Category: Arizona Cardinals offseason

Larry Fitzgerald re-signs with Cardinals for 2020

He will play his 17th season for the Cardinals as he signs a one-year deal with the team to return.

There is great news for Arizona Cardinals fans. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is coming back! The team announced Wednesday morning Fitzgerald signed a one-year contract to return to the Cardinals for his 17th season.

In 2019, Fitzgerald led the team with 75 catches for 804 and he scored four touchdowns.

He reached second place all-time in the NFL in career receptions last season. With 1,378 career receptions, he is 172 catches away from breaking Jerry Rice’s all-time record. His 17,083 career receiving yards are also second place all-time.

His 120 touchdown catches are sixth all-time. He needs eight more to tie Marvin Harrison for fifth place.

In franchise history, only one player will have played more seasons for the team — quarterback Jim Hart, who played 18 seasons.

The terms of his contract have not yet been reported. He has made $11 million per year each of the last few seasons.

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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2 Cardinals (and no Kenyan Drake) among PFF’s top 50 free agents

Larry Fitzgerald and D.J. Humphries make the cut. Kenyan Drake did not.

Free agency is still about two months away but NFL teams are preparing, making their own lists of players and ranking them by priority. The Arizona Cardinals have their own free agents to perhaps re-sign as well.

According to Pro Football Focus, two of their pending free agents are among the top 50 in the league. However, one big name does not appear on the list.

Who makes the list?

It includes receiver Larry Fitzgerald and tackle D.J. Humphries. It does not include running back Kenyan Drake.

Fitzgerald comes in at No. 48.

The NFL needs Larry Fitzgerald in it, and the Hall of Famer is somehow still playing at a pretty high level, even if he isn’t quite the force he once was. This season, Fitzgerald caught 72.1% of the passes thrown his way and didn’t drop a single pass all year. Fitzgerald has had the best hands in the game since he came into the league, and despite slowing down, he was still able to register a catch of 54 yards this season along with four touchdowns. His days as a true No. 1 receiver are long gone, but in a league that needs deep benches of receiving talent, Larry Fitzgerald can still be a valuable member of a receiving corps and a solid contributor on Sundays.

Humphries comes in at No. 45.

Humphries battled injuries early in his career, only flashing the ability that made him a 2015 first-rounder, but he is coming off his best effort as a pass blocker. He gave up only 30 pressures on 677 attempts in 2019, just two more pressures than he allowed in 2018 on 335 fewer opportunities. It was Humphries’ first season grading below 72.0 in the run game, but he could be the classic “late bloomer” along the offensive line as he heads into his age-26 season.

Fitzgerald won’t actually make it to free agency. He will either re-sign with the Cardinals before it begins or he will announce his retirement. He will not play for another team.

Humphries, though, is another story. He would like to re-sign, but if he doesn’t have a new deal before free agency begins and the Cardinals do not use the franchise tag on him, he will land a big contract elsewhere.

The absence of Drake, who was dynamic down the stretch for the Cardinals after he was acquired in a midseason trade. In eight games, he ended up leading the team in rushing and rushing touchdowns. Both general manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury believe he could be their top back and express their desire for his return.

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Chandler Jones named NFC defensive player of the year by NFL committee of 101

Jones earns yet another honor for his fantastic 2019 season.

We can add another honor to Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones. After being selected as a Pro Bowl starter, named as a first-team All-Pro and being named the PFWA’s defensive player of the year, he was named NFC defensive player of the year by the NFL Committee of 101.

The 50th annual NFL 101 Awards honor the top offensive player, defensive player and coach of the year in both the NFC and AFC. Winners are selected by balloting of 101 national media members who cover the NFL.

Jones was second in the NFL with 19 sacks and led the NFL with eight forced fumbles, including seven strip-sacks. He had two games this past season with four sacks, the first player in over 40 years to do so.

Jones becomes the first Cardinals player to win defensive player of the year as part of the NFL 101 Awards since the awards began in 1969.

The 50th annual NFL 101 Awards gala will take place on Saturday, February 29 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. As part of the golden anniversary, former award recipients will serve as presenters for each winner at the ceremony.

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore was named the AFC defensive player of the 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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Kyler Murray named to PFWA All-Rookie team but snubbed as rookie of the year

The Pro Football Writers of America gave the overall honors to Nick Bosa and offensive honors to Josh Jacobs.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is a finalist for the league’s Rookie of the Year award. The Cardinals believe he is an easy choice. However, the Pro Football Writers of America think differently.

The association of hundreds of writers covering the NFL announced its awards for overall rookie of the year, the offensive and defensive rookies of the year and all-rookie team.

Murray was both honored and snubbed.

He made it to the all-rookie team at quarterback but was neither the overall rookie of the year nor the offensive rookie of the year.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, the second pick in the draft, was both the overall rookie of the year and defensive rookie of the year.

Instead of Murray as the offensive rookie of the year, it was Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs.

Murray set many team rookie records and accomplished a number of things rarely accomplished by rookie quarterbacks.

He passed for more than 3,700 yards and had 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. He also rushed for over 500 yards and four scores, becoming the sixth player ever to have at least 3,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in the same season, and joined Cam Newton as the only rookies to do it.

Bosa had nine sacks as a rookie. Jacobs rushed for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns.

Personally, Bosa got my vote for defensive rookie of the year, but Murray got mine for the offensive and overall honors.

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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Report: Cardinals hire Derius Swinton II, who follows Jeff Rodgers again

He works with special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers for the third time.

