Playing Buy/Sell on Major Cardinals Rumors
The Arizona Cardinals - much like the rest of the league - are in the beginning stages of their offseason team activities ahead of the 2023 season.
For the most part, rosters around the league are set. However, some hefty names on the Cardinals still find themselves in rumors ahead of next season.
Let's play a quick game of buy or sell with headlines surrounding the team:
1. Buy or Sell: DeAndre Hopkins Will be Traded/Released
At this point, it feels like it's only a matter of time before Hopkins is off the roster.
Speculation followed the All-Pro receiver throughout the offseason on his future, though the Cardinals haven't been able to move Hopkins for the right price. Arizona is rebuilding and Hopkins wants to win a ring - a split was best for both parties.
It felt like the NFL draft was the best time to move off Hopkins, but the best time frame for the Cardinals to wave goodbye is actually after June 1.
Pre June 1 Cut/Trade
Dead Money: $21.07 million
Cap Savings: $8.91 million
Post June 1 Cut/Trade
Dead Money: $10.53 million
Cap Savings: $19.45 million
If the Cardinals are truly rebuilding, it just doesn't make sense for Hopkins to play football for them in 2023. A move might be best at the trade deadline when his value is highest.
However the cookie crumbles, both sides know a departure is needed.
Buy or Sell: Buy.
2. Buy or Sell: Kyler Murray Will Sit Out Entire 2023 Season
Murray is currently rehabbing from ACL surgery earlier this year and isn't expected to be ready for Week 1. Nobody knows when he could potentially return, but many believe he'll miss the first few weeks if not the entire first half of the season.
There's been some speculation of Murray sitting out the entire regular season, and that simply doesn't benefit anybody.
The Cardinals are smart to want to try and protect their most valuable asset, and they won't be rushing him back into action any time soon.
However, Murray will need to see the field at some point in 2023, for a few reasons:
Like it or not, the Cardinals could very well end up in position to take a new franchise quarterback in 2024. Whether Arizona pulls the trigger on the move remains to be seen, though it could largely hinge on how Murray looks in action later this year.
They'll want to see Murray in their new offense before making any decisions. On the other side of the coin, Murray himself should be eager to prove he still belongs in Arizona.
The Cardinals are under a new front office and new coaching staff. Anything is possible in the future - but for now - they simply want to see a healthy Murray on the field.
Buy or Sell: Sell.
3. Buy or Sell: Budda Baker Will Stick With Cardinals
For as much trade speculation Hopkins has endured, it's not as if Baker's front has been silent.
The Cardinals didn't oblige to Baker's request to be made the highest-paid safety at his position, and thus made his trade request public last month.
Similar to Hopkins, the Cardinals have made their asking price fairly high for a player they don't have to get rid of.
Yet this situation feels different. Baker is younger and arguably more important in the long run for Arizona to keep, making him much more valuable for Monti Ossenfort to keep around.
Jonathan Gannon made it sound as if Baker is in constant communication with the Cardinals:
"I think Budda will show up when he wants to show up. He's been awesome, he kind of wears us out a little bit with the tape and different things like that. But he's working, he'll get himself ready to play," said Gannon after the first day of OTA's.
Would Baker hold-out and ultimately force a trade over the summer? That feels out of character, and though the Cardinals have done well to not balk at Baker's demands for new money, perhaps they can find a way to still take care of him.
Buy or Sell: Buy.
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