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Arizona Cardinals: Ranking GM Steve Keim’s 10 best transactions

By Avery Duncan

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Steve Keim
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Steve Keim /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 11: Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals points to the defense before a play in the 2nd quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 11: Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals points to the defense before a play in the 2nd quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

2. Trading for Carson Palmer

Before landing in Arizona, Carson Palmer was viewed as a very different quarterback than he is now. He was one of the better talents in the league, that was obvious. But, after forcing his way out of Cincinnati and landing in Oakland, he struggled mightily on a lowly Raiders team — he also finished there injured.

But the then-newly promoted Keim took a gamble. He sent a sixth-round pick to Oakland for the quarterback to pair with Bruce Arians. The result; a hit, an NFC Championship, 105 touchdowns, and a Pro-Bowl nod.

The Cardinals Carson Palmer was a different player than the Raiders Carson Palmer. He showed aggressiveness, toughness, clutchness, and leadership. Pair his new attitude towards the game with an arm that Arians’ once dubbed as the best he’s seen, and you get one of the best quarterbacks in franchise history.

Palmer only played five seasons in Arizona, and he dealt with a litany of injuries, but he did a great deal for the franchise. He was the best quarterback the team has seen since Kurt Warner and nearly replicated his Super Bowl success. Though Palmer fell short to get a ring with Arians and Co., he returned the team back to NFL relevance.

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