Category: Arizona Cardinals offseason

Report: Christian Kirk not on trading block; Cardinals have not been contacted

Despite the rumors, no team has reached out and the Cardinals have no plans of moving him.

As the NFL draft approaches, trade rumors and possible trade rumors heat up. One rumor that has come up without any real report is that there could be interest in Arizona Cardinals receiver Christian Kirk. One possible team is the Dallas Cowboys, who would like to replace Randall Cobb, who left to the Houston Texans in free agency.

However, while Kirk might fit what the Cowboys need, there has been absolutely nothing to it.

According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, the Cardinals have not been approached by any teams about Kirk and they have no plans to move him.

Kirk enters his third season after being drafted in the second round in 2018. In two seasons, he has 111 receptions for 1,299 yards and six touchdowns. He has also missed seven games to injuries.

Kirk began to get treated by opponents as a No. 1 receiver, defending him with their top cornerback. That should change this coming season after the acquisition of receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

The Cardinals believe Kirk has the capability of being a No. 1 receiver, winning in the slot and outside.

This presumably means that even if the Cardinals draft a receiver in the first round, the plan is to have more weapons instead of looking to replace him.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 264

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Ep. 263

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DeAndre Hopkins was prepared to get traded, won’t talk about contract

He heard rumors of potentially getting traded as early as the beginning of last season.

The Arizona Cardinals’ biggest move so far this offseason was trading for All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins. While it was shocking to many around the league and for many fans, Hopkins wasn’t surprised.

“I kind of heard some rumor talks about being traded the beginning of last year from some people I trusted that actually know stuff,” he told reporters on Friday in a conference call. “It wasn’t a big surprise for me. I was prepared for it.”

He actually got the news while he was in Los Angeles working out with Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones. When he heard it was the Cardinals who was trading for him, he was pleased.

‘I was very excited about it because of what Arizona’s been building,” he said, noting how they have a young quarterback in Kyler Murray and some solid veterans.

The Houston Texans were willing to trade him because Hopkins was seeking a new contract even though he has three years remaining on his current deal.

Hopkins would not talk about that, though.

“That’s between my agent and the organization,” he said.

General manager Steve Keim has said he has been in contact with Hopkins’ agent and that discussions are ongoing.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 264

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Ep. 263

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New Cardinals get jersey numbers; some returning Cardinals have changes

The Cardinals’ free agent additions will have the same numbers they did with their previous team.

The Arizona Cardinals now have jersey numbers assigned for all their players, including their newcomers. That has meant, in some cases, that players who were already on the roster had to change theirs.

Here are the jersey numbers for the new Cardinals players.

  • WR DeAndre Hopkins: No. 10
  • LB De’Vondre Campbell: No. 59
  • LB Devon Kennard: No. 42
  • DL Trevon Coley: No. 93
  • DL Jordan Phillips: No. 97
  • QB Chris Streveler: No. 15

These returning players have changed their numbers, some because of the newcomers.

  • WR Hakeem Butler goes from No. 17 to No. 18
  • S Chris Banjo goes from No. 38 to No. 31, previously worn by David Johnson
  • LB Dennis Gardeck goes from No. 42 to No. 45 to accommodate Kennard
  • DL Zach Allen goes from No. 97 to No. 94 to accommodate Phillips

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 264

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Ep. 263

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Kyler Murray wants his own brand of hot sauce

Would you try “Kyler’s Kicking Hot”?

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is one of the most popular players in the NFL. That is based on his being on the NFL’s 50 top-selling players in licensed merchandise.

People wear his jersey. There is a bobblehead he likes. He even said that he has seen someone paint him on a pair of cleats.

However, if he had his choice, he would like to be on something interesting.

“If I could be on anything, it would be a bottle of hot sauce because I’m a big sriracha guy,” he said in the above video. “I put hot sauce on everything.”

What would he call it? “Kyler’s Kicking Hot.”

Would you buy it and put it on your food?

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 264

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Ep. 263

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Kyler Murray makes top-50 player sales list; Larry Fitzgerald still popular

Murray comes in at No. 37 overall, while Fitzgerald is in the top five in one category.

The Arizona Cardinals have a rising star in quarterback Kyler Murray. The 2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is one of the most popular players in the league, according to player merchandise sales.

