One of the most important offseason moves the Arizona Cardinals made last offseason was signing quarterback Colt McCoy. It wasn’t a big move by any means, but he has proven to be an asset as Kyler Murray’s backup.
Entering the year, one would not have thought that he would end up being a priority for the team to bring back in 2022, but after he started three games in place Murray when he was injured and led the team to two road divisional wins, he made a mark.
General manager Steve Keim is still in the process of evaluating who will be the key players for the team to try and re-sign for next season, but in an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, he was very clear about one thing.
Re-signing McCoy is “highly important.”
“We all know obviously what he has done on the field is second to none in terms of a guy that can come in and play at a high level and keep you on pace of winning, but at the same time, you look back and say how many good things has he done off the field with his leadership and the things he does in the film room,” Keim said in the interview. “It’s hard to say what that value is, but there’s no doubt that a reason for a lot of our success, Colt McCoy is certainly in that mix.”
It seems like an easy fit. The Cardinals want him. He isn’t likely going to, at age 35, get to go somewhere to be a starter. The Cardinals are good, have a good offensive system and he seems to enjoy being Murray’s teammate.
However, there are league rules that prevent him from signing a contract extension.
“Colt is a guy you cannot re-sign until after the season is over, by league rules and the way his tenure years are set up,” Keim explained.
That said, McCoy has probably earned Drew Stanton status. Stanton was Carson Palmer’s backup for five seasons when Bruce Arians was head coach.
With what he did in Murray’s absence, McCoy likely has earned that same absolute trust from head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
“He is a guy we’re excited about,” said Keim.
And while fans would rather never have to see him take the field except at the end of blowout victories to finish games, they are excited about him, too.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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