Kyler Murray, the quarterback, gave explanations why
Even though the Arizona Cardinals finished the previous season wi
Find young athletes to develop with an eye toward the future by using the draft.
PROSPECT TO WATCH: Marvin Harrison Jr., wide receiver (Ohio State); Troy Fautanu, offensive guard (Washington); Christian Mahogany, offensive guard (Boston College); Zak Zinter, offensive guard (Michigan); Chris Braswell, edge guard (Alabama); Jer’Zahn Newton, defensive tackle (Illinois); T’Vondre Sweat, defensive tackle (Texas)
THREE STORYLINES TO WATCH IN 2024:
Does Murray return to the form he displayed in 2020–2021 as a top–ten quarterback?
Is Gannon able to finish Year 3?
Will the Cardinals use the fourth overall pick or
th a 4-13 record, quarterback Kyler Murray’s midseason return gave fans hope for 2024. So much so that the squad has expressed on multiple occasions that it plans to develop around the 26-year-old signal caller.
Over eight games, the Cardinals averaged 362.7 yards and 22.4 points per game with Murray at the quarterback position. With Clayton Tune and Joshua Dobbs, they averaged 16.7 points and 289.6 yards per game in nine games.
In his first season as head coach, head coach Jonathan Gannon had it all: he lost running back James Conner (four games), receivers Marquise Brown (three) and Michael Wilson (four) for varied lengths of time, and his QB1 was out for the first nine games.
With the majority of his offensive skill players back to full health, Gannon should have a genuine opportunity to demonstrate his ability to motivate a team to adhere to his teachings.
What you should know regarding Arizona’s off-season is as follows:
ESTIMATED 2024 CAPACITY: $45.15 million, ranking ninth in the NFL
AGENTS FREE | Offense: RB Marlon Mack; TE Geoff Swaim; OG Elijah Wilkinson; WRs Marquise Brown and Greg Dortch; Centers Trystan Colon-Castillo, Pat Elflein, and Keith Ismael; Long snapper
Brewer Aaron
Defense: CBs Antonio Hamilton, Rashad Fenton, Darrell Baker Jr.; Safety; DEs Carlos Watkins, L.J. Collier, Jonathan Ledbetter; DT Leki Fotu; LBs Ezekial Turner, Josh Woods, Krys Barnes Baker Budda
Prospects: Brown and Baker are without a doubt the best players in Arizona’s free-agent class. While Rondale Moore is a solid No. 3 receiver and Michael Wilson had a strong rookie campaign (38 receptions, 565 yards, three touchdowns), the Cardinals wide receiver group would not be as dangerous to opponents without Brown.
He’ll be a capable competitor and mentor if Arizona selects a receiver in the first round of the draft. Furthermore, Dortch is a reliable pass receiver, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he was kept on.
Among the best safeties in the league is Baker.
In 2024, the following are the draft selections: Round 1 (ranked fourth overall); Round 1 (ranked 27th overall, via Houston); Round 2; Round 3; Round 3 (via Tennessee); Round 3 (via Houston); Round 4; Round 5; Round 5 (via Houston); Round 7 (via New York Giants); Round 7 (via Cleveland)
WR, OG, Edge-rusher, DL, and CB are the top draft needs, in that order. That There’s a fair chance the Cardinals exit the draft with lots of depth players given their multiple first-, third-, fifth-, and seventh-round picks. At the fourth overall pick, Marvin Harrison Jr. ought to be selected if he is still available. Arizona can select a top edge-rusher or starting guard with its second first-round pick.
Since the Cardinals have a lot of salary room, they might use free agency to sign some starting players and