With Kyler Murray likely out for the foreseeable future, the Arizona Cardinals must make a decision concerning the most important position on the field.
The Arizona Cardinals have important decisions to make regarding their quarterback situation after their franchise quarterback suffered an ACL injury that will most likely keep him sidelined entering next season. As Kyler Murray recovers and rehabs from his unfortunate setback, the Cardinals must decide whether it would suit them better to just draft a quarterback and allow him to gain experience or should they sign a veteran free agent and allow him to take the reigns.
With a few changes and improvements to the roster which are all but guaranteed to happen with a new head coach and general manager, a veteran QB would make more sense considering the competitive atmosphere of the NFC West. The Cardinals quarterback vacancy could become a golden opportunity for a player to come in and prove himself on a one year deal and show that he still belongs in the NFL and is capable of being a starting caliber player.
Who can the Cardinals sign that would be capable of coming in and making an impression? Here are a few candidates Arizona should consider.
Top free agent quarterbacks for the Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett
Jacoby Brissett is a quarterback who is capable of joining any team in the NFL in a starting role. However, Brissett has thrived as a backup quarterback and is better suited for that particular role.
He filled in quite nicely while he was a member of the Cleveland Browns as he started the first 11 games while starter Deshaun Watson served his suspension. Brissett is able game manager and has what it takes to be successful but a porous offensive line and a mediocre defense led to a lot of the Browns losses last season despite Brissett keeping them competitive and giving them a chance to win.
The thought of signing Brissett should entice the Cardinals organization as he could become the perfect example and role model for Murray due to his leadership and professionalism. His level of play can best be described as consistent.
While he won't amaze you with incredible throws and while he doesn't produce eye popping stats, what he does do well is protect the football and avoids costly turnovers. As long as a defense can keep the game close and if he has a real threat at the running back (similar to what he had with Nick Chubb) where he can take advantage and implement play-action which allows the offensive coordinator to open up the playbook and take shots downfield.
For the most part, Brissett's decision making is what sets him apart as he avoids taking unnecessary risks. He is also underrated when it comes to timing and, accuracy and has just enough athleticism to escape the pocket if it collapses.
Marcus Mariota
After one season with the Atlanta Falcons, Marcus Mariota was released as they appear to be all in on Desmond Ridder. Another opportunity should open up for the veteran quarterback and one strong possibility could be signing with the Arizona Cardinals.
The hope would be for him to come in and keep the team afloat until Murray returns to full strength, but Mariota has had problems staying healthy himself. He is an intriguing option due to his mobility and skill set that is similar to Murray's which would be a plus for the coaching staff as they can implement plays that could suit both players.
This would allow new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to develop different packages that center around the talent of both players. Mariota can also be utilized on short yardage situations and even in the red zone if the Cardinals continue to struggle running the ball again.
To be fair, Mariota has never really gotten a chance to showcase what he can bring to a team due to coaches trying to make him something he isn't earlier in his career. He was never really a pocket passer and when he was put in that position, he had offensive lines failing to protect him therefore leading to injuries. He still possess the ability to be a starting quarterback and Arizona could give him that opportunity to prove he still belongs.
Baker Mayfield
If the Arizona Cardinals truly want a chance to compete and remain in contention until Murray is healthy enough to play, then they should strongly consider signing Baker Mayfield. Mayfield came into the league with huge expectations as a #1 overall selection. Unable to reach his full potential as a starter due to injuries, Mayfield may be considered by many teams to be the best free agent quarterback on the market.
He does have a losing record as a starter at 31-38, but Mayfield is better than at least half of the starting quarterbacks in the league just based on talent alone, and he could give the Cardinals the most realistic shot at competing for a playoff berth.
He's had his fair share of ups and downs, and has experienced the highs and the lows of being a star in this league. After receiving all of the backlash and criticism he gets from the media and being painted as a villain, this would be the golden opportunity and the perfect situation to remind teams that he can still lead and put a team on his back.
The question is whether Mayfield would accept a salary cap friendly deal or will he demand something lucrative? Mayfield should be given a pass because he hasn't always been surrounded by top tier talent but he has always made the most out of what he has had to work with.
Not to mention the coaching changes he had to endure during his tenure in Cleveland. At times Mayfield can be his own worst enemy and sometimes puts too much pressure on himself. If he can learn to just take what defenses give him and not try to play hero ball slinging it deep and hoping for a good outcome, he would be better off and be able to avoid the turnovers and the costly mistakes that have plagued him in his career. Mayfield would be the perfect fit for the Cardinals with his underdog mentality and will to win.