Three Bold Cardinals Offseason Predictions
The Arizona Cardinals find themselves in a unique position following the 2023 season.
A 4-13 record with so many holes and deficiencies, Arizona benefits from the idea that nearly any talent addition can only help the team going forward.
With plenty of potential moves to be made, here are three bold predictions for how the Cardinals will conduct their offseason business:
1. Cardinals Prioritize Front Seven in Free Agency
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
"Duh," you say as you read this. Granted, this isn't the hottest of takes, but it does come with a caveat.
While there's a chance they look into some of the defensive line talent in the 2024 draft, the Cardinals could add their defensive pieces either via free agency or in the development of younger players.
Names like Christian Wilkins and Chris Jones will float around speculation like always, but this could end up being closer to reality than looking into a rookie defensive lineman.
As far as the secondary is concerned, it might not be out of the question to see talent developed rather than added.
While Jaylon Johnson is a name--among others--that could be a target for general manager Monti Ossenfort, the Cardinals could elect to spend their draft capital on offense, and their salary cap on the trenches, leaving players like CBs Antonio Hamilton, Kei'Trel Clark and Garrett Williams with solid portions of reps.
Anchoring around two stud safeties in Jalen Thompson and Budda Baker could be Jonathan Gannon's plan going forward, and prioritizing bolstering the defensive line and stopping the run more effectively in 2024 seems like a bigger priority than a young secondary.
2. WR Rondale Moore Sticks Around
Joe Rondone, USA Today/AZ Republic
It's been the talk of myself, this website, local media everywhere: the Cardinals need size at the receiver position. Drafting a receiver out of the exceptional pool of stud pass-catchers in the 2024 draft is a must, whether that be Marvin Harrison Jr. or someone else.
Rondale Moore has struggled every year since former Cardinals GM Steve Keim took him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. This past season he only amassed 352 receiving yards and one touchdown, but also had 178 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
At 5-foot-7, 180 pounds, the speedy receiver is the stark opposite of what the Cardinals are looking to evolve into with their pass catchers. However, Moore began to see some success in offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's offense, being used in a gadget role, and even relied on for some key third downs.
Considering Moore is coming off a season in which he was healthy for each contest (a career first), and the fact that the undersized receiver is slated to be worth significantly less than his counterpart Marquise Brown, it is possible Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort appreciate the work Moore put in.
While WR Greg Dortch could likely take over the starting slot receiver position, barring the addition of three or more receivers, Moore could be retained as a specialty player and used more frequently in the run game.
3. Cardinals Opt for Smaller Moves
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Everyone wants to see the Cardinals make a splash trade or signing, and while that is on the table, what's refreshing about this new regime is their lack of trigger-happiness.
The old regime would salivate at the thought of signing guys like Calais Campbell or Mike Evans to incredible one-year deals, without fully addressing the team as a whole. Ossenfort's philosophy in his short tenure so far has been to try and make smart, underrated signings, like that of LB Kyzir White, and draft guys with the intention of starting them, rather than dumping their payroll into aging veteran stars to try and give a shot in the arm to a struggling roster.
Granted, a rebuild year won't see any type of huge deals, but with regards to free agency, there could be a reason to expect no more than one large deal. On the offensive side, the running back room is set, as is the QB situation, but we could see a deal for a guy like Cincinnati WR Tyler Boyd, rather than his teammate Tee Higgins, or a guy like Buffalo Bills WR Gabe Davis.
Defensively, the trenches continue to be the biggest need. A big signing is needed there to anchor it, but with the return of more underrated/semi-inexpensive players like White, and some growth from the younger talent like BJ Ojulari and any number of the defensive backs, it's not unlikely that this team will be more the sum of its parts than a star-studded squad.
