A year ago, former UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen was preparing for the NFL Draft. Today, he is part of a bigger storyline surrounding the Arizona Cardinals' future at the position.
The Cardinals kicked off a voluntary minicamp on Tuesday and Rosen was on the field with his teammates. It is, however, an awkward situation.
Rosen isn't sure how much longer he will be with the team which drafted him No. 10 overall last year. Most still suspect, despite recent rumors, that Kyler Murray will replace him as the franchise quarterback.
The Cardinals insist they haven't decided what they will do with the top pick and aren't tipping their hand on where they are leaning.
Are these Rosen's final days in Arizona? Several teams at the top of the draft order, including the San Francisco 49ers, would like to know the answer to that question. What the Cardinals do at No. 1 will have a ripple effect on the rest of the draft.
"The one thing I know, we're not going to have to wait long, whatever that is 15 minutes," 49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters on Monday. "Then we'll know whether it's them or someone else picking him or someone else ... I think what I know is that we're in a really good position and we're not, as I said, going to have to wait long. What happens there at one, will it have an effect on what we do at two? We'll see."
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network joined "Good Morning Football" on Tuesday and shared what he is hearing out of Arizona.
"They have not informed Murray that he is the pick," said Rapoport. "They have not yet informed Josh Rosen that they are going with someone else at quarterback. They're going to have this meeting featuring all the team's key decision-makers, and finalize things, and likely keep it a secret before the draft.
"Meanwhile, there's a parallel universe going on here as well because Josh Rosen (is) still in the building. First in the building basically every day during offseason conditioning. There is a veteran minicamp that starts today and goes through Thursday. Josh Rosen is going to be on the field for that.
"I know people are expecting the Cardinals to make trade calls regarding Josh Rosen. I talked to several teams that need a quarterback, and they haven't called any of those teams. They simply have just not, so we are still wondering what actually is happening with the Cardinals' quarterback situation."
From @gmfb: The #AZCardinals have two parallel universes, one where everyone thinks they are taking Kyler Murray, the other with Josh Rosen on the field for veteran minicamp. ... By the way, they have not recently made trade calls centered around Rosen. pic.twitter.com/vadyltBZi2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 23, 2019
Meanwhile, Rosen is caught in the middle of this mess.
The 49ers could come away winners no matter what Cardinals general manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury decide. Should Arizona select Murray, San Francisco will find itself choosing between the best players in the draft. Should the Cardinals pass on Murray, the 49ers might find themselves fielding calls from quarterback-needy teams.
Lynch expects the phones to ring if Murray is there at No. 2.
"Wouldn't you?" he asked reporters. "I think there seems to be a ton of interest, and I understand. We, a couple of times, just threw [his film] on up here. It's electric stuff. It really is. Had some nightmares about, not me myself chasing him, but about us chasing him if it does fall that way. He's pretty special."
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.
