Andy Dalton, QB, TCU.
One of my cardinal draft rules is that if you think you need a quarterback and there is one on the board that you like, you take the quarterback. When you don't have one, you can't win big in the NFL. Matt Hasselbeck is near the end of his tenure in Seattle, if he has not reached it already. Charlie Whitehurst is not the long-term answer.
There has been a ton of speculation that the Seahawks would like Jake Locker, the local guy from Washington. In our mock, though, Locker is gone to the Redskins at No. 10 and Ryan Mallett is gone to Miami at No. 15. If Seattle thinks it needs a quarterback only Dalton and Christian Ponder of Florida State remain. They had better move here to grab their guy. In this mock, that is precisely what the Seahawks do.
Dalton draws mixed reaction from scouts. Draft Countdown's Scott Wright is not a fan, calling him "A game manager who is much better college player than pro prospect." Rivals.com sees Dalton as a fourth- to fifth-round pick who compares to New York Jets third-stringer Kellen Clemens.
Not a ringing endorsement for a guy who could wind up going in the first round.