Troubling Offseason for the Arizona Cardinals
As most of us already know, the Arizona Cardinals are not going to be a good football team this year. Fanduel currently has their win total over/under set at 4.5 wins for the 2023 season. It was a lackluster free agency that saw Zach Allen and Byron Murphy walk out the door. An official retirement of JJ Watt. No big names signed by the team. A franchise quarterback that may not make an appearance on the field until November. Should I keep going?
This is not to mention the tumultuous activities happening off the field. The NFL Players Association Report Card which gave the Cardinals more F’s than a Friday Fish Fry. A gross back and forth with former executive Terry McDonough. Budda Baker Requesting a trade. Hiring a whole new front office and coaching staff. Cardinals sending draft compensation to the Eagles for tampering in hiring coach Jonathan Gannon. Are you tired yet?
Hopkins vs. The Cardinals vs. 31 Teams
Now the latest event of an eventful offseason. The Arizona Cardinals officially released All-Pro and future Hall of Fame wide receiver Deandre Hopkins. It is no secret the Cardinals and Hopkins were trying to part ways for the past few months. Hopkins himself just named five quarterbacks he would like to play with and Kyler Murray was not one of them. However, there was no action during the draft in April regarding a Hopkins trade.
The belief by many was that the Cardinals were not going to get off Hopkins for less than fair value. Considering Hopkins is still an elite receiver, it is suggested at least a 3rd rounder could suffice. Instead, Hopkins was released by the Cardinals on Friday, May 26th. This is significant because the Cardinals will now take the entire cap hit this year from releasing Hopkins. This means that there will be $22.6 million in dead money counting against the cap for the Cardinals this year.
This is significant because the cap hit could have been spread out over 2 years if Monti Ossenfort and the Cardinals waited until June 1st to release Hopkins. If Arizona Cardinals were in denial that the team is going all out to lose this season, this should be the final wake up call. The team is taking a collective belief that this year is going to be a wash and they will come out stronger on the other side.
The Arizona Cardinals Are Tanking
You want proof? Okay, I’ll give you some proof. The Cardinals signed exactly zero big name free agents this offseason. Despite currently having $24 million in cap space. Kyler Murray may be out most if not the entire season. Knowing this, the Cardinals did not bring in an experienced quality quarterback to try and win games during that stretch. Further, The Cardinals could very well have the top 2 picks in the 2024 draft if both them and the Houston Texans have a horrible record.
The Cardinals could have easily spread out the cap hit, waited a little longer to find a trade partner, or even use Hopkins to try and win. Instead, they are taking the entire hit of the dead money in one year, knowing full well the team will not be any good, stock more quality draft picks, and turn this thing around in the 2024 season.
Will this strategy work? It certainly might. It will depend on how good of a drafter Monti Ossenfort is, how good of coach Jonathan Gannon is, and if Kyler Murray can prove to truly be elite. The key point is the Arizona Cardinals are in full on tank mode right now. For a team that was/is in complete disarray, this seems like the correct path. The plan deserves our support and patience right now, but if there is not considerable turn around in a league known for having teams go from worst to first overnight, then it will be time for trouble.