PFF: Cardinals QB situation ranks 6th in NFL
Jul 12, 2016, 8:30 AM | Updated: 11:28 am
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws as quarterback Drew Stanton (5) looks on during NFL football training camp, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Judging positional depth at the quarterback position compared to any other place on the football field is like comparing apples to oranges.
When it comes to NFL quarterbacks, the actual depth isn’t nearly as important. What matters is the production the first option generates. After that, having a viable backup is just gravy.
Fortunately for the Arizona Cardinals, starting quarterback Carson Palmer is good at what he does. For that, Pro Football Focus’ analysis of every teams’ quarterback position reflects favorably on the Cardinals.
PFF’s Sam Monson ranks them sixth in the NFL.
Carson Palmer is ironically a question mark coming off the best season of his career and a truly staggering MVP-level performance. The question is whether or not he can come anywhere close to repeating that production level in 2016; last year was so far above his career baseline that you almost have to assume that it’s an anomaly, even if this offense in Arizona is perfectly-suited to his skills. His playoff implosion only further muddies the waters.
Palmer completed 64 percent of his passes in 2015 while compiling 4,671 yards, 35 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Pro Football Focus was especially impressed by Palmer’s average depth of target of 11.3 yards that puts a number on just how aggressive Palmer’s passing was in coach Bruce Arians’ offense.
Monson is initially weary of whether Palmer can keep producing at that level, though having so many returning skill position players in 2016 helps his cause.
That, however, leads to the question of whether Arizona can succeed if Palmer is bitten by the injury bug. Monson is cautious about such things.
If he goes down, the Cardinals will turn to Drew Stanton, who floundered badly in 2014 when he started eight games.
Here are the five teams PFF ranks ahead of the Cardinals in the evaluation of NFL teams’ quarterback depth charts.
1. Green Bay Packers (Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley)
2. New England Patriots (Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones)
4. Carolina Panthers (Cam Newton, Derek Anderson)
5. Seattle Seahawks (Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin)
