TEMPE, Ariz. -- At some point between Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon, the Arizona Cardinals will most likely end up with a quarterback.
How they acquire him and who it could be, however, may be a surprise.
Rumors have been circulating today that the Cardinals are interested in acquiring Tampa Bay quarterback Mike Glennon. Trading for him makes sense for the Cardinals, who are searching for a quarterback they can entrust their offense with after next season. But it only makes sense for the right price.
Adding a back-up quarterback for 2014 isn’t worth a first- or second-round pick. Trading a third-round choice may be too much of a risk, as well, unless the Cardinals make Glennon the second-string quarterback behind Carson Palmer -- and they should because Glennon is more talented than Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley. He's young enough to have a long career in the NFL. Last season Glennon was forced into an unproductive situation under a coach who lacked the ability to lead in the NFL. Pair Glennon with Cardinals coach Bruce Arians and assistant coach Tom Moore, and he could evolve more in one season than he has since he’s been in the league.
Glennon, who threw for 2,608 yards and 19 touchdowns with nine interceptions in 13 games as a rookie, passes the eye test. At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds Glennon fits the mold of an Arians quarterback and he has the big arm Arians covets. And Arians is familiar with Glennon, having scouted him leading up to the 2013 draft.
“Oh, I loved him,” Arians said in September after Glennon was named the starter against Arizona in Week 4. “Big, strong arm. Big, strong guy. Knew his older brother and good family, good football family. Tough, good leader.”
Glennon is not worth an early pick, and certainly not worth losing two picks this year. But if there’s one advantage Arizona has if it deals for him, it’s who they’ll be trading with. Former Cardinals vice president of player personnel Jason Licht is Tampa Bay’s general manager. His relationship with Cardinals general manager Steve Keim could be favorable for the Cards.
If Arizona can surrender a pick in the fourth round or later, Glennon is worth the move. If not, Arizona can find its future quarterback in the draft.