Carson Palmer Confirms He Will Return for 2017

Carson Palmer says he will return to the Cardinals for the 2017 season

This offseason for the Arizona Cardinals has kept fans on the edge of their seats. There is still plenty of drama to play out, but there has been a collective sigh of relief in the desert over the past several days. First, Larry Fitzgerald announced that he would return next season, and today quarterback Carson Palmer told the team that he would be doing the same.

It was believed by many that FItzgerald and Palmer were a package deal, and that if one came back, they both would. This turned out to be the case, and having the two stars back will help alleviate fans’ concerns going into an off-season with so much expected turnover at other spots.

In 2016, Palmer struggled at times, mostly on the road, where he threw 11 of the 14 interceptions for the year. He was also 2-5 in road starts, and his completion percentage was less than 60% in five of his seven starts away from home. He was 4-3-1 at University of Phoenix Stadium, where he had 13 touchdowns and just 3 picks.

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Palmer’s overall numbers were his worst in several seasons. His completion percentage (61%) was the lowest since 2011. His interception numbers were the highest in four seasons, and touchdown percentage was the lowest in that same number of years.

Still, Palmer is, by far, the best option for the 2017 season. He’s a veteran presence, that knows the offense, and has the tools to make the most of what the team has. He still has the big arm that can make plays down the field, and can fit the ball into tight windows. He still has the intelligence to be able to read defenses and make the right decisions with the ball.

Between free agency, and the looming NFL Draft, the 2017 Cardinals will look much different from the 2016 version. However, with Fitzgerald, and now Palmer, back in the fold, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If they draft a quarterback to be the future, he’ll get a chance to learn behind Palmer. They could also choose to add more weapons around Palmer.

Next: Davis Webb a Fit for Arizona Cardinals

Whatever other moves are made this off-season, having Palmer back is a good thing. With him, the Cardinals will once again be playoff contenders. His decision to return will make a lot of people in Arizona very happy, and not just his teammates. Today, Carson Palmer made a lot of fans really happy.