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Arizona Cardinals March Scouting Report
David Vohs
3/1/2023

Well, there have been some very big changes for the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason:

  • Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury – out Head Coach Jonathan Gannon IN!
  • GM Steve Keim – out GM Monti Hossenfort IN!
  • Joining Jonathan Gannon
    • OC Drew Petzing
    • DC Nick Rallis

In addition, the Cardinals have seen DL JJ Watt retire, WR AJ Green retire, VP of Pro Development Adrian Wilson has moved on as well (that saddens me).

Let’s look at the team itself. Currently, the AZ Cardinals face a mountain of free agency players so the new GM Monti Hossenfort faces a severe uphill battle this year.

FA include: C Rodney Hudson, OG Justin Pugh, PK Matt Prater, OLT Kelvin Beachum, CB Byron Murphy, P Andy Lee, TE Maxx Williams, QB Trace McSorleey, WR Antoine Wesley, WR Greg Dortch, DE Zach Allen, and many others.

The Cardinals are in a rebuilding mode. They have decisions to make for example what do we do with WR DeAndre Hopkins. My idea would be to trade him for some draft capital. The Cardinals have some good youth at wideout and could pick up some more. Let the teams who would via for a title grab Hopkins.

MAJOR IMPACTS on Fantasy Football:

QB Kyler Murray continues to rehab and will NOT most likely be the starter early next season. The Cardinals must must must either grab another quarterback in free agency (QB Marcus Mariota, QB Jacoby Brissett, and QB Mike White come to immediate mind).

RB James Connor is the obviously the man in Arizona for running the football but he needs a good backup or two. RB Keontay Ingram and RB Ty'Son Williams are the ONLY other two runningbacks that are on the team currently. Look for the Cardinals to be paying very close attention to the tailback Class of 2023 and add a rookie here at least. If they could get RB Leonard Fournette on the cheap, he is a pounder that could spell RB James Conner and really wear down a defense.

WR DeAndre Hopkins most likely will NOT be an Arizona Cardinal as hopefully they could get a second or third round pick for him during the draft. WR Marquise Brown and WR Rondale Moore and WR Robbie Anderson will lead the Cardinals at the wideout spot, so look for the Cardinals to augment their wideout rooms starting in FA and per the draft.

 

The Cardinals have the following draft picks in April 2023.

  • Round 1, Pick 3.
  • Round 2, Pick 34.
  • Round 3, Pick 66.
  • Round 4, Pick 105.
  • Round 5, Pick 169.
  • Round 6, Pick 180.
  • Round 6, Pick 213 (projected compensatory pick)

Look for the Cardinals to add defense with the first pick this year (DL Jalen Carter if he can stay out of trouble – or Edge Will Anderson). I’m personally hoping for Anderson to be drafted at #3 for the Cardinals.

Other needs in the draft include OL, WR, RB, DL, CB

Let’s watch as the NFL Free Agency period starts. I know GM Steve Keim was never a fast FA worker and always waited, let’s see what GM Monti Hossenfort has in store for the Cardinals.

End.

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