As the regular 2017-18 season looms, beginning this Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals are gearing up for an interesting ride. Today, I’d like to focus in on a hot topic within the community: the quarterback situation.
Despite what some might say, the Cardinals quarterback of the situation is fine, in fact, you could even say it is strong.
They’ve got the obvious starter in veteran Carson Palmer, who is still performing at an elevated level. However, he is on the downside of his career. Even at the end of his MVP-like 2015 season, you could see Palmer’s flaws.
Carson’s contract is up at the end of next season, yet he could potentially retire after this season, so, we might but seeing the end of the Palmer era in 2017.
That does not mean doom. This isn’t a post-Warner situation like where Arizona has no good replacement on the books.
They have what could be the poster child for the quarterback of the future in Blaine Gabbert.
He’s clearly been very unsuccessful in his career, but this preseason he’s been more than solid on the field, which has to give you hope.
If that doesn’t give you hope, maybe this will… He even has the approval of Bruce Arians, after an interview in which the coach said, “I’d be very comfortable if he had to play for us” going on to say, “if he continues at this rate, he could be a starter”.
That is very comforting coming from the head coach. I don’t think anyone would say this about Cardinals QB backups from the past 10 years.
As we see this all unfolding, I’m sure why some are seriously concerned about the Cardinals future.
The rest of the team is constructed well. While Larry Fitzgerald is bound to retire any offseason now, they’ve got some good, young wide receivers in the building already and I’m confident that they are going to do a great job. The line is more than capable, and the defense is more athletic than ever.
Yes, I can see how the quarterback situation might be the most foggy area, but it is certainly not any reason to panic.
The QB situation really is the story of the team, the one issue that has always plagued the Cardinals. Now, they have two really good players that give them a good shot keeping and continuing the momentum of being a contender not only in the NFC West, but in the NFL.
Feel free to comment below and tell me why I’m wrong, I’m interested in what everyone else thinks, but I think you have to be excited about the present and the future of the Arizona Cardinals.