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Arizona Cardinals: Reality check time with Carson Palmer

By Lawrence Lease

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) in action during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) in action during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carson Palmer will have to leave eventually, and the Arizona Cardinals should accept that

While the Arizona Cardinals are pleased to have their star quarterback back, they must accept the reality that Carson Palmer will have to leave sometime. But, at least for another season, the quarterback issue isn’t an issue.

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    • The Cardinals have mostly benefited from the big 2013 trade that brought Palmer to Arizona. However, Palmer is nearing retirement and has acknowledged that,  recently telling Rich Eisen, “At this point in my career, it’s a one-year-at-a-time-type of deal.”

    The Cardinals have struggled finding a strong replacement for Palmer. In 2014, the Cardinals drafted Logan Thomas in the fourth round. The following year, they traded for Matt Barkley, and in 2016 they brought in Zac Dysert, promoting him from the practice squad.  The post-Palmer time is coming.

    "“You start getting old like me, you start getting grey hair, your body starts telling you no,” Palmer said. “At some point it will.”"

    The Cardinals will pick 13th overall in the upcoming draft and with a need for a franchise quarterback, they have several to choose from including: DeShone Kizer, DeShaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky, and Pat Mahomes. However, the Cardinals will have to somehow convince several other quarterback hungry teams from choosing the top talent available, including the Browns, 49ers, Bears, Jets and Bills. These teams are starving for a quarterback.

    The Cardinals only option of picking ahead of these teams would be surrendering this year’s second round pick and their first round pick next year.  However, the Cardinals do have some extra cash they can spend on available quarterbacks including Tony Romo, who seems to prefer the Cardinals over any other team except for the Denver Broncos.

    As the Cardinals face an uncertain future once Palmer retires, they may consider building their team around their star running back David Johnson. Without Palmer, the Cardinals may not be better than the Rams, 49ers or the Seahawks. They may no longer be a threat to the NFC West.

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