PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Cardinals finally found their quarterback.
A person with knowledge of the situation said Sam Bradford and the Cardinals have agreed to a one-year, $20 million contract with a second-year option, also for $20 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because contracts cannot be made public until Wednesday.
Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, is known for his strong and accurate arm but he has struggled with injuries. He joins a team in dire need of a quarterback.
There had been no QBs on the Arizona roster since the retirement of Carson Palmer and the departure of free agents Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert.
Just as word of the Bradford deal surfaced, the Cardinals released running back Adrian Peterson, saving about $2.9 million against the salary cap. The seven-time All-Pro back played in just six games for Arizona after being acquired from New Orleans.
Bradford has appeared in 80 games - all as a starter - for the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia and Minnesota. He’s completed 63 percent of his passes for his career, 72 percent the past two seasons in Minnesota.
The Cardinals, due to their salary cap limitations, were always a longshot to land Kirk Cousins. When word leaked that Cousins had a deal with Minnesota, the dominos began to fall for other teams in search of a quarterback.
For Arizona, it was almost any quarterback. Expect the Cardinals to land a couple more, maybe another veteran and a draft pick.
After being named NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2010, Bradford tore his left ACL in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. He was traded to Philadelphia in 2015.
Bradford signed with Minnesota in 2016 and missed most of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
The Cardinals are counting on this litany of injuries coming to an end. But they know they’d better have a pretty good backup, too.
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
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