Fansided

5 NFL teams desperate enough to sign Nick Foles

By John Buhler

Oct 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) throws a pass under pressure from Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (52) during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) throws a pass under pressure from Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (52) during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer reacts as he is taken off the field on a cart after suffering an injury in the second half against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer reacts as he is taken off the field on a cart after suffering an injury in the second half against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Arizona Cardinals. 1. player. 32. . NFC. West

The 2016 Arizona Cardinals will be one of the handful of teams in the NFL that can legitimately win Super Bowl LI in Houston in February. Their roster has been meticulously crafted by general manager Steve Keim over the last several years. Head coach Bruce Arians has asserted himself as one of the best in the business since taking over in Glendale in 2013. The Bidwell Family has been largely hands-off during a strong era of Cardinals football.

In short, Arizona as currently constructed can not only win the NFC but hoist its first Lombardi Trophy at season’s end. However, there is one major flaw with their club: who can step up if starting quarterback Carson Palmer falls down?

The Cardinals had to deal with a devastating injury to Palmer in 2014 when he tore his ACL. Arizona lost control of its lead in the NFC West and had to settle for the No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs. Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley, and Logan Thomas failed miserably at backing up Palmer. Arizona’s offense was non-existent once Palmer went down in early November.

Arizona has to be the most likely team to bring in Foles. He’s an ideal fit for what the Cardinals need in a temporary backup quarterback. Foles doesn’t turn the football over and thrives under great offensive minds at head coach. He played college ball in nearby Tuscon and would be more than capable of helping the Cardinals win close defensive football games should anything happen to Palmer.

If Arizona doesn’t upgrade its backup quarterback situation over Stanton, Matt Barkley, and Jake Coker, they are putting way too much pressure on Palmer to have another MVP-caliber year in 2016. For the Cardinals to legitimately contend for a Super Bowl, they cannot let a lack of quarterback depth hamstring them again in 2016. Signing Foles as Palmer’s primary backup makes a great deal of sense if Arizona is all-in on winning the Lombardi Trophy this February.

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