Arizona Cardinals: Now Or Never For Carson Palmer
The title window for the Arizona Cardinals with Carson Palmer leading the offense is closing – fast!
With the Seattle Seahawks expected to be dominant for years to come, the St. Louis Rams on the rise, and the San Francisco 49ers in rebuilding mode, it’s time for Carson Palmer to justify the contract extension he received in 2014.
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It’s unfair to completely rely on Palmer for the Arizona Cardinals’ title hopes, but that is the way the hand has been dealt. Carson Palmer is headed towards the wrong side of 35, and is coming off his second (successful) surgery on his knee.
Palmer has been a welcomed surprise in the desert, and has without a doubt been the best quarterback the Arizona Cardinals have had since Kurt Warner. Since his time in a Cardinals uniform, Palmer has boasted a 16-6 record, this could have been much higher if not for his season ending injury.
Realistically, the Arizona Cardinals’ have at most 2 to 3 seasons of competitive football with Carson Palmer at the helm. The reason for this is because it is very unlikely that Carson Palmer will be playing or be able to play at a high level at the age of 40 with 2 reconstructive knee surgeries. The Arizona Cardinals’ juggernaut of an offensive line, and plethora of offensive and defensive weapons may help motivate Palmer to put up respectable numbers to help push this team over the top.
Truth be told, the Arizona Cardinals are the only team in the NFC West without a long term solution at quarterback. The Seahawks have Russell Wilson, the 49ers have Kaepernick, and the Rams traded for Nick Foles this offseason.
Drew Stanton is 31 years old, and would be 34 by the time he would be expected to be handed the starting job, given Palmer’s expected retirement. Logan Thomas is not panning out to be the player Bruce Arians hoped he’d be, with Arians stating that there would be open competition for the third quarterback spot.
With no solid backup plan for life after Carson Palmer, the Arizona Cardinals are in a “win now” mode. The only hopes of winning a Super Bowl within in the next 2 years relies heavily on how far Carson Palmer takes this team.
With the additions of lineman Mike Iupati and D.J. Humphries, stud running back David Johnson, and speedy wide receiver J.J. Nelson, the Arizona Cardinals have put Palmer in the best position to succeed.
The Arizona Cardinals kick off the 2015 regular season September 13th against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.