Last season started off so well (a 10-2 start, to be specific) for the Arizona Cardinals that many picked them to be their Super Bowl favorites. Then the second Rams game hit and the Cardinals lost 5 of the next g games to finish in the Wild Card spots. And we all know how that debacle against the Los Angeles Rams went. Nevertheless, with some key roster members lost to free agency and the recent Kyler Murray issues, there is now great uncertainty surrounding the Arizona Cardinals playoff hopes for next season.
If I was writing this article two weeks ago, I would have had the Cardinals nailed on for one of the seven NFC playoff spots. Most likely, I’d have placed them as NFC West division-runners up and 5-7th overall place in the NFC. Now, I’m not confident that they can finish within the Top-10.
The Cardinals have not had a great offseason to start with. Losing future Hall-of-Famer DE Chandler Jones, RB Chase Emmonds, WR Christian Kirk, DE Jordan Philips, and LB Jordan Hicks left some pretty big holes on defense and offense.
Holes that have yet to be filled as the Cardinals are yet to sign anyone of note in free agency and their 1st-round pick was sent to Baltimore for Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
Now, acquiring Hollywood Brown was a good idea as he can serve as the deep threat receiver to compliment and free-up DeAndre Hopkins from opposing defenses.
“This doesn’t seem to be too bad of an offseason,” one may think after seeing the ins-and-outs. “Sure, Chandler Jones is a big loss, but Markus Golden was the stand-out on defense last season. And they added Hollywood Brown. They haven’t gotten that much worse.”
And I would somewhat agree with that statement. It is true the Cardinals have not regressed all that much from their 11-6 record last season. So, why all the negativity now? Two words: Kyler Murray.
Kyler Murray has dominated the headlines of not just the Arizona Cardinal’s local media, but also the whole of the NFL. From the infamous “Instagram-scrubbing” of every single Cardinals photo controversy to the rumors of him ditching the Cards for the MLB’s Oakland Athletics, there really hasn’t been a dull moment with the QB this offseason.
His “diva-like” actions for a new contract, which he got as he was signed to a 5-year, $230M deal a few weeks ago, has really soured my opinion of his professionalism.
Do I think he was in his rights to want a better deal? Yes. Do I think he would have been justified to sit out OTAs and training camp until he got a new deal? Yes, there is always the risk of injury. Just look at Dak Prescott two season ago.
But to not only openly disrespect your organization by removing any references/connection to them on your social media accounts, but also allow the rumors of you ditching the Cardinals for your baseball offer to play out for as long as he did is unacceptable. Kyler Murray should have been far more professional in his contract negotiations.
Anyway, what tops all of the Kyler Murray stories this offseason was the “study session” clause leaked from his new $230.5M deal.
The Arizona Cardinals found it to be so important that Kyler studies at least 4 hours of game film, independently from the team meetings, that they wrote in a clause that jeopardizes a huge portion of his guaranteed money ($160M) if he does not comply.
That should startle and concern every single Cardinals fan. It is clear that Kyler Murray has, to this point, refused to study film of opposing defenses prior to gamedays.
If these defenses throw out brand new schemes and coverages that Murray has never seen before, then what use will the Cardinals’ quarterback be? He’ll be like deer in headlights.
And may have already happened in the Cardinals-Rams Wild Card game. Murray went 19/34 for 137 passing-yards and 2 INTs in a blowout 34-11 loss that ended Arizona’s season.
However, Kyler Murray went 24/32 for 268 passing-yards and 2 TDs in the Cards Week 4 win (the 1st matchup of the year) against the Rams, and 32/49 for 383 passing yards and 2 INTs in the Week 13 (2nd matchup) loss.
Obviously, Kyler’s numbers were a lot better in the two regular season games than in the playoff one. Did the Rams unveil new schemes prior that Murray had not seen in the prior two meetings in that playoff game? It seems very likely as Murray had his worst performance of the season against them.
Still, with DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, James Connor, and Zach Ertz for offensive weapons, Kyler Murray should be able to competently lead the Arizona’s offense once again. Well, as long as he studies that playbook! (Offense Prediction: 7th-12th)
My biggest worry is on the defensive side of the ball. Losing Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, and Jordan Philps takes three starting D-line and linebacker pieces away from a defense that was struggling against stopping the run towards the end of that 2021/22 campaign.
Worse yet, Chandler Jones came in second on the Cardinals with 10.5 sacks last season. Can the team really rely on LB Markus Golden to produce another 11 sacks and a perennially injured JJ Watt to stay healthy enough to make up for the loss of Jones’ 10.5 sacks? I’m not so sure they can. (Defense Prediction: 13th-15th)
The Arizona Cardinals came into last season with a bang but ended the year on a whimper. I don’t see them doing either of those two extremes next season. The Cardinals should finish 3rd in their division (behind San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams) and just make it into the playoffs as a 6th or 7th seed in the Wild Card round.
Can they make it out of the Wild Card round for the first time since the 2015/16 season? Maybe. Only time will tell.
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