Various quarterback options for Arizona Cardinals in 2018

The Arizona Cardinals will have some interesting options to choose from when their search for a new signal-caller gets underway

For anyone associated with the Arizona Cardinals, the talk must be getting old. The ongoing question of who will be the club’s next quarterback remains unanswered. There’s belief that Carson Palmer may have already played his final down with the Cardinals, but that’s not even for certain.

While they’ll most likely be adding a passer during the next NFL Draft, that rookie could be learning from the sideline for awhile. Unless they totally collapse over the next few weeks, the Cardinals will probably miss out on the top choices at the position. That will leave them needing someone to hold down the fort, at least temporarily.

The new candidate for that job is current starter Blaine Gabbert. Signed as a free agent this past May, the seventh-year journeyman has started the last two ballgames. And has actually been pretty impressive in doing so.

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At the moment, Gabbert is probably the front-runner to be the number-one signal-caller next year. That’s provided the soon-to-be 38-year old Palmer does indeed retire, of course. Arizona’s starter of the past five campaigns does have one year left on his contract, and may decide to take one more shot at a championship.

An intriguing name who may be looking for work in 2018 is the New York Giants’ Eli Manning. The two-time Super Bowl winner won’t be starting this weekend due to the wishes of an incompetent, disliked head coach named Ben McAdoo. Manning could very well be traded or just outright released next offseason.

Another veteran who’s name has been talked about in some circles is Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. The 38-year old has been asked to do alot less this season due to his squad’s vastly-improved defense and potent running attack. It’s possible the Saints could look for a younger, less expensive option under center, which would leave Brees searching for a new home.

The Washington Redskins’ Kirk Cousins, scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in ’18, is another possibility. The Skins’ management has failed to pull the trigger on a long-term deal for the 29-year old, Michigan State product. Cousins is not expected to be hit with the franchise tag again, so he very well could be up for grabs.

One player’s stock who may be skyrocketing this season is the Minnesota Vikings’ Case Keenum. The 29-year old was just named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. Keenum is headed for unrestricted free agency, and the Vikes’ appear ready to reinstall Teddy Bridgewater as their starter any day now.

With things seemingly falling apart in Kansas City, there’s a good chance that blame will be heaped upon Alex Smith. The ultimate “game-manager”, the former first-overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft has shown he can be more than that in recent times. Nevertheless, could the Chiefs look to move on from Smith in 2018, in favor of this year’s first-round pick, Patrick Mahomes?

Finally, A.J. McCarron of the Cincinnati Bengals will be a restricted free agent in ’18. The 27-year old played reasonably well in spot duty during the 2015 campaign, filling in for an injured Andy Dalton. The 6’3″, 215 pounder has intriguing intangibles that could peak the interest of the Cards’ brass.

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