Cardinals draft sets up entertainment galore in the desert

Kyler Murray No. 1 pick Cardinals draft

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

When the Arizona Cardinals hired offensive guru Kliff Kingsbury as head coach, many wondered what his offense could look like in the NFL. As the 2019 NFL Draft comes to a close, it’s becoming quite clear just how dangerous this offense will be.

The big picture: Kingsbury came to the NFL with the aim of taking his Air Raid offense from the college ranks and revolutionizing the NFL. We’ve seen shades of this offense work with Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield. Kingsbury needed to find his own guy to run an even more progressive version.

The quarterback: True to his word from months prior, Kingsbury took Kyler Murray with the No.1 pick in the NFL Draft. The union between coach and quarterback is the first step for this explosive offense.

The fit doesn’t get more perfect than the football marriage between Kingsbury and Murray. Size doesn’t matter that much anymore and Murray’s traits, instincts and raw ability can all be molded into a star quarterback who runs this offense to perfection.

The running back: Of course, the quarterback alone can’t carry the weight of this offense. Running back David Johnson has had a rough two seasons, but his breakout 2016 season shows just what he is capable of.

Johnson is just as explosive carrying the ball out of the backfield as he is lining up out wide. He’ll find more running lanes thanks to the spread out formations, and will be put in motion to take advantage of mismatches. He will be Kingsbury’s greatest chess piece in this offense.

The weapons: After taking Murray, Arizona could have rested its hopes in Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk to be the primary offensive weapons. Of course, that wasn’t nearly enough for Kingsbury.

Kirk, a second-round pick in 2018, will be a flex receiver that Kingsbury can move all over the field in four-wide sets to create mismatches at any time he wants. Meanwhile, Isabella’s explosiveness and refined route running with cuts, footwork and fluidity make him a perfect slot weapon in Arizona’s offense.

Butler is the real steal of this class, giving Murray something no other receiver on the roster offers. The 6-foot-5 receiver offers a big body with outstanding physical skills to grab contested catches, bully defensive backs and be a threat in the red zone.

While Butler’s route running is a work in progress and scouts have concerns about his ability to consistently catch the football, he fits a specific role for this team. He can learn from the more savvy route runners on this roster, while serving as the big weapon Murray needs for big plays down the field or a potential score inside the 20.

The future: The play-caller, the quarterback, the running back and the wide receivers. Everything is now in place for the Cardinals to take flight.

Fans in the desert finally have something to get excited about. A revolution is not just coming to the Cardinals, it’s going to hit the NFL as well. Fortunately, anyone who loves football will get the chance to enjoy it for years to come.

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