Arizona Cardinals
As we’ve already detailed, it’s been a rough offseason for the Seahawks. That’s a potential opening for Seattle’s NFC West rivals. But, as the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers both have a long way to be playoff contenders, it’s really an opening for the Cardinals.
While he opening may be there, Arizona has not gone through it.
Integral parts of the defense like Calais Campbell (Jacksonville Jaguars), Tony Jefferson (Baltimore Ravens) and D.J. Swearinger (Washington Redskins) are gone. Replacing them are people like Antoine Bethea and Karlos Dansby. Those may not be bad additions. But the goal of a defense should be to get younger and quicker. The Cardinals have gotten older and slower.
So, can the offense carry the day? Well, there’s certainly talent there. If he comes back healthy (and he looks to be on track), David Johnson is one of the NFL’s most dangerous weapons. But outside of Johnson, the offense will again rely on players like Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer, both of whom are very close to the end of their careers.
Arizona has simply failed to take advantage of any opening creating by an underwhelming Seattle offseason.
From 2013-2015, the Cardinals made two playoff appearances and went 34-14. Based on the current trend of 2017 offseason, it’s going to be awfully hard for Arizona to regain even a part of that magic.