The Arizona Cardinals quarterback situation is an ongoing issue. The team is reportedly unhappy with the production out of Kevin Kolb and his inability to progress as a starting quarterback. The team has a lot of money tied into their starter and need to make a decision on what to do with him. The Cardinals and Kolb will now meet later this week to discuss his contract, which could lead to the quarterback being released by the team.
Kolb is due a $2 million bonus on Saturday. Kolb has four more years left on a six-year, $62.1 million contact that he signed prior to the 2011 season. He is set to be a $13.5 million salary cap hit in 2013. Kolb will make $11 million in salary next season and team president Michael Bidwill says that is something the team needs to address. Bidwill has said that Kolb's salary number is big and there are ongoing questions about his productivity and durability. Kolb has only played in 15 games in the two seasons since being traded to Arizona.
Kolb was considered the future of the Cardinals when he was acquired from Philadelphia; however injuries have derailed any sort of progress he could possibly make. Kolb threw for 1,169 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions in six games last season before an injury knocked him out for the remainder of the year. Three different quarterbacks saw playing time during the absence of Kolb.
Because of his failure to live up to the large contract he originally signed, Kolb has no leverage during contract negotiations. He has proven to be both unhealthy and unproductive, leaving his future with the team in question. Kolb is certainly better than any backup the team has, but he cannot give Arizona a decent number of games each season.
The Cardinals could ask Kolb to restructure his contract and take a pay cut to save the team money. If he refuses, Arizona will likely cut him and take a free agent or draft a rookie quarterback. That might be the best option for a team looking to start over with new head coach Bruce Arians.
If Kolb is let go, it could open the door for quarterbacks like Tim Tebow or Ryan Mallet who would be options for the team. With many of the quarterbacks in the draft not considered to be starters, free agency could be the best way to go for the Cardinals. The Cardinals have been rumored to be interested in West Virigina quarterback Geno Smith, who has the potential to be the next best mobile quarterback in the league.