The Arizona Cardinals drafted Logan Thomas Saturday with the 20th pick of the fourth round, making him the 120th pick overall in the draft. Antone Exum was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the sixth pick of the sixth round, #182 overall.
Thomas was projected by most to go in rounds 3-6, so his selection in the mid-late fourth round represents a pretty good outcome, in terms of draft position.
He was the sixth quarterback selected, behind Blake Bortles (UCF, #3 overall), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M, #22), Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville, #32), Derek Carr (Fresno State, #36), and Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois, #62).
Thomas was selected ahead of quarterbacks such as Tom Savage (Pittsburgh #135), Aaron Murray (Georgia, #163), A.J. McCarron (Alabama, #164), Zach Mettenberger (LSU, #178), and other well-known QBs who were not yet drafted at the time of this report: Tajh Boyd (Clemson), Bryn Renner (UNC), Connor Shaw (South Carolina), Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois), and Tommy Rees (Notre Dame).
At Arizona, Thomas will be joining a roster that includes 12-year veteran and incumbent starter Carson Palmer, who is backed up by 7-year NFL vet Drew Stanton. Thomas is presumably being brought in to compete with third-stringer Ryan Lindley, who was drafted by the Cardinals in 2012. Lindley played in six games in 2012, throwing 171 passes, but did not play at all in 2013.
The Cardinals are coached by Virginia Tech graduate Bruce Arians, who is reputed to like big, tough quarterbacks.
For an NFL Network breakdown of the draft choice, including some very complimentary comments about Logan’s intelligence and potential, click here to see the video.
Exum joins fellow defensive back Kyle Fuller as NFL Draft choices, the fourth time Virginia Tech has had two defensive backs drafted in the same draft in the Frank Beamer era (Torrian Gray and Antonio Banks, 1997; Ike Charlton and Anthony Midget, 2000; Eric Green and Vincent Fuller, 2005).
Good Luck Logan, listen and learn and hope to see you on the field starting for the Cards in ’15.
Antone help the Vikings be good again, though I am an Eagles fan. Just always had a spot in my heart for the Vikes, goes back to when Joe Kapp was their QB.