Why Cardinals May Not Target Big Names in Free Agency
ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals have a big offseason ahead - one of the biggest maybe in recent memory. But it may not look like what fans would like.
Fans would like to see big names signed - and while that could happen, there's a very good chance it may not.
Here's a few reasons why:
1. Arizona will focus on building through the draft, first and foremost
Much of the work will be at the 2024 NFL Draft and the upcoming NFL Combine, though free agency will be important. Arizona has a plethora of picks this year, and much of their roster building will be of that sort - which is different than the previous regime and undoubtedly a good thing.
2. The Cardinals have far too many needs to focus solely on free agency anyway
Currently Arizona has these positions of need:
Offense: LT, LG, WR1
Defense: DT (2), LB, EDGE, CB
That's around eight holes to fill at a minimum. Likely, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort and company can fill 4-5 in the draft (especially with six picks in the top three rounds) - so it would be a good idea to fill at least three spots in free agency.
Given the strength of this draft class at WR and OL, free agency could see the likes of a DT and either a CB or/and EDGE (while also possibly bolstering either of those spots with a top pick).
3. Arizona does not have as much cap space as you may think
The Cardinals do have the 10th most, though it plays out a little differently than some fans think - per Spotrac they have over $45 million and per Over The Cap they have about $42 million - but the Cardinals do have to pay the rookie class on top of keeping some money on hand in case of emergencies,
The Cardinals are projected to have significant cap space in 2025 though, so that does help in the long-term.
As for how this could play out practically, here are a few examples of some groups of players they could sign:
Example 1: DJ Reader, AJ Epenesa, Levi Wallace
Example 2: Leonard Williams, Jeff Okudah, K'Lavon Chaisson
Example 3: Justin Madubuike, Dorance Armstrong, Keisean Nixon
In Example 1, you can probably spread out $30 or so million between these three players and get three starters - same with example 2.
If you go for Madubuike, that likely takes up a majority of the ~$30 million you have to spend - so perhaps you have to take chances on other players to fill needs on defense.
When evaluating the future, it all depends on what the Cardinals want (and they likely will sign more than three players) but given their desire to build through the draft, it's possible they don't sign any of the aforementioned names, too.
It should be a fascinating March.
