Cardinals Offseason Named Worst in NFL

Bleacher Report was not impressed with the Arizona Cardinals' efforts.

ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals are gearing up for the 2024 NFL Draft, a setting where 11 total selections should see them further improve their rebuild.

Arizona has always been clear about their intentions to build through the draft rather than free agency, and though the team plugged a few holes along the way, not everybody is satisfied with how the Cardinals have handled the last few months.

Bleacher Report ranked the best and worst offseasons throughout the league, and the Cardinals' failure to do much for Kyler Murray saw them slandered from writer Kristopher Knox:

"While Arizona might believe in Murray, it sure hasn't done much to support its franchise quarterback. The Cardinals let Marquise Brown walk in free agency while adding receiver Chris Moore, running back DeeJay Dallas, center Evan Brown and offensive tackle Jonah Williams," he wrote.

"Williams might be the only starter out of the bunch, and at two years and $30 million, the Cardinals overpaid. The 26-year-old simply isn't a reliable pass protector and allowed eight sacks in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.

"Much of Arizona's focus in early free agency was on defense, and with Gannon running the show, that's unsurprising. However, it would have been wise to get Murray a little help—you know, something Gannon watched the Philadelphia Eagles do for Jalen Hurts before their 2022 Super Bowl run.

"Murray has yet to show that he can carry Arizona deep into the postseason. He's not going to do it with a supporting cast that lacks reliable playmakers outside of tight end Trey McBride and running back James Conner.

"However, the Cardinals' approach does make a little more sense if they've already penciled in a receiver like Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. for the fourth overall pick. Maybe an all-offensive draft is incoming for Arizona. If it isn't, it's hard to envision the Cardinals being relevant in a talented NFC West this season."

Quite frankly, this is very short-sighted.

The Cardinals' last regime would have absolutely went big-fish hunting in the open market, especially with the ample amount of cap space GM Monti Ossenfort had to work with.

However, teams aren't built through adding premier free agents. They're built through nailing draft class after draft class. So far under the guidance of Ossenfort, the Cardinals are 1/1 and have a good chance of going 2/2 in assembling draft classes for the future.

Arizona's rebuild won't happen over night. Ossenfort and Gannon took over a sinking ship and aren't even done getting all of the water removed from the boat. Even after another strong draft class, the Cardinals will still have numerous positions to upgrade moving forward.

Patience was always the plan in the desert. That should continue to be the case.