Kevin Kolb Trade Is a Risky but Necessary Move for Arizona Cardinals

In a move that has been speculated about for months, QB Kevin Kolb was finally officially traded to the Arizona Cardinals yesterday. It was no secret that the Cardinals were on the verge of picking up a quarterback, despite passing on one during the NFL draft. 

Arizona struggled mightily last season after Kurt Warner's retirement, starting three quarterbacks for at least three games each. Their main starter, Derek Anderson, threw a mediocre seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The two rookies (John Skelton and Max Hall) didn't fare any better, combining for 1,032 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions; changes were clearly needed coming into this season.

After a few impressive starts last season, 26-year-old Kolb could be the potential answer. He filled in nicely for an injured Michael Vick last season, but after Vick was healthy enough to play, he went right back to the bench.

With such sporadic game time, is Kolb really worth the risk? Well, the Cardinals certainly think so. They gave up one of the league's brightest young corners in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as well as a second-round pick in next year's draft. As if that wasn't enough, they then signed Kolb to a five-year, $63.5 million deal with $21 million guaranteed. 

In a way, the acquisition seems like a July draft pick. Yes, he has shown that he can play in NFL, but can he lead a team to the postseason?

Well, in the competitively weak NFC West, he may be the Cardinals' missing link to reaching it. Keep in mind that Arizona finished a mere two games behind the 7-9 division champion Seattle Seahawks. With a stable quarterback situation, the Cardinals would have almost certainly been in contention entering Week 17.

I would put Kolb over San Francisco's projected starter Alex Smith as well as Seattle's Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst, which means he's already the second-best quarterback in the division behind Sam Bradford.

There's no doubt that Kolb legitimately puts the Cardinals in the division title discussion. And with WR Larry Fitzgerald entering the final year of his contract, developing a good rapport with him could help Arizona sign their star receiver to a long-term deal.

Whether he is fully worth the steep price the Cardinals paid is still up for debate.