Cardinals Set For NFL Draft
May 08, 2014 | Football
May 8, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- University of Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and safety Calvin Pryor will be one of 30 prospects in New York City on Thursday evening as the National Football League begins its annual draft at 8 p.m.
Both ESPN and the NFL Network will televise live draft coverage all three days, with the first round taking place Thursday (starting at 8 p.m.), followed by the second and third rounds on Friday (starting at 7 p.m.). Rounds 4-7 will be held Saturday (starting at noon).
Bridgewater and Pryor are two of many players who should have their name called over the three days of the NFL draft.
Pryor, the No. 1 safety available according to many analysts, is hopeful to be selected within the top 25 picks, while Bridgewater also has been rumored to go in the top 25 or possibly in the second round.
The Cardinals have had eight first-round picks in their history, but haven't had a first-rounder since Eric Wood was selected in 2009 by the Buffalo Bills with the 28th overall pick. Ken Kortas was the ninth pick in the 1964 NFL Draft by St. Louis, which was the highest player drafted in school history. Amobi Okoye was the other top-10 pick for the Cardinals when he was selected 10th by Houston.
Pryor, a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection, was second on the team in tackles with 75 and interceptions with three. He registered three double-digit tackle games and was considered one of the top hitters in the game. He recorded 14 tackles and an interception versus Rutgers and 11 and a pick in the loss to UCF. Pryor, who was also a second team All-American, ended the regular season with 12 tackles in an overtime win over Cincinnati.
Bridgewater was one of the top quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 3,970 yards and a school-record 31 touchdowns. The Miami, Fla., native, who was a second team all-conference performer, completed a nation's-best 71.0 percent of his passes and only tossed four interceptions. In the final game of his career, Bridgewater threw for a career-high 447 yards and three touchdowns in the 36-9 Russell Athletic Bowl win over Miami. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player after completing 35-of-45 passes and also rushing for a score.
Bridgewater and Pryor are two Louisville juniors who made themselves available for the draft, the most underclassmen from Louisville in one draft in history. Four Louisville players are among NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock's Top 100 players in this year's draft: Calvin Pryor is No. 22 and the second-rated safety; Teddy Bridgewater is No. 42 and the top-rated quarterback; Marcus Smith is No. 53; and Preston Brown is the No. 96 overall prospect.
Smith, the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, led the nation with 14.5 sacks, while Brown totaled 100 tackles, earning second team all-conference accolades.
Wide receiver Damian Copeland and running back Senorise Perry could also be selected. Louisville had six players drafted in the 2005 NFL Draft.
