Quarterback Carson Palmer, when healthy, has played well for the Arizona Cardinals. But the Cardinals lucked out when they got him on the cheap from the Oakland Raiders. Before that stroke of good fortune, Arizona was suffering through multiple seasons of John Skelton, Ryan Lindley and Drew Stanton under center. It was clear for anyone to see that the Cardinals had no backup plan for the post-Kurt Warner world.
So with Palmer coming off a second torn ACL and getting up there in age, now is the time to avoid the mistakes from the past. Those that do not learn from history, after all...
ESPN and Pro Football Focus project the Cardinals to go 6-10 this season and land the No. 9 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Of course, projections and predications this far out rarely end up being accurate. But assuming this one is, California quarterback Jared Goff would be a good selection.
"The Cardinals eventually need to find a long-term replacement at quarterback for Carson Palmer, who will turn 36 this year," ESPN's Todd McShay wrote. "Goff has good size (6-4, 20 pounds), a big arm and is a naturally accurate passer. He was really productive as a true sophomore in 2014: 3,973 yards, 35 TDs, 7 INTs."
Speaking of Goff's accuracy, the signal-caller has completed at least 60 percent of his passes over the last two years, including 62.1 percent in 2014. Former Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt lost his job for failing to plan for life after Warner. Current head coach Bruce Arians should not make that same mistake.
Depending on where the Cardinals end up in the draft, Penn State's Christian Hackenberg, Michigan State's Connor Cook and Ohio State's Cardale Jones are all other possible first-round quarterbacks. Palmer is signed through 2018 but drafting his heir apparent now would be a wise move.
