The Arizona Cardinals pulled off one of the biggest trade heists in years this offseason by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins. Bringing in the All-Pro receiver upgrades this offense dramatically, especially with this team already on the rise. But if the Cardinals want to potentially contend for a Super Bowl in 2020, there’s more work to be done.
The skinny: While the Los Angeles Rams are tumbling towards the bottom of the NFC West, the Cardinals are set to take flight in 2020. Arizona’s front office kicked off the offseason with a flurry of moves that will already make this a competitive team next season.
It’s not often a team will go out and add three starters on defense, all while bringing back two important players on the other side of the ball. But the Cardinals knew what areas they needed to address early this offseason and they struck immediately to address their weaknesses.
Adding more veteran talent: Even with those signings, though, more improvements can be made. While squeezing everything into their dwindling cap space will be tight, it’s worth it to bring in the right talent from free agency.
Similar to the team’s other signings, these two additions won’t attract headlines. However, Harris and Walker would fill needs and allow the coaching staff to deploy personnel in a variety of ways. By putting together a defense that can mix its personnel, show different looks to opposing teams and constantly keep its most talented players fresh, the Cardinals will have a well-rounded team.
These two additions would be significant for the Cardinals. But there would still be a little more work to be done in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Finishing the offseason strong: After devoting most of their spending to the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals can focus their draft efforts on helping Kyler Murray. Protecting the franchise quarterback is the most important step, but it will also be crucial to surround him with even more weapons.
The Cardinals come out of the 2020 NFL Draft with a red-zone weapon for Murray, the perfect complement for their thunder and lightning backfield and a top offensive tackle.
It will give Murray everything he needs to be successful. He’ll play behind an excellent offensive line and the pressure will be further taken off of him by a strong running game. On the outside, in Kliff Kingsbury’s spread offense, there will be an All-Pro receiver (Hopkins), an outstanding vertical and YAC threat (Christian Kirk) and a trusted slot receiver (Larry Fitzgerald). Plus, the Walker-Moss combo opens things up for even more two-tight end sets and will allow Kingsbury to use a variety of offensive formations.
All of these moves together create an offense that can be among the NFL’s most potent and unstoppable. A brilliant offensive mind with weapons all over the field and a quarterback with unmatched skills and a dual-threat ability that makes him even more lethal with the football. Pair that with a defense capable of making big plays and it creates a formula that leads to a championship-caliber team.
The bottom line: The NFC West will be more competitive than ever this season. The San Francisco 49ers want to rebound after a Super Bowl title slipped through their fingers and the Seattle Seahawks are a perennial contender. The road to a playoff spot will be difficult for the Cardinals, let alone contending for the Super Bowl, but it can be achieved.
Murray showed the traits to be a great quarterback in his rookie season and he accomplished that with a bad offensive line, an average supporting cast of skill players and a first-year head coach. Now with a year in Kingsbury’s system under his belt, which will be opened up even more next season, he can make further strides as a passer and join the upper-echelon of great, young quarterbacks.
When Arizona’s elite offense comes off the field, an upgraded defense will take over. Chandler Jones already caused problems for opposing teams and now they’ll no longer be able to focus on the All-Pro edge rusher alone. The Cardinals will pressure quarterbacks far more often next season, which will allow the secondary to make more plays. If Patrick Peterson can return to form and Byron Murphy builds off his strong finish to his rookie season, this defense will help the Cardinals contend in 2020.
The Cardinals are already set to take flight and contend next season, but the rest of their moves this offseason will determine just how high they will fly.