Drew Stanton could be close to returning for Arizona Cardinals

Reports are the Arizona Cardinals are going to meet with Drew Stanton’s agent this week

We have not discussed much about the Arizona Cardinals backup quarterback situation since the season ended a month ago for a good reason.  There hasn’t been much to talk or speculate about.  That could change this week in Indianapolis, site of the NFL Scouting Combine, which takes place this week.

Mike Jurecki from Fox Sports 910 in Phoenix reported that Drew Stanton’s agent would be meeting with Steve Keim this week in Indy.  Supposedly that would be great news.

Stanton, a free agent, seems the most likely to return to Arizona as Carson Palmer’s backup for the fourth consecutive season.  Stanton just played a mop-up role in 2015 with Palmer able to start all 16 regular-season games in 2015.

If Stanton were to leave the Cardinals it would certainly send the team scrambling for an appropriate free agent backup.  I don’t think the team is ready to hand the reins over to Matt Barkley in that role just yet.  a name out there that some have brought up is Ryan Fitzpatrick who was the starter for the New York Jets in 2015.  He is a local product of Gilbert Highland.

I don’t believe we will need to talk about him much though.  I’m sure Stanton’s agent will try to ask the Cardinals to overpay him but honestly he is one guy on the team I would not mind seeing the Cardinals overpay for just a bit.

It will be interesting to see what the two sides get done and what the asking price may be. As you can see what the Jacksonville Jaguars just paid backup Chad Henne.  I would expect Stanton to ask for more than that.  A backup in this league is vital to success, as the Cardinals clearly learned in 2014.

I don’t think the Cardinals are willing to give Stanton the world but I do think they will make every effort to retain his services.  It is the best option for this team at this time.