Gardner Minshew could be new backup QB for the Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
The Arizona Cardinals could look to acquire Gardner Minshew as an upgrade at the backup quarterback spot behind Kyler Murray.
Following a long and somewhat frustrating process, the Arizona Cardinals have finally found a new head coach. Jonathan Gannon, the former defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, will be officially introduced during a press conference on Thursday. What exactly lies ahead for the energetic 40-year-old with the Redbirds?
Getting through an undetermined amount of games without the services of starting signal-caller Kyler Murray is just one of the challenges that Gannon will have to deal with. At the moment, veteran passer Colt McCoy is in line to lead the Cardinals offense until Murray is ready to go. However, there’s nothing stopping new general manager Monti Ossenfort from finding a more attractive stand-in for the ailing starter.
Free agent-to-be Gardner Minshew has been a backup QB with the Eagles for the past couple of campaigns. Gannon, incidentally, has been with Philly for the same amount of time. Could a reunion between the pair take place this year in Arizona?
With Ossenfort and Gannon now in control, a complete revamping of the Cards current roster could be in order. That could mean waving goodbye to a certain number of players who you may have developed a liking for. Unfortunately, that list could ultimately include the classy but aging McCoy.
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The eccentric Minshew possesses a contract that will expire in just a matter of weeks, and it’s possible that both Gannon and Ossenfort could use their recruiting skills to lure the veteran to Arizona. Is this a move that the franchise should attempt to make?
At the age of 26, Minshew is a decade younger than the 36-year-old McCoy. Since being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2019, the 6 foot 1, 225 pounder has completed 62.8% of his passes for 6,632 yards and 44 touchdowns. Even more impressive is the fact that Minshew has thrown just 15 interceptions in 933 career attempts.
According to Spotrac.com, McCoy is scheduled to count $5 million against the Cards salary cap next fall. Releasing the New Mexico native would leave $3.5 million in dead-cap money. Even so, the $1.5 million that the front office would gain by doing so could be used towards a potential deal with the much younger Minshew.
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Anyone who was hoping for changes within the Cardinals organization are getting their wish. Having Minshew take over at the backup signal-caller position could be just one of many that could occur with the club over the next several months.
(Statistics provided by Pro Football Reference)
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