Niner Noise
FanSided

2018 NFL Draft: 5 teams with the biggest quarterback needs

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants puts on his helmet during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Giants 23-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants puts on his helmet during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Giants 23-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 20: Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings and Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals embrace after the game on November 20, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 30-24. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 20: Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings and Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals embrace after the game on November 20, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 30-24. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Arizona Cardinals

First NFL Draft Pick — 15th

Perhaps the Arizona Cardinals should have been more aggressive in the 2017 pursuit of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. They weren’t, though, and the Kansas City Chiefs eventually decided to pull the trade-up trigger.

Once the year concluded, long-time Cardinals starter Carson Palmer elected to retire, and Arizona was left with precisely zero quarterbacks on its roster.

OK, so the Cardinals inked former first-round draftee Sam Bradford to a two-year deal, lessening the absolute need to find a quarterback early in the upcoming NFL Draft. But Bradford has played just two full 16-game seasons over his eight-year career — 2010 (his rookie season) and 2012. He’s often injured, and we know this. Combine that with the fact Football Outsiders ranked the Cardinals offensive line 25th in pass protection last year, it’s easy to see the potential problem.

If there’s a serious run on quarterbacks within the first five picks of the NFL Draft, Arizona general manager Steve Keim might be pressed to aggressively move up to land one of the late first-tier QBs in Round 1.

Otherwise, he might be forced to fight for the scraps or bank on a mid-round prospect developing nicely as a sleeper.

Either way, the Cardinals aren’t in an enviable predicament under center right now.