Arizona Cardinals: The backup quarterback dilemma

The Arizona Cardinals will have to decide next week on keeping two or three quarterbacks

The Arizona Cardinals have historically kept at least three quarterbacks on the roster at all times.  Sometimes a fourth has made his way onto the practice squad.  However, if you believe some media, the Cardinals may only keep two quarterbacks.

I may end up being dead wrong, but I can’t see it.  The Cardinals, as we all know, have Carson Palmer etched in stone as the starter.  After that Drew Stanton is the backup.  Stanton has played poorly in the preseason though.

After Stanton the Cardinals have Matt Barkley and Jake Coker.  I think it is safe to say Coker will not be part of the future Cardinals plans after it was announced yesterday that he would miss the Houston game due to an injured knee.  He isn’t making the trip to Texas to face the Houston Texans.

Honestly I expected a better competition between Barkley and Coker and even had thoughts at one time of Coker beating him out.  His camp and preseason didn’t turn out to be what I thought it would be.

The biggest question though seems to be if even Barkley is still around after cut time next week. Given the Cardinals history of keeping quarterbacks healthy, they’d be better off keeping three quarterbacks.

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If they keep two, they almost certainly would need to put one on their practice squad in case of emergency.  Who would that be though?  It can’t be Barkley.  He’s not eligible.  So in that sense could Coker win out?  I can’t see it.

It is not unheard of for a team to lose two quarterbacks in a game.  It happened to the Texans a few years ago.  If the Cardinals were to lose both Palmer and Stanton in the same game without anyone to back Stanton up, the Cardinals supposedly would have to turn to Patrick Peterson as the emergency.  You don’t want that happening.

The Cardinals will be rolling the dice if they keep just two quarterbacks.  Realizing that keeping a third quarterback could take away one spot at another position, it isn’t worth the risk.  Barkley may never see the field in 2016 just as he didn’t in 2015 but having that security behind Palmer is important.

If Barkley isn’t good enough, then the Cardinals could go out and find a third quarterback more suitable for them.  They’d likely have plenty of time to bring that person up to speed.  Barkley hasn’t shocked the world with his play this preseason either.  It’s a dilemma no doubt.