While it is apparent that Palmer isn't the long term answer at quarterback. He is a good stop gap while Steve Kiem and Bruce Arians search for a long term solution to the team's persistent problems at the position. The question is do you wait for free agency or look ahead to the draft and take a gamble on a person who hasn't proven themselves yet.
If the season ended today the Cardinals would have the 20th pick (best team without making the post-season) in the 2014 NFL draft. At that low of a position the big name quarterbacks would have already come off of the board. So do they wait a year for the next draft class or pick a lower valued QB. Here's the best options if the decided to draft a QB. Alabama's A.J. McCarron who has great poise, touch and accuracy but is labeled as a game manager. Or the Cardinals could go with LSU's Zach Mettenberger who is compared to Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger since he has the arm strength but unlike those two quarterbacks Mettenberger does not have the mobility. He is also rehabbing from having his ACL repaired.
It doesn't matter who your quarterback is unless you have an offensive line. With the offensive line heavy draft the Cardinals could also take a tackle to replace the void Levi Brown left when he was traded to Pittsburgh earlier this year. Bradley Sowell has performed admirably but is not the future of the position barring major improvement. With Jonathan cooper coming back from injury next year and the prospect of talented tackle next to him, that combination would make for solid protection all around.
Looking at free agents, Jay Cutler is the only big name that is scheduled to be on the market. Other than Cutler the free agent market is looking thin until 2015 where Tom Brady and Cam Newton can play the market if they choose too.
One way or another the Cardinals need to act on a quarterback of the future and finally put some security on this oft under skilled position.