By: Mike Rifkin
The 2021 Arizona Cardinals started the season 7-0 and were the talk of the NFL. The Cardinals lost four of their final six games to finish the season at 11-6 which was good enough for a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. In the Wild Card Round they were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl the Los Angeles Rams. It was the first time the Cardinals had made the postseason since the 2015 NFC Championship Game.
Quarterback Kyler Murray was near the top of the MVP race through the first eight weeks of the season. Murray hurt his ankle during their week eight loss to the Packers, and missed the next three games. Murray on the season had a 69.2 completion percentage for 3,787 yards 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The most alarming number for me is that Murray was sacked 31 times, someone with his mobility shouldn’t get sacked 30 times in a season. Recently Murray unfollowed the organization on Social Media. According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN Murray is described as “ self-centered, immature, and a finger pointer.” According to Mortensen Murray is frustrated with the franchise and believes he is being framed as the scapegoat for losing to the Rams in the Wild Card game. After completing his third season Murray is eligible for a contract extension, but if I was running the Cardinals I wouldn’t give him that massive extension yet. Technically Murray has one year left, but the Cardinals can use the fifth year option on him. While we have seen spectacular plays from Murray at times this was his best season. I would want him to prove he can do it one more time before I commit nearly 40 million dollars to him.
Now one of the major reasons The Cardinals offense didn’t look the same was the injury to All Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins tore his MCL in a week 14 loss to the Rams. Hopkins on the season had 42 catches for 572 yards and eight touchdowns. The team went 1-4 in games Hopkins missed this season and their offense averaged 18.8 points per game. With Hopkins the Cardinals averaged 30. 2 points per game. In Hopkins absence somebody had to step up and that is what Christian Kirk did Kirk posted career highs in catches with 77 and yards with 982. He also had five touchdowns which was one shy of his career high posted in 2020. Kirk is an unrestricted free agent so it will be interesting to see what the Cardinals do with the former second round pick. Last offseason the Cardinals signed veteran receiver AJ Green to a one year deal. Green, who had spent his entire career with the Bengals up to this point, posted his most catches 54 and yards 848 since 2017. The Cardinals also added to their running game in the offseason they lost Kenyan Drake and replaced him with former Steeler James Conner. Conner posted a career high 15 touchdowns which was tied for second best in the NFL. The trio of Conner, Chase Edmonds and Kyler Murray averaged 122.1 yards per game rushing. The Cardinals during the season traded for Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. Ertz, who also is an impending unrestricted free agent, had 56 catches for 574 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals didn’t just add stars on their offense, they added a massive star on defense as well. They signed future Hall Of Famer JJ Watt to a two year contract. Watt only had one sack on the season before a shoulder injury sidelined him up until the playoff game. But Watt’s presence is what makes the signing big because on the other side Chandler Jones returned after tearing his bicep in 2020. Jones came back in a big way by having five sacks in the season opening win over the Titans. On the season Jones had 10.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. Jones also will be on the free agent market. Arizona’s defense had two young players step up big time. Cornerback Byron Murphy turned into a number one corner and led the team with four interceptions. Second year linebacker Isaiah Simmons had a great year with 105 tackles, one and a half sacks, one interception and four forced fumbles. The Cardinals had an opportunistic defense with a +12 turnover differential which was fourth in the NFL.
Early in the season Kyler Murray was the MVP frontrunner Kliff Kingsbury was the Coach of the year frontrunner. Kingsbury took the job specifically to take Murray as his quarterback. Now since there is pressure on Murray to win the same has to be said for the head coach who will also be entering his fourth season and the final one on his contract.
The Cardinals have around 15 million dollars in cap space so they have some financial decisions to make.
- Cut or trade left tackle DJ Humphries or Justin Pugh. Humphries is in the last year of his three year 45 million dollar contract and getting rid of him would save the club 15 million dollars with about 4 million in dead cap. Pugh had a solid season but getting rid of him would save the team 10 million dollars with 2 million in dead cap.
- Cut linebacker Jordan Hicks. Hicks is in the final year of a four year 36 million dollar deal cutting him would save the Cardinals six and a half million dollars.
- Cut defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. Phillips signed a three year 30 million dollar contract in 2020. The last two seasons Phillips has played in nine games each. Cutting him would save the Cardinals 4 million dollars with nine million in dead cap.
So now the Cardinals have to decide how to go about the offseason
- Resign Zach Ertz and Christian Kirk. If you can fit both of them that would be great but if you have to decide on which one to bring back I would go Ertz.
- Resign James Conner. Conner is going to get an increase in pay but he was so effective for the Cards I would bring him back.
- Sign Sheldon Richardson to a 1 year incentive laden contract to replace Jordan Phillips.
- Sign an edge rusher. Chandler Jones is not coming back most likely. If I can get a good edge rusher to pair with Watt and Zaven Collins the 2020 first round pick that can be very beneficial.
Draft
1st rd (23) Jermaine Johnson – edge rusher Florida State. If Cardinals cannot sign an edge rusher Johnson can come right in and be replacement for Jones
2nd rd (55) Tariq Woolen -Cornerback UTSA- Cardinals have a need at Cornerback. Woolen is a big athletic corner who can pair with Byron Murphy.
3rd (87) Daniel Faalele – OT Minnesota- Very raw prospect who is 6 foot 8 and has a ton of upside in protecting Kyler Murray.
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