Arizona Cardinals: Evaluating the pros and cons of keeping Josh Rosen

Pro: Mechanics, mechanics, mechanics

In terms of pure arm talent, Rosen shouldn’t be mentioned with players like Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck, or Cam Newton. He’s not that guy that will wow you with a 40-yard-pass that zips over the middle of the effortlessly. But, when it comes to mechanics, there aren’t many players that are as good as Rosen’s by the time they were just 22-years-old.

Rosen is a natural thrower, and it shows when he has a clean pocket. He has great poise in the pocket, keeps both hands on the ball at all times, has a strong base to generate drive in his throws, has fluid footwork, and can lead a ball where he wants it to be.

What does all that add up to? In case you hadn’t watched Cardinals games, a very accurate quarterback that showed better anticipation than what most scouts expected. That accuracy, along with his intelligence is what made him so intriguing coming into the NFL out of 2018.

As shown in the video above, Rosen can drive a pass into tight windows even when under pressure because of his pristine, quick passing motion, and sturdy base that allows him to lead balls where he wants them.

Even more impressive, is what Rosen can do when he is on the run. His sturdy base and clean footwork allow him to plant and drive his leg, in turn allowing his hips to turn quickly to follow through on his throws. Plays like the one below are in an excellent example of this.

His ability to modify his throws and quick release do lead to comparisons of 2016 MVP Matt Ryan, a quarterback known for having an above average arm (like Rosen’s) combined with well-coached throwing, footwork, and release.

The fact that Rosen is so technically and fundamentally sound is what makes a Kliff Kingsbury-Josh Rosen combination so intriguing, and maybe even more than a Kingsbury-Kyler Murray one. A known quarterback groomer, Kingsbury has the potential to make the small things in Rosen’s game pop and take it to the next level.