Cardinals not making trade deadline deals is a humane choice that benefits Carson Beck

The Cardinals are a wounded team and a flawed franchise. But they made a sane and humane decision at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday:

They kept the defense intact to provide cover for Carson Beck and a decimated offense.

They understand they can’t unveil a rookie quarterback while simultaneously raising white flags of surrender internally and across the NFL.

The decision to retain Josh Sweat, Budda Baker, Garrett Williams and others is likely rooted in many considerations. Maybe the Cardinals aren’t interested in the perceptual damage of another full-on rebuild. Maybe they received substandard offers for their top-tier players. Maybe a second-round pick from the Bills — a team that might win the Super Bowl — wasn’t worth cutting ties with a fan favorite and future Ring of Honor member like Baker.

This is also true:

Given his 18-42 record and the stunning failure of his first rebuild, general manager Monti Ossenfort would already be fired in most NFL markets. What interest does he have in trading away his scarcity of frontline players to secure more draft picks that will likely be chosen by his successor? Especially if it further damages his record and the overall aesthetics?

Either way, the Cardinals ended up in the right place. They are deferring to the only question and position that matters: Do they have a franchise quarterback or not?

Beck’s first NFL start will occur 101 days after his stellar debut in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. He hasn’t played since. Jacoby Brissett is now the starting quarterback in Baltimore. Gardner Minshew posted the most interesting two-game career in Cardinals’ history. And now Beck is suddenly on deck.

What will he see and feel when the walls are closing in? How will he react to this golden and jagged opportunity?

Beck has a ton of experience, starting 43 games in college. If he shows elite aptitude in this upcoming trial by fire — if he can process, anticipate and understand the deception playing out at the line of scrimmage … if he brings a calming sense of command to the huddle in times of confusion and panic … if he shows the intuition and arm strength that can keep a defense honest … the rookie will check many important boxes.

Either way, playing Beck is no longer an option. It’s a necessity. And the Cardinals need a team around him that still has the heart, the talent and the belief to compete. For the present, the future and the rookie quarterback thrust into a maelstrom.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.

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