The Arizona Cardinals believe they have found their quarterback of the future in Kyler Murray. However, if things had gone the way they wanted them to, they would have already had their franchise quarterback in 2017.

Former Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, now the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who play the Houston Texans this weekend, told reporters Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson would have been a Cardinal if things went according to plans.

The Texans traded up to select him with the 12th overall pick. The Cardinals had the 13th pick.

“Would have been drafted in the next pick,” said Arians to Tampa Bay media on Tuesday, according to Texans Wire.

The Cardinals ended up with linebacker Haason Reddick, who has been a disappointment.

Arians, when he was still coaching the Cardinals, once said they thought they would land a quarterback that year. Both Patrick Mahomes and Watson were still on the board as the 10th pick of the draft arrived. They liked both players. However, The Kansas City Chiefs traded up to No. 10 to take Mahomes and the Texans went up to No. 12 to land Watson. The Cardinals were left with nobody.

Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians retired after 2017. Then the Cardinals drafted Josh Rosen and went 3-13 and got the top pick in the 2019 draft, traded Rosen and drafted Murray.

It appears things have worked out now but it came at the expense of a couple of years of being competitive.

Gallery The Cardinals' Pro Bowlers and alternates view 5 images

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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