:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63136682/usa_today_11892904.0.jpg)
“Is Josh Rosen your quarterback?”
It’s a question that’s been asked often of the Cardinals ever since a Kliff Kingsbury interview from October of 2018 was unearthed in which the new Cardinals head coach said that if he had the #1 pick he would select Kyler first overall.
This time, there was an interesting reply from the GM, to say the least:
Keim: “is Josh Rosen our QB? He is right now, for sure.”
— Dan Kadar (@MockingTheDraft) February 27, 2019
Right now?
Hmmm...that’s not a great vote of confidence.
There’s definitely a few ways that you can view this, as NFL twitter erupted with all sorts of takes and declaration.
Some saw it as a complete trashing of Josh Rosen and an indication that AZ might be taking a quarterback at #1:
#Cardinals GM Steve Keim on Josh Rosen being the team's QB:
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) February 27, 2019
"He is right now, for sure.”
Just as a test, go to your significant other right now and say "We're together right now, for sure."
See how that plays.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) February 27, 2019
Steve Keim, is Josh Rosen your quarterback?
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) February 27, 2019
“He is right now, for sure.”
Right now? #KylerMurray pic.twitter.com/4AfyS6aYSS
Rosen to the #Giants would be a fantastic move for them, if Kliff really wants Kyler they can get some assets in return for Rosen, get his QB and top tier defensive player.
— Tim O'Leary (@TimO1eary) February 27, 2019
It even made Adam Schefter’s feed:
Cardinals’ GM Steve Keim, asked today by reporters if Josh Rosen is Arizona’s quarterback? “Yeah, he is right now for sure.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2019
Others, however, were not so convinced that it wasn’t a ploy by Keim to drive up interest in the top pick.
And that seems fair if it’s the case.
Smarter approach than them denying it straight up earlier. Take advantage of the narrative to drive up interest in #1 https://t.co/KH6udmmm6F
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) February 27, 2019
I'm gonna guess Steve Keim is enjoying having the No. 1 pick and all the rumors surrounding it.
— Adam Green (@theAdamGreen) February 27, 2019
Like, he's having fun making comments like this because he knows what they will do. https://t.co/CvrxE9HLsL
It all comes down to this:
Gheesh, could they be any more obvious?
— Philip M.H. (@kingofleos) February 27, 2019
That’s exactly the point.
They have the #1 pick and if they want to take a quarterback and all of the fallout that would come along with that it’s totally in their right to do so.
The fact that Keim is making it REALLY obvious that he’s positioning himself as not completely committed to Rosen keeps the door open for Murray (or another QB). And for a team, then, who might want to move up to that #1 pick for a quarterback? Make them an offer.
It’s also notable given how just 30 minutes earlier, his new head coach did a great job of selling what he liked about Josh Rosen to the media themselves:
Kliff Kingsbury sounds committed to Josh Rosen. Called him "very cerebral " and likes the way he battled through adversity last season. #Cardinals pic.twitter.com/W3oC8GE72V
— Mike Tanier (@MikeTanier) February 27, 2019
Kliff Kingsbury calls Rosen a tremendous talent, says idea of him not a system fit is unfounded
— David Ely (@David_Ely) February 27, 2019
So we have mixed messages? Fascinating. In any case, it’s obvious that the Cardinals are going to be the most fascinating team to watch leading up to the 2019 NFL Draft.
What do you think, Cardinals fans?