4 pending free agents for Cardinals fans to watch in Texans-Chiefs playoff game

The Arizona Cardinals could target a few players who will be free agents playing for the Texans or Chiefs.

While the Arizona Cardinals are not in the playoffs, their fans can certainly watch the two Sunday playoff games with the Cardinals on their minds. Free agency approaches in a couple of months and the Cardinals are expected to be active players in adding talent.

There are some potential free agent targets for the Cardinals in the early postseason matchup on Sunday between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs.

Who are the pending free agents to watch?

Chiefs DT Chris Jones

Jones is going to be one of the big-ticket free agents. The Cardinals need to upgrade the defensive line and Jones would be a huge upgrade. He had nine sacks this season and 15.5 in 2018 from the defensive interior.

The Cardinals could have drafted him in 2016 but took Robert Nkemdiche instead.

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Pages: 1234

Tosh Lupoi won’t be Cardinals’ DL coach as he takes job with Falcons

He will be the Falcons’ DL coach and run game coordinator.

The Arizona Cardinals have not announced anything regarding their coaching staff but it appears that five coaches who were on their staff in 2019 are no longer with the team. Among them was defensive line coach Chris Achuff, who was reportedly fired after the season.

The Cardinals were scheduled to interview former Cleveland Browns defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi for the same position. However, he will not be part of head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s staff, as he has been hired by the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced. He will be their defensive line coach and run game coordinator.

Lupoi previously was co-defensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide under head coach Nick Saban.

No other potential candidates for the vacancy or any other of the presumed vacancies have been reported thus far.

[vertical-gallery id=429739]

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

Ep. 255

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Ep. 254

[protected-iframe id=”cf5e5fef1c00053a25fea0111e1875e9-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21222569/download.mp3″ ]

4 pending free agents to watch in Titans-Ravens playoff game

Who are potential free agent targets for the Arizona Cardinals playing Saturday evening?

While the Arizona Cardinals are not in the playoffs, leaving their fans to watch other teams battle in the playoffs, those fans can watch the games this weekend with a Cardinals perspective.

When the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens played Saturday evening, Cardinals fans can pay attention to some players who will become free agents after the season.

Which players could be targeted by the Cardinals or could be a good fit?

Titans OL Jack Conklin

Conklin will be one of the hottest names on the free agent market among offensive linemen. He will get a huge contract. The Cardinals could target him to secure the right tackle position, which is the one position on the offensive line that has the most questions.

However, can the Cardinals afford to pay Conklin and re-sign D.J. Humphries?

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Pages: 1234

3 pending free agents to watch in Vikings-49ers playoff game

The Arizona Cardinals could target players in this game whose contracts expire this offseason.

The divisional round of the playoffs begin Saturday afternoon with the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Minnesota Vikings. Arizona Cardinals fans can watch the game simply to see who moves on or to root against the division rival 49ers, but they also can watch to see players who will be free agents this offseason.

Are there any who could be players of interest for the Cardinals?

49ers DE Arik Armstead

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Armstead had a breakout season in 2019. He had nine career sacks in three previous seasons. He had 10 in 2019. The Cardinals need help on the defensive line and could target a big-ticket player. Armstead would be such a player and would immediately upgrade the defensive front and give the Cardinals an interior threat to counter Chandler Jones off the edge.

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Pages: 123

3 regrettable decisions the Cardinals made in 2019

Going 5-10-1 in 2019, they obviously didn’t make all good moves, but these moves were definitely ones they probably would like to do over.

The Arizona Cardinals, on the way to their 5-10-1 season in 2019, made several moves that turned out to be the wrong move. What decisions ended up being regrettable?

Signing WR Michael Crabtree

The move to sign Crabtree perhaps was the dumbest of the year. They tried to sign him once and failed and then upped the offer later on at the end of the preseason, getting him to sign. The deal was for $3.25 million.

He lasted two games, played 31 snaps and caught four passes and then the team cut him. Because he is a vested veteran, the Cardinals were on the hook for not only the $500,000 signing bonus, they also had to pay him his entire base salary. In the end, they paid him $2.375 million to play two games and then stay away from the team.

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Pages: 123

The 4 biggest player decisions the Cardinals have this offseason

From David Johnson to Patrick Peterson, these decisions will shape the direction of the franchise for the seasons to come.

The Arizona Cardinals have a big offseason this year. However, with many decisions to make in the months to come, a few are bigger than others.

Here are the biggest player decisions the Cardinals must make in 2020.

CB Patrick Peterson

If we are to believe what has been said by Peterson, Michael Bidwill and Steve Keim, he isn’t going anywhere. He will at least remain with the team through 2020, the final year of his contract. However, if they don’t plan on bringing him back, a trade would make sense, and he did request a trade two seasons ago.

Whether the decision is to move on, give him a contract extension or simply let him play out the season, it will set the direction of the franchise moving forward.

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Pages: 1234

Carson Palmer impressed by Kyler Murray’s rookie season

The former Cardinals QB and former No. 1 pick said what Murray did is rare.