The NFLPA released the list of the top 50 players in terms of merchandise sales. It includes more than just jersey sales. It includes all officially licensed NFL player products and merchandise.

Murray came in No. 37 overall, the only Arizona Cardinals player to crack the top 50 overall.

Receiver Larry Fitzgerald did not make the top 50 overall but was in the top five of one particular group. Only three players in the league sold more Wincraft pins, koozies, posters and stickers. He was behind Patrick Mahomes (who sold more than three times the next player), Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson.

If he builds on his rookie season and can do in his second season what Mahomes and Jackson did in theirs, Murray’s popularity will certainly soar.

The Cardinals have a young star. He might end up the most nationally recognized quarterback the team has had in its entire history.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 264

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Ep. 263

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Mason Cole set to take over as starting center for Cardinals, but nothing ruled out yet

The Cardinals love Cole’s abilities but GM Steve Keim did not rule out a return of A.Q. Shipley.

The Arizona Cardinals have re-signed a bunch of players from the offseason. One notable player who is still a free agent is center A.Q. Shipley. He is one of very few offensive linemen from 2019 who is not again under contract.

Not long ago, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said potentially re-signing Shipley was “a work in progress.”

It appears the Cardinals are ready to move on from Shipley and give Mason Cole the opportunity to be the starter.

“Mason Cole started every game at center two years ago,” general manager Steve Keim said on a video conference with reporters this week. “He’s extremely smart, he’s tough but he’s really, really athletic at climbing and adjusting at the second level, so he’s a great fit for our offensive scheme.”

Last year before the season, Kingsbury said the competition between Shipley and Cole was very close but Shipley got the nod, in part because of his experience and how he could help a rookie quarterback in Kyler Murray.

Keim would not rule out a possible return of Shipley.

“Well it’s like anything else, there’re a number of guys that are free agents right now, but I wouldn’t rule anything out is all I’ll say,” he said.

If Shipley remains unsigned and Cole struggles or gets hurt, Shipley could get the call. It would be similar to 2015 when the Cardinals brought back center Lyle Sendlein in training camp in 2015. He had been cut in March but Bruce Arians, then the head coach, wasn’t confident enough in Shipley or Ted Larsen. Sendlein returned and the Cardinals went 13-3. Shipley took over the next season as starter and was through last season, excluding his lost season ni 2018 to a torn ACL.

The Cardinals are giving Cole the opportunity to be the guy. Kingsbury had nothing but great things to say about him all last year.

Shipley could return, but it only will be in case of injury or ineffectiveness.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 264

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Ep. 263

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Cardinals ‘to have ongoing talks’ about extensions for DeAndre Hopkins, Kenyan Drake

GM Steve Keim has had communication with both players’ agents.

The Arizona Cardinals have had a busy offseason. On offense, they acquired receiver DeAndre Hopkins via trade and re-signed running back Kenyan Drake to a one-year transition tag deal worth nearly $8.5 million.

Hopkins reportedly is seeking a new contract despite having three years remaining on his current deal. Drake is only under contract for this season.

There has been at least some discussion about a new deal for both.

“Both those guys are guys we’d like to have long-term,” general manager Steve Keim told reporters in a video conference this week. He emphasized that he is always willing to talk extensions or contracts “if it makes our organization better.”

“I’ve had communication with both their agents,” he added. “I’ll keep the nature of those conversations to myself but we’ll continue to pound away.

“We’ll continue to have ongoing talks with both those players’ agents.”

A Hopkins deal makes sense, as that was a major reason why the Houston Texans traded him. A deal for Drake is a little more complicated.

It doesn’t look like the Cardinals will be able to do much right now. They have less than $7 million in cap space currently.

Hopkins is reportedly seeking a raise that will pay him an average of around $20 million per year.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 264

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Ep. 263

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Report: David Johnson has passed physical, trade with Texans can be processed

The deal agreed to nearly a month ago can now become official for the league as both Hopkins and Johnson have taken and passed their physicals.

Arizona Cardinals fans can now breathe easy. The wait is over. The trade between the Cardinals and the Houston Texans that brings receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona and sends running back David Johnson to Houston can finally be processed by the league.

