The Arizona Cardinals return Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, and Logan Thomas from 2014
Heading into the 2015 season, the Arizona Cardinals currently have 3 quarterbacks on the roster. Starter and former #1 pick, Carson Palmer. Reliable back up, Drew Stanton and a perplexing prospect in Logan Thomas.
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You might think that the team is set at quarterback for now. For now yes, but what about if/when Carson Palmer is no longer serviceable? Drew Stanton doesn’t seem like a viable option as a long term starter at the age of 30 (he will be 33 by the time Palmer is expected to retire/be released.)
That brings us to Logan Thomas. Thomas was drafted in the fourth of last year’s draft as a personal developmental project of Coach Bruce Arians. Will Logan Thomas ever fix his accuracy issues and become the player that Arians and the organization think he can be?
With Thomas’s feasibility as a long term starter in question, could the Arizona Cardinals take a quarterback in the later rounds of the draft? It has been Arians and General manager Steve Keim’s mantra to take the best player available in the draft, regardless of what position he plays. With this in mind, I think it is very likely that the Arizona Cardinals take a quarterback in this year’s upcoming draft. The question is, who are possible signal callers that the Arizona Cardinals can nab in the later rounds?
It would take a miracle for Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota to join the team, without having to trade any valuable assets. Other than these 2 Heisman winners, there are plenty of other signal callers who will be available in the later rounds of the draft.
Of the quarterbacks expected to be available, the ones I believe that the Arizona Cardinals would strongly consider drafting are Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson, UCLA’s Brett Hundley, and Oregon State’s Sean Mannion. Baylor’s Bryce Petty has been plagued with accuracy, and I highly doubt that Arians would have the patience to groom another quarterback with accuracy issues, a la Logan Thomas.
Though Grayson is on the smaller end in terms of size of what Arians wants, he still shown his ability to throw the deep ball is watch Arians has been known to rely on throughout games. Brett Hundley is a dual threat quarterback, and Arians isn’t known for working such types, but Hundley is still a tremendous talent would be valuable for any NFL franchise to have.
Sean Mannion is the one I’d put my money on that the team would possibly choose to draft. Mannion is tall and a possesses a strong arm, which is what Arians loves. Forced to play behind a horrible offensive line, and without any big time players at receiver.
We will all just have to wait and see who the Arizona Cardinals will take in the draft, and whether they even choose to take a passer.
The NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 30th.
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