With an aging Colt McCoy and an injured Kyler Murray on the roster, the Arizona Cardinals may turn to free agency to find and acquire a stopgap.
The Arizona Cardinals are in a strange position. For one, they are not a quarterback-needy team in a traditional sense, since they have an elite talent in Kyler Murray. Unfortunately for them, Murray may not be cleared when Week 1 rolls around, and backup Colt McCoy won’t be enough to keep this team afloat short-term.
But there are free agents out there capable of getting the job done. Each of the players listed below have spent most of their respective careers as backups. But they have also shown they are capable of starting and playing well for an extended period. Let’s talk about them.
5 – Mason Rudolph
Career Statistics – Record: 5-4-1, Completion Percentage: 61.5%, Yards: 2,366, Touchdowns: 16, Interceptions: 11, Rating: 80.9
Mason Rudolph’s statistics have not been great, and he’s seen limited playing time since he started 10 games in 2019. However, he has a winning record as a starter and has shown he can be effective with talent around him.
Fortunately, the Arizona Cardinals got some talent for Rudolph to step in and play a decent half-season if that is indeed the case. He’s by no means the best player on this list, but he’s also by no means the worst UFA quarterback out there.
4 – Drew Lock
Career Statistics – Record: 8-13, Completion Percentage: 59.3%, Yards: 4,740, Touchdowns: 25, Interceptions: 20, Rating: 79.5
While Drew Lock’s career statistics aren’t as good as Mason Rudolph’s, his remarkable sample size of games in 2019 showcases what the soon-to-be fifth-year quarterback can do. No, he’s looked nothing like that since, but with a “redhshirt” season in Seattle, it could have done dividends for the former second-round pick.
Plus, Lock served as Geno Smith’s backup. Another former second-round selection whose career looked over before last season. Chances are, Lock picked up a thing or two from watching Smith resurrect his career.
3 – Taylor Heinicke
Career Statistics – Record: 12-12-1, Completion Percentage: 63.9%, Yards: 5,745, Touchdowns: 34, Interceptions: 24, Rating: 85.7
If there is ever a surefire backup in the NFL who could play well in spurts, it’s Taylor Heinicke. The Arizona Cardinals, if they’re looking for experience, should look long and hard at the man who started 24 games for the Washington Commanders over the last two seasons.
Heinicke is the kind of player who defines the game manager role, and he likely won’t elevate anyone’s talent. But he also won’t hinder it or slow the team down, something we saw far too often from Colt McCoy (sans the game against the L.A. Rams), Trace McSorley, and David Blough.
2 – Jacoby Brissett
Career Statistics – Record: 18-30, Completion Percentage: 61.1%, Yards: 10,350, Touchdowns: 48, Interceptions: 23, Rating: 84.4
Jacoby Brissett is another quarterback the Arizona Cardinals should have their eye on if they’re looking for someone with both experience from a career standpoint, and experience in what Drew Petzing will most likely run. Brissett’s numbers don’t jump off the charts, but he’s also started 10 or more games in three of his seven seasons.
He may be a career journeyman best suited for a backup role, but it’s clear that numerous coaches have put their trust in Brissett if they need someone to carry the team for a significant portion of the season. And since he knows Petzing, don’t be surprised if the Cardinals snag the veteran with Kyler Murray on the mend.
1 – Gardner Minshew
Career Statistics – Record: 8-16, Completion Percentage: 62.8%, Yards: 6,632, Touchdowns: 44, Interceptions: 15, Rating: 93.1
If there’s one player on this list Arizona Cardinals fans would want more than anyone else, it’s Gardner Minshew. Of course, Minshew makes sense more than the other quarterbacks listed above because of his ties with new coach Jonathan Gannon.
Minshew has also proven he can play well even under challenging circumstances, given his 6-6 record in Jacksonville in 2019. And despite going just 1-6 the following season, he was by far the best of the bunch in Duval County. Last season was the first year Minshew completed fewer than 60% of his passes and generated a quarterback rating below 91.2, so his subpar performance in 2022 was more of an outlier.
If Minshew is there for the taking, don’t be surprised if he’s wearing a cardinal red jersey in 2023. And he will most likely be the most effective starter of five quarterbacks listed. Regardless, of which quarterback the Arizona Cardinals end up signing, assuming they go that direction, look for them to go with someone who has extended experience as a starting quarterback in this league.
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)
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