Arizona Cardinals: 7 Best Quarterback Options for 2012

Since future Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner retired, the Arizona Cardinals have been in search of someone to take over.

On July 29th, 2011 the Cardinals sent CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd-round pick in 2012 to the Philadelphia Eagles for QB Kevin Kolb. They then signed him to a 5-year, $63 million deal and expected him to become "the guy."

After a suspect performance for Kolb in 2011, going only 2-6 in eight games with a quarterback rating of 81.1, Arizona could be in search of yet another starting QB.

Here are Arizona’s 7 best QB options for 2012.

Kyle Orton

Former Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs QB Kyle Orton is likely hitting the free agent market this offseason.

Orton had a rough start to the year in Denver, going 1-4 before being replaced by some guy named Tim Tebow. He stayed on the bench for a few weeks before being released.

Orton started three games after he was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs and went 2-1, with one of those wins coming over the then undefeated Green Bay Packers.

The 29-year-old was one of Arizona’s trade targets last offseason before they went with Kolb and if they feel that they’re in need of a new QB, they’ll likely be giving Orton a call when the free agent period starts up.

Matt Flynn

Green Bay Packers backup Matt Flynn turned some heads in week 17 when he got the nod at home against the Detroit Lions.

He appeared in five games over the course of the season; most notably in his lone start against Detroit, where he completed over 70% of his passes, threw for 480 yards and had six passing touchdowns.

The performance increases his free agent value significantly and I’d expect a few teams to offer him a contract. 

John Skelton

The NFC’s version of Tebowmania; current Cardinals' backup John Skelton posted a 6-2 record in relief of Kolb.

Like Tebow, Skelton was flat out awful for the majority of the first three quarters, but turned it on in the later part of the fourth.   

In his second season, Skelton showed that he doesn’t get rattled too often and has the physical tools to become a starting QB.

If he has a good training camp, it wouldn’t surprise me if he got the nod in week one next season.

Drew Brees

It’s a one in a million chance that Drew Brees doesn’t re-sign with the New Orleans Saints this offseason, especially with the year he just had.

With that said there is no way that Arizona doesn’t offer him a contract if he hits the market.

This is a team that would become an immediate Super Bowl contender with Brees at the helm.

It’s always good to dream. 

Jason Campbell

Before injuring his collar bone in week six, Campbell was playing pretty well for the Oakland Raiders, standing strong with a 4-2 record and a QBR of 84.2.

Following his injury, the Raiders traded their future to acquire Carson Palmer from the Bengals.

There’s a possibility of Oakland keeping both men for competition, however I believe Campbell will end up somewhere else next year and he would be a pretty solid addition to the Cardinals franchise.

Peyton Manning

Ever since Charley Casserly brought up Peyton Manning to Arizona on the NFL Today show before the Wild Card playoffs, people in the desert have been going nuts just at the thought of a “Manning to Fitz” combination.

Now, I don’t see the Cardinals trading for Manning, but if he ends up being released then it would make sense for him to want to come to Arizona.

Kevin Kolb

Kevin Kolb did indeed have a rough first year in Arizona, but there is no way people should be giving up on him yet.

Just about every game Kolb played in he put the team in a position to win and showed major improvement after he returned from injury.

The best case for Arizona is to add another weapon across from Larry Fitzgerald, get some help on the offensive line and let Kolb compete with John Skelton for the starting job.