomach a year from now."

Murray has five games left to prove himself as the future of the Cardinals in Arizona. The team's current leadership regime didn't draft him, so it may not mind moving on from the QB, if possible.

Arizona could have a very big decision to make at the quarterback position before the 2024 NFL Draft.

More: Kyler Murray trade speculation hangs over Arizona Cardinals for 2023 NFL season

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals take surprise QB with first pick