The deal was pending physicals by both players. Hopkins reportedly passed his physical on Monday.

According to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, Johnson has now passed his.

The trade will now be processed and become official for the league. Both the Texans and Cardinals already announced the deal.

Hopkins comes to the Cardinals along with one of the Texans’ fourth-round picks in the draft next week (pick No. 131 overall). The Cardinals send Johnson, their second-round pick (No. 40 overall) and a 2021 fourth-round pick to the Texans.

Because the deal has been criticized nationally for being lopsided in the Cardinals’ favor, there was some worry that perhaps the deal would fall through as the physicals had not taken place.

Now everything will be fine. Hopkins is a Cardinal. Johnson and his contract are no longer on the books, except for $6 million in dead money against the salary cap.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 264

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Ep. 263

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Breaking down 3 potential Round 1 trade-down scenarios for the Cardinals

Arizona could be looking to get back in the second round after trading theirs to Houston for DeAndre Hopkins. Here are three ways they could do that.

The Arizona Cardinals could be open to trading down for the No. 8 pick overall in the NFL draft next week. And, as has been reported, there are some teams reportedly seeking to move up. Three teams in particular could be in play.

Let’s further break down these options and see what would be some potential likely scenarios:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pick No. 14

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

This seems like the most likely for many reasons. The first is that the Cardinals still could get a player they have rated high on their board.

The next is that the GM of the Bucs, Jason Licht, and Steve Keim have a good relationship. Given the unusual communication options that may limit some trade talk, it would make sense that Keim and Licht would trust each other, not to mention that Arizona’s previous coach is there in Bruce Arians.

The catch – would Tampa Bay be willing to part with their second-round pick, No. 45 overall, to come up six spots to No. 8? According to the infamous NFL Draft trade chart, Arizona would come out slightly ahead.

However, if they see a player that helps them in their short window (i.e. however much longer Tom Brady has), they may be willing to part with it. A first and a third would likely not be enough value.

How about for the Cardinals? This would be a best-case scenario to trading back. There’s still a possibility of one of the top four offensive lineman still being on the board, or potentially Josh Jones, who they reportedly like. There could also be players available like CJ Henderson, Javon Kinlaw, or even potentially a luxury pick (and Kyler Murray favorite) like CeeDee Lamb.

And with pick 45, they could potentially select another potential starter, such as Naville Gallimore or Russ Blacklock along the defensive line, or Ezra Cleveland if they choose to not go tackle in Round 1.

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2 recent draft risers could be in play for Cardinals with 8th overall pick

Here are two names to keep an eye on at Pick 8 for the Cards.

An interesting tweet came out from Peter Schrager this week that should have perked the ears of some Arizona Cardinals fans. It said that Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas and Florida cornerback CJ Henderson are getting more top-10 buzz than they were a month ago at the NFL combine.

Why would this interest fans? Well, for starters, Cardinals general manager Steve Keim has gone on record saying that he values offensive tackles and cornerbacks above other positions because of the difficulty to find them in free agency later on.

For Thomas, they may be interested for a bevy of reasons. For starters, he is top-rated tackle by Pro Football Focus.

He also played right tackle before moving to the left side at Georgia, and would be likely able to play either should something happen to D.J. Humphries, given that last season was his first full 16 game season.

His detractors say he’s not as athletic as Tristan Wirfs and Jedrick Wills, nor does he have the upside of a Mekhi Becton.

Nonetheless, of all the tackles with first-round worthy grades, he might be the surest thing in terms of NFL success, and many project him to be a solid starter for many seasons as the worst-case scenario. Given Arizona’s misfortune with offensive lineman in the draft and their need to protect Kyler Murray, this would seem to be a smart pick.

As for Henderson, he could provide an instant starter across from Patrick Peterson and instantly transform the Cardinals secondary into one of the NFC’s best. Given his abilities in man coverage, and Vance Joseph’s defense likely wanting to leave the corners on an island, this would seem to be a viable fit.

His weakness is in run defense, but it’s very possible that he could be schemed out of too much responsibility there.

They may not take either player, but these are definitely two names to keep in mind on Thursday night at pick No. 8 for Arizona.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 263

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Ep. 262

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