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2016 NFL mock draft: Paxton Lynch to Cardinals

The Carolina Panthers, and general manager MBJBills28, are on the clock!

With pick No. 29 in the 2016 Buffalo Rumblings Community Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals, and general manager Jeff Hunter, have selected Paxton Lynch, quarterback from Memphis. Here's what he had to say about the pick:

A cursory search of mock drafts this offseason has the Cardinals selecting Alabama C Ryan Kelly or from one of the many talented defensive linemen that should be around at the 29th pick. I think that's the way they'll end up going, given the Rams' trade to first overall leaving my pick all but sure to be gone by the time 29 rolls around.

Humor me for a second, however.

With the signings of Mike Iupati and Evan Mathis, they've addressed the interior line to a decent extent. The trade that sent away Jonathan Cooper netted them Chandler Jones, a good defensive end that the Bills won't miss seeing twice a season, so I'd consider that position close enough to settled.

On the other hand, Carson Palmer will be 37 by the time next season finishes, and there's a chance he won't even make it that far. The drop-off to Drew Stanton and Matt Barkley is almost crippling to a team that made the NFC Championship last season and has no major holes in the starting lineup.

They really need to start thinking about the future, and the future is Paxton Lynch.

If you want to read about Lynch's abilities, Dan Lavoie has an excellent take on him here. While you're watching those clips, you might notice his resemblance to another big quarterback, one that Bruce Arians had a great deal of success with: Ben Roethlisberger.

Could Lynch come in and start for the Cardinals from day one? Possibly. They don't need him to, though. With a year of seasoning in Arians' offense, and the continued emergence of Michael Floyd and John Brown as heirs to Larry Fitzgerald's throne, they could make a seamless transition from Palmer to Lynch and stay near the cream of the crop among Super Bowl contenders.

The Carolina Panthers are now on the clock. Remember, when it's your turn to submit a draft choice, email it to dan.r.lavoie+sbnation@gmail.com.

Draft Results

  1. Titans: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi
  2. Browns: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
  3. Chargers: Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
  4. Cowboys: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
  5. Jaguars: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
  6. Ravens: DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon
  7. 49ers: Jared Goff, QB, Cal
  8. Vikings: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
  9. Buccaneers: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
  10. Giants: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
  11. Bears: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
  12. Saints: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
  13. Dolphins: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
  14. Raiders: Vernon Butler, DT, LA Tech
  15. Rams: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
  16. Lions: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
  17. Falcons: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
  18. Colts: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
  19. Bills: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
  20. Bengals: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
  21. Eagles: Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
  22. Texans: Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
  23. Redskins: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
  24. Jets: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
  25. Steelers: A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
  26. Seahawks: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
  27. Packers: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
  28. Chiefs: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
  29. Cardinals: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Dan's top five remaining

  1. Kenny Clark
  2. Jaylon Smith
  3. Robert Nkemdiche
  4. Laquon Treadwell
  5. Jonathan Bullard

What do you think of this pick? Cast your vote in the poll below!