Cardinals coach: QB group is among the best in the NFL

When the 2012 NFL season ended, the Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback depth chart looked something like this:

1. Brian Hoyer
2. Ryan Lindley
3. John Skelton
IR: Kevin Kolb

It was the envy of no one.

However, the offseason has brought a new coaching staff, which has in turn brought in some new passers. As things are now, Arizona’s quarterback depth chart is thus:

1. Carson Palmer
2. Drew Stanton
3. Brian Hoyer
4. Ryan Lindley

Looks better, doesn’t it? Well, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians doesn’t just think it’s better; he thinks it’s the best in the league.

“Now with Carson, I think our quarterback room with Brian Hoyer, Drew Stanton and Carson Palmer is as good anybody’s in the league,” he told Fox Sports Radio Thursday.

So, about Lindley…

It may have been a slip of the tongue, or perhaps the second-year pro is not really part of the team’s future. In any event, the situation at the position has certainly turned around, and likely for the better.

And, with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Arians is not ready to rule out another signal caller being added to the list. But, he cautioned, as of this moment it doesn’t look like a signal caller will be the choice.

“We were going to take the best available player at that position, at number seven, whether it be a tackle, pass rusher, corner or quarterback,” he said, be. “Right now I don’t see a quarterback in this class coming up that would have been in that spot for us.

“Especially with the elite offensive linemen that are out there this year and defensive linemen.”

Of course, things could change between now and the April 25 draft, and with the Cardinals scheduled to work out USC QB Matt Barkley, perhaps Arians is not ready to completely rule out adding to the position.

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