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Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Outlook for 2018

Sam Bradford looks to bounce back, Rosen to compete as starter

NFL: Arizona Cardinals OTA Arizona Republic-USA TODAY NETWORK

Sam Bradford needs to have a bounce-back year. Fresh on a one-year $20 million deal, he will be the Cardinals starting quarterback for the 2018 season. Last year he found himself on the Minnesota Vikings’ injury report, aggravating his knee injury in the season opener. Despite the injury he nearly had a perfect game in one his two lone starts on the season, completing over 84 percent of his passes and throwing three touchdowns. If he can stay healthy, and that is a big if, the Cardinals will be contenders for the NFC West title.

Cardinals’ first round pick Josh Rosen is considered by many to be the most pro-ready quarterback of the 2018 draft class, But being a 21-year-old rookie, Rosen still has a lot to learn. He is “Chosen Rosen” with all of the intangibles to be a franchise quarterback. Steve Wilks said he has the “mindset of a vet” but “he’s not playing like a vet”. He will be the starter soon enough.

Since 2013, Mike Glennon’s record as a starter is far from good. In his time with the Buccaneers and the Bears, he has a career record of 6-16. He has been coveted by Steve Keim for quite some time but his play of late doesn’t inspire much confidence. Rookie Chad Kanoff out of Princeton will have a shot to be a practice squad option.

This is a solid quarterback room if it can remain healthy. The entire offense, not just the quarterbacks, will have to learn Mike McCoy’s playbook. This means Rosen will have a chance to be the starter this season but all jobs have to be earned, with Bradford clearly on top right now. Remember when the Seahawks signed Matt Flynn with expectations for him to be the starter, then the rookie Russell Wilson came out of nowhere and shocked the league?

There is talent in the quarterback room and the offense as a whole is full of surprises, despite the many doubters across the National Football League.