Retired quarterback Carson Palmer has an interesting perspective when it comes to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. Palmer was the starter for the Cardinals for five seasons and also was a No. 1 overall pick like Murray was.

Palmer likes what he saw from Murray in his rookie season, he said in an interview with Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

“He had a great year,” Palmer said. “He stayed healthy. I think he’s gonna learn a lot from this year. He’s gonna go back and watch the tape and identify some areas he can potentially improve in. I think he’s gonna take a look at some of the sacks he took and find ways to get out of those. He’s gonna be better next year.”

One particular part of Murray’s rookie year really stood out to Palmer.

“I think the thing that impressed me the most with him was the lack of turnovers,” he explained. “That’s one of the things you sometimes see, especially with these young quarterbacks that haven’t played a ton in college like Kyler, because he really only played that one year at Oklahoma.

“You sometimes see these guys come into the league and turn the ball over. They make mental mistakes, they make some throwing mistakes. Overall, I just didn’t feel like we saw that from him. I feel like he was really, really protective of the football. He’s a smart guy. He took some chances here and there but it’s not like he threw 25 interceptions and had 10 fumbles. Those numbers aren’t atypical of a rookie quarterback but we didn’t really see that with Kyler. I think the sky is the limit for him. He’s really gonna pick up where he left off and get better next year.”

Murray set all sorts of rookie records for the franchise and had one of the best rookie seasons for a quarterback in league history.

His season total for passing yards was the eighth-highest in a single season in team history. He rushed for more yards than any quarterback ever did for the Cardinals.

And that was just his rookie season.

Like Palmer, fans are hoping and expecting Murray to get even better. 2020 will be huge for his development.

[vertical-gallery id=428295]

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

Ep. 255

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Ep. 254

[protected-iframe id=”cf5e5fef1c00053a25fea0111e1875e9-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21222569/download.mp3″ ]

What should the Cardinals do with their 3 restricted free agents?

Only one is worth offering a tender to protect the possibility of him signing elsewhere.

The Arizona Cardinals have three players who will be restricted free agents. If the Cardinals tender them they will have the possibility to match any offer another team gives the player and, depending on the type of tender, can receive draft compensation if they let the player sign with the other team.

Based on Over The Cap’s projections, the three tenders will pay a player the following:

First-round tender: $4.667 million
Second-round tender: $3.278 million
Original round tender: $2.144 million

The Cardinals do not use the tenders often. In recent years, they used them on safety Tony Jefferson, receiver Jaron Brown and safety D.J. Swearinger.

Knowing this, what should the Cardinals decide to do with their three pending restricted free agents?

S Charles Washington

Washington is a core special teams player, but there are dozens of players like him in the league. He wouldn’t be anything more than the last or second-to-last safety on the roster. That isn’t necessarily a player a team would want to pay more than $2 million unless he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

He is a nice player to have, but the Cardinals shouldn’t tender him. He is certainly worth trying to sign to a deal for less than the tender, but not worth tendering.

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Pages: 123

Cardinals have one of league’s toughest schedules in 2020

They have the eighth-toughest strength of schedule in 2020.

The Arizona Cardinals will have a last-place schedule in 2020 following a 5-10-1 season. We know who their opponents will be and how they did in 2019. However, that last-place schedule doesn’t mean it will be an easy schedule.

According to Bills Wire managing editor Nick Wojton, the Cardinals will have one of the toughest schedules in the league this coming season.

Their strength of schedule is tied for eighth in the NFL with a combined record of 132-123-1.

Of course, they play their NFC West rivals each twice and that accounts for most of the Cardinals’ opponents with winning records. The 49ers were 13-3, the Seahawks were 12-5 and the Rams were 9-7, a combined 19 games over .500. The rest of the Cardinals’ schedule is much less daunting.

In any case, at least for now, the Cardinals have a tough schedule on paper. The key to their success next year appears to be how well they play in the division. A 1-5 record against the NFC West is not really the path to competing for the postseason.

[vertical-gallery id=428692]

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

Ep. 255

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Ep. 254

[protected-iframe id=”cf5e5fef1c00053a25fea0111e1875e9-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21222569/download.mp3″ ]

7 potential salary cap casualties for the Cardinals in 2020

If the Cardinals want to add even more cap space this offseason, these are players who could be cut or traded.

The Arizona Cardinals will have as much as $74 million in salary cap space when the new league year begins, depending on what moves they make with their own pending free agents before then.

They can increase that cap space by curring or trading players.

Who are potential salary-cap casualties?

RB David Johnson

Johnson’s cap hit in 2020 is more than $14 million. However, the Cardinals can’t simply cut him or they will lose more than $4 million in cap space because it would generate more than $18 million in dead money because his 2020 salary is fully guaranteed.

Cutting him is not an option, but trading him is. In a trade, they would save more than $8 million in cap space, although it would generate $6 million in dead money.

His future with the team is perhaps the most pressing question of the offseason.

[protected-iframe id=”5a077b6c80e43549964e9cb25d81401e-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21468690/download.mp3″ ]

Pages: 1234567