Arizona Cardinals: Replacing star players

The Arizona Cardinals could be in a year of transition in 2018 depending on how 2017 plays out

We know Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and quarterback Carson Palmer could be playing their last season with the team and in the NFL in 2017. Could be.

There is no certainty either one hang it up after this upcoming season. Palmer is under contract in 2018 as well. He hasn’t ruled out football beyond 2017.

Neither has Fitz for that matter but it seems more likely if one was staying it would be Palmer and not Fitz. That being said, the Cardinals need to be looking for their replacements now.

The search for the future quarterback has been on-going for awhile. They haven’t found the next signal caller for the Cardinals yet. Is he currently on the roster? Likely not.

I’m sure there are some pulling for Blaine Gabbert but let’s be honest, that’s not happening. If it does turn out to be Gabbert after 2017, it could be awhile before the Cardinals are back to relevancy.

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Trevor Knight is in camp but we know nothing on him yet. Even if he does somehow pan out and remain with the team after training camp, he’s a good few years away.

As for receiver, the Cardinals are closer to finding Fitz’s replacement. That guy may already be on the roster. Staying healthy is important for guys like John Brown and J.J. Nelson. They both have the ability to be number one’s. Don’t count out rookie Chad Williams down the road either.

They have a number of NFL-quality receivers on the roster right now but do any of them outside Fitz have the ability to be a number one? A challenging question for sure.

So while others are out there talking about the Cardinals Super Bowl window closing, it may be but it may not be shut completely as soon as one may want to believe. This season will dictate whether that window stays open a little in 2018 and beyond.

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