Carson Palmer is calling it a career. One day after Cardinals coach Bruce Arians announced his retirement, Palmer has done the same. 
“Over the years, I’ve had teammates who decided to hang it up and I would ask them how they knew when it was time to walk away,” Palmer wrote on social media. “The answer was almost always the same: You just know. For me that time is now. Why? Quite simply, I just know.”
Palmer, who turned 38 at the end of December, had one more year to go on his contract but instead decided to hang ’em up. After 14 years in the NFL, multiple serious knee injuries, and tons of grueling battles, few can blame Palmer for walking away. The 2017 campaign wasn’t the sendoff he was hoping for – a broken arm ended his season in October – but he leaves the game with plenty of accomplishments and roughly $175MM in career earnings.
Palmer is third in franchise history with 38 wins as the Cardinals’ starting QB, an impressive feat considering all of the time he missed in 2014 and 2016. He also ranks high in major statistical categories for QBs including passing yards (11th), touchdown passes (11th), and completions (10th).
The retirement of Palmer leaves the Cardinals without QBs under contract for next season with Blaine Gabbert, Drew Stanton, and Matt Barkley all scheduled for free agency. Arians indicated that Gabbert could be the team’s successor to Palmer, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him re-signed before he hits the open market in March. Then again, the team’s next head coach could alter the team’s plans. There will be a handful of interesting signal callers in free agency and the Cards also have the No. 15 overall pick at their disposal.
The retirement of Arians and Palmer may lead Larry Fitzgerald to a similar choice. The wide receiver is said to be leaning towards ending his playing career even after a strong 2017 campaign. Despite being the league’s oldest wide receiver, Fitzgerald hauled in a career-high 109 passes with 1,156 receiving yards and six scores.
Well we know what they are getting in the draft I guess
They need a long-term solution under center (and they have for a while), but if Fitzgerald ends up coming back next year, I could see them going after one of the stopgap options in free agency to try to make one last run.
I always enjoyed watching Carson Palmer play.
Very best to you and your family Carson Palmer.
I think if Fitzgerald comes back they will try to trade for Alex Smith unless he’s released then they will try to sign him or they will go after Cousins or one of the Vikings QB but I still see them drafting a QB. If Fitzgerald retires it seems like they would definitely draft a QB and not spend all that money on a QB when they have other needs.
don’t make one last run. rebuild. without your offensive head coach and qb, do you really expect fitz to come back?
I totally agree!
Happy Retirement Carson! One hell of a career even if you didn’t reach the pinnacle of success.
Yeah, well. Smell ya later…
Happy trails, Mr. Palmer. You shall disappoint fantasy football owners no longer!
if you drafted Palmer in the last two years, that’s on you.
Palmer is a quitter .. crybaby and crap QB. Most overrated diva I’ve ever seen. His whining ass kicked and screamed his way out of Cincy and then went 2 other places and didn’t do squat. What a penis head.
MVP season not that long ago……he got old and lost his mojo. ( can you say Brett Favre, Payton Manning, joe montana) we can’t stay young for ever
Well Palmer retired which is no shock to me. He was part of the puzzle that turned this team around. I’ve been a cardinal fan for almost 30 years. They will rebuild this team around David Johnson. With Palmer retiring they now save over 14 million and can afford to sign a free agent veteran (Bridgewater) see how his kneee holds up or pull a trade for (Alex Smith)? Draft the for the future. I do see fitzy sticking around one more season.