Arizona Cardinals Quarterback of the Future

For the Arizona Cardinals, the need to find a quarterback post Carson Palmer is the biggest question mark in the franchise.

Are they potentially a good team in 2017 and 2018, Palmer’s last two seasons under contract? Yes, they shouldn’t see too much of a decline in the offense, but when that decline hits, it is usually swift for a player Palmer’s age.

Instead, they need to be prepared for that decline and to move one when it occurs.

Palmer has been a fantastic find for the Cardinals, and while he is overpaid, he’ll have the third highest quarterback salary in the NFL in 2017, that is the quarterback tax I have talked about so often.

When quarterbacks are good, they have to be overpaid because the position is the most important in sports.

It is why finding another quarterback is going to continue to force the Arizona Cardinals to pay the quarterback tax:

"Overdrafting" or trading up for one.

Overpaying a veteran.

Or... Losing.

Losing is one of the more underrated taxes you pay on a quarterback.

If you want to be cheap, you'll pay in wins and for coaches and executives, that likely means paying with your job.

The Cardinals are going to pay the quarterback tax, they already are, but how will it continue to be paid?