The question on the minds of most Arizona Cardinals fans was answered in the first round of the NFL draft last week. Veteran QB Carson Palmer announced his retirement around the beginning of 2018, leaving many supporters of Arizona’s football franchise wondering who will be taking snaps next season. 

Palmer played with the Cardinals for five years and helped to lead the organization to a 13-3 regular season record in 2015. The Cardinals advanced all the way to the NFC Championship game that year where they lost to the Carolina Panthers. Palmer spent much of 2017 on injured reserve before retiring.

Arizona traded up last week in the NFL draft to select UCLA QB Josh Rosen with the 10th overall pick. Rosen was the first Bruin freshman opening-weekend starter ever. Some of his accolades include: Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, several Freshman All-American honors and several school records. He completed 60 percent (292-487) of his passes for 3,668 yards and 23 touchdowns (11 interceptions) his freshman season.

Rosen was considered by many experts to be the best quarterback of the 2018 draft given his impeccable footwork and overall mechanics. General Manager Steve Keim said, “We really believed he was a franchise-type quarterback. To me, when you find those type of guys, and when you give up that kind of compensation, you pull the trigger and never look back. The grades supported (the trade) and it was a guy we liked enough. At the same time … it wasn’t mortgaging the future. To give up what we did, we were extremely comfortable with it.” 

The Cardinals also acquired free agent QBs Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon in the offseason. According to coach Steve Wilks, “The best 11 guys will play. When we acquired Sam, we got him to be our starting quarterback and I’d say that is still the case. When Sam is healthy, he’s one of the best we’ve seen around. … When we line up against Washington the opening game of the season, the best 11 guys are going to play.”