The Arizona Cardinals have not announced anything officially about changes on their coaching staff, but it appears they we now know who one of the new faces of the staff will be.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Cardinals are hiring Derius Swinton II to be their assistant special teams coach under special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Jeff Rodgers.

He replaces Randall McCray, reportedly fired after the season ended.

Rodgers has worked with Swinton before. Swinton was his assistant special teams coach in 2013-2014 with the Denver Broncos and again in 2015 and 2017 with the Chicago Bears. Swinton was the special teams coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. Basically, Swinton has followed Rodgers were he has been.

Swinton was an offensive assistant in 2018 for the Detroit Lions.

There are at least five vacancies to fill this offseason.

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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Patrick Peterson celebrates LSU’s national championship

He was clearly a happy man on social media when LSU defeated Clemson Monday night.

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson was a happy man Monday night. His alma mater, the LSU Tigers, won the National Championship Game Monday night, defeating the defending champion Clemson Tigers 42-25 behind quarterback Joe Burrow’s 463 passing yards and six total touchdowns.

With the win, Peterson took to social media to celebrate.

He followed that up with a video of the LSU fight song.

He even changed his profile picture. The last time he did that, it caused quite a bit of controversy, as he took out any reference to the Cardinals.

This is different. It celebrates LSU’s national title.

Congrats to LSU and Peterson for getting to see it happen.

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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Kyler Murray regrets one thing about time at Oklahoma

He wishes he had gotten to the National Championship Game.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray accomplished a lot in only one season as a starter at Oklahoma before entering the NFL as the No. 1 pick in the draft and having a fantastic rookie season.

However, he does lament one thing he didn’t accomplish in college. He tweeted about it leading up to Monday’s National Championship Game between LSU and Clemson.

In his one season with Oklahoma, he led the Sooners to the semifinal game in the College Football Playoff but his team lost to Alabama.

He lost only twice as a starter in college and was undefeated as three-year starter in high school.

Losing is not something he is used to doing. He was a state champ. He wants to win Super Bowls. He never did get to the national title game.

But that hunger should drive him to try and get the Arizona Cardinals back to the big game, and that is exciting for the future.

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Could the Cardinals hire OC as part of coaching changes in 2020?

Sean McVay’s decision to finally hire one perhaps signals the possibility that Kliff Kingsbury will do the same now or in the future.

When the Arizona Cardinals hired Kliff Kingsbury as head coach, they interviewed a number of candidates to be his offensive coordinator. Some of the names included Tom Clemants, Jim Bob Cooter, Hue Jackson, Ben McAdoo, John DeFilippo and even Steve Sarkisian.

Kingsbury opted to make no one the offensive coordinator, instead giving Tom Clements two titles — passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

At the time he said, “it just made sense to organize it this way.”

He didn’t rule out the possibility of having an offensive coordinator down the road.

The coaching staff will undergo at least five changes, although nothing has been announced officially.

Could he bring in someone to be his offensive coordinator this year?

The question comes up now because Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, who did not have an OC for his first three seasons leading the team, recently made Kevin O’Connell his guy.

O’Connell was the offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins, who released their previous coaching staff. McVay and O’Connell both worked together in Washington before McVay took the head coaching job.

It would appear he was waiting for O’Connell to be available.

Kingsbury interviewed many candidates and just didn’t feel right about any one guy being in charge of the offense.

Perhaps he has someone in mind who was either unavailable last year or perhaps wasn’t quite ready for the job in Kingsbury’s mind or general manager Steve Keim’s opinion.

Kingsbury installed his offense in 2019 and it saw big improvement over a historically bad 2018.

Will he be willing to hand over more control to someone else?

That remains to be seen, but if the Rams and McVay are willing to do it, Kingsbury perhaps has a plan in mind.

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Chandler Jones named to PFWA’a All-NFL, All-NFC teams

His 2019 season was outstanding and he continues to get recognized for his play.

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones had a fantastic season, setting a franchise record in sacks with 19. It earned him first-team All-Pro honors by the Associated Press.

He has also been honored by the Pro Football Writers of America, who announced their All-NFL and all-conference teams on Monday.

Jones, along with Pittsburgh Steelers standout linebacker T.J. Watt were named to the All-NFL team at outside linebacker.

He also was named to the All-NFC team with Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who actually beat out Jones for the league sack title with 19.5.

Jones got my vote for both teams.

He reacted graciously to the honor on social media.

Other Cardinals players who got my vote for the all-conference team were safety Budda Baker and kicker Zane Gonzalez.

The two safeties to receive All-NFC honors were the Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith, both of the Minnesota Vikings.

New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz was the All-NFC kicker.

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. 255

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Ep. 254

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7 pending free agents in Seahawks-Packers playoff game for Cardinals fans to watch

The Cardinals could target a number of players between the two teams to upgrade their team in the offseason.

The Arizona Cardinals are expected to be active in free agency when it begins in March. But with football still going on in the playoffs, fans can see some potential targets the Cardinals could have.

The Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers play in the final divisional game of the weekend and between the two teams, there are a number of pending free agents the Cardinals might want to add.

Let’s check them out.

Packers OT Bryan Bulaga

 Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Bulaga is 31 years old but is one of the best options on the market at right tackle. He might not command the amount of money that a younger player like Jack Conklin might, but he would upgrade the position immediately.

One concern — durability. He did not miss a game in 2019 but missed two in 2018 and 11 in 2017.

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