Jun. 11, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall during mini camp at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Identifying the worst acquisitions for the Arizona Cardinals this offseason is more about their effect on this season and beyond rather than their individual talent level. The three worst free agents the Arizona Cardinals have signed this offseason are Rashard Mendenhall, Jerraud Powers, and Jasper Brinkley. Not because they are bad football players, but because their addition to the Cardinals may not be good for the growth of other players.
Mendenhall signed a one-year deal for 3.5 million dollars, and comes to the Cardinals off an injury riddled year and a half with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is familiar with coach Bruce Arians and his offense as they were in Pittsburgh together as recently as 2011. So familiar, that Arians has recently announced Mendenhall is the starter going into training camp. While the addition of Mendenhall adds depth to the running back position, it may stunt the growth of the Cardinals young running backs: Ryan Williams, Stepfan Taylor, and Andre Ellington.
Another player who is familiar with coach Arians is former Indianapolis Colt cornerback Jerraud Powers. Signing a three-year 10.5 million dollar deal may mean the Cardinals are more invested in Powers and may give him every chance to earn a starting job opposite Patrick Peterson. However, the Cardinals have an abundance of depth at cornerback going into this season. The Cardinals added Powers and Antoine Cason as free agents, traded with the Kansas City Chiefs for Javier Arenas, and they drafted Tyrann Mathieu who will be moving to safety, but will play some cornerback on passing downs. If Jamell Fleming progresses like they hope, Powers may only be here a year.
The addition of Jasper Brinkley was to replace Paris Lennon at inside linebacker next to Darryl Washington. Since signing Brinkleys’ two-year 3.5 million dollar deal, Darryl Washington has been suspended for the first four games due to violating the NFL drug policy, inside linebacker Kevin Minter was drafted in the second round, and pro bowl linebacker Karlos Dansby was added as insurance if Washington’s suspension is extended. If Washington stays on the field, the addition of Brinkley will cut into Minter’s playing time and may stunt his growth
The Cardinals aren’t expected to make the playoffs in Arians first year in a tough NFC West so getting the younger players as many reps as possible will be key in their growth and development. The hope is that these signings will provide veteran leadership and stability, but the fear is these players will want to showcase themselves, and the younger players will find it harder to find the field. In that scenario these handful of singings will end up costing the Cardinals in the long term.

May 14, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) looks on during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

When the Arizona Cardinals acquired Carson Palmer back in late March, they felt, and still feel, that they had solved the quarterback woes that have doomed them since the retirement of Kurt Warner in 2009. While Palmer is certainly the best option the Cardinals have had since Warner, whether or not he is the answer at quarterback remains to be seen. But where does Palmer rank among the current quarterbacks around the National Football League?

Right now, the top five quarterbacks in the NFL, in my opinion, are very easy to sort out. For me the top five list right now goes:

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Tom Brady
3. Peyton Manning
4. Drew Brees
5. Joe Flacco

After that, the list becomes really based on opinion. I would think guys like Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger have to be in the top ten and in my opinion based on last year Andrew Luck does as well, but a lot depends on a persons view of the quarterback position itself. If someone feels like the read-option is a legitimate offense that is here to stay, then guys like Collin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and even a healthy Robert Griffin III would go ahead of Palmer. But if one is to believe the defensive coaches in the NFL and believes that the read-option is nothing more than a fad, then those option quarterbacks I just mentioned probably do not make it.

So when your asking yourself if Carson Palmer is a top 10 quarterback in the NFL you have to look at whether or not the read-option will have long term success. Palmer has shown that he can be a very productive quarterback with good receivers like Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh, but has never had a wide receiver the caliber of Larry Fitzgerald before. Add that to the fact that he is working with two of the greatest quarterback coaches of all time in Bruce Arians and Tom Moore, and it certainly looks like Palmer is poised to have a huge year this year.

In my opinion top ten is a bit too high for Carson Palmer. I think he is certainly a top 20 quarterback, in fact I would even put him in the top 15. I also think working with guys like Fitzgerald, Arians, and Moore, Palmer certainly can put himself in that top ten discussion, but I think that is something he has to prove on the field this year.

Jun. 11, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall during mini camp at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals have depth at running back, but it has always been fairly clear that Rashard Mendenhall is going to start.

According to FanSided, Mendenhall was named the starting running back. Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington were drafted and Ryan Williams is still on the team, but Mendenhall, who was obtained from the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency, has proven to be the best option.

Mendenhall played very infrequently in 2012, and he’s been hampered by injuries. However, he has accumulated 1,000 or more rushing yards in two seasons, and he accumulated 928 rushing yards in 2011. The Cardinals’ running backs accumulated the least rushing yards in the NFL last season, so Mendenhall should be an immediate upgrade.

Mendenhall has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over the course of his NFL career.