Carson Palmer Extension Easy Decision for Surging Arizona Cardinals

There hasn't been a bigger surprise in the National Football League in 2014 than the Arizona Cardinals, who are owners of the NFL's best record at the halfway mark at 7-1.

The level of success the Cardinals have enjoyed in 2014 may surprise some, but it should surprise absolutely no one that their success has translated to a nice raise for the team's starting quarterback.

As ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, the Cardinals have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with quarterback Carson Palmer:

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via colleague Gregg Rosenthal), the deal, which could keep Palmer in the desert through 2017, is worth $50 million.

As Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reported, general manager Steve Keim stated that the extension was a no-brainer:

"

Carson has played at an incredibly high level and has been a huge part of the team's success. When you combine his on-field performance with the leadership, stability and professionalism he brings to our team, there was no question that we wanted to extend the relationship and we are excited he felt the same way.

"

However, the size of the deal raised a few eyebrows:

Kenyon has a point. For as well as Palmer has played this season, we are talking about a 34-year-old quarterback with a long history of arm issues dating all the way back to his time with the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer missed three games earlier this season with a nerve problem in his throwing shoulder.

Also, Palmer's numbers in his first year in Arizona in 2013 were OK, but they weren't much more than that.

Comp.	Att.	Pct.	Yards	TD	INT	Rating	PFF Rank*
362	572	63.3	4274	24	22	83.9	18

Still, Schefter provided one caveat that goes a long way toward assuaging any reservations about the size and length of the extension:

ESPN's Andrew Brandt also posited that the extension is part reward and part trade-off:

And in that respect, it's a deal that makes a ton of sense, as there's no denying that Palmer's second year in the desert has been much better than the first.

Comp.	Att.	Pct.	Yards	TD	INT	Rating	PFF Rank*
116	188	61.7	1385	11	2	99.3	13

As Rosenthal wrote, Palmer may not be the player he was during his heyday in the Queen City (before injuring his elbow, Palmer may have had the strongest arm in the league). But he's not Ryan Fitzpatrick, either:

"

[Cardinals coach Bruce Arians] has an aggressive vertical style that complements Palmer's game, and the weapons to make him look better. Palmer is no longer a top-five quarterback like he once was, but he still throws four to five passes each game that few quarterbacks could make. He's supported by a wildly talented supporting cast and a strong defense. Perhaps most important, he's learned to limit his mistakes.

"

Frankly, the extension also has a lot to do with the changing circumstances the Cardinals now find themselves in. When Palmer was signed last year, the Redbirds weren't viewed as a playoff contender, much less a Super Bowl contender. Palmer was going to be a "bridge" starter—a veteran who could hold down the fort while Arizona drafted and groomed its quarterback of the future.

Now the team is 7-1. Building for the future has become "win now." Suddenly, the Cardinals are looking at a championship window, and it makes sense to lock up the team's starting quarterback while that window's open. If said window slams shut, an out after the 2015 season mitigates the risk involved with extending an aging starter.

There's plenty of credit to go around in Arizona this year, but the team's rapidly rising fortunes are at least partly due to the solid play of Palmer. He earned his raise with his performance on the field.

And who knows? If the Cardinals become the first team ever to play in the Super Bowl in their home stadium, that $17 million a season will look like a steal.

Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor.