Tag: Arizona Cardinals rumors

Cardinals bolster their pass rush in Bucky Brooks’ latest mock draft

NFL Analyst Bucky Brooks has the Cardinals selecting George Karlaftis with the 23rd overall pick in his final mock draft of the year.

With the NFL draft just two days away, we’re going to take a look at what all of the top mock drafts have the Arizona Cardinals doing in the first round. At this point, no one’s guess is going to get any better and the mocks a few days out are typically the most accurate.

With that in mind, we start with the latest projections from NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks. In this scenario, many of the top prospects coveted by the Cardinals are selected far before pick No. 23. Wide receiver Jameson Williams is taken by the Vikings. Drake London goes to the Jets at pick No. 10 and Chris Olave lands in Philadelphia at 15.

Even the likes of defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and receiver Treylon Burks are long gone before the Cardinals make their selection. With the 23rd pick, they opt to select Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis.

The high-motor pass rusher could fill the void created by Chandler Jones’ departure. 

Karlaftis is a polarizing prospect, but certainly plays a position of need following the departure of Chandler Jones to the Raiders. Some view Karlaftis to be a future star, while others would avoid him completely in the first round. His sack numbers aren’t amazing but has elite strength and bull rush abilities at the next level.

General manager Steve Keim was asked about Karlaftis during his predraft press conference a few days ago.

“Karlaftis is a guy who maybe doesn’t have bells and whistles in terms of bend and end rush abilities, but you know what you’re getting,” he said. “You know you are getting a man that is grown and he absolutely loves the game.”

Keim’s comments certainly aren’t bullish on the Purdue product, but Karlaftis is a real option for the Cardinals at 23.

Nicknamed ‘The Greek Freak’ by Purdue fans, Karlaftis tallied 14 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in 26 career games. Many project him to be a very good pass rusher at the next level.

With the draft nearly upon us, George Karlaftis is certainly a name to watch for the Cardinals.

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Signing CB Jeff Gladney was like getting ‘extra first-round pick’ for Cardinals

Jeff Gladney was one of the few outside acquisitions made by the Cardinals in free agency. The front office is very high on him.

Last month, the Arizona Cardinals knew they needed to make an addition to the cornerback room after the unit struggled towards the end of the 2021 season. They did so, signing former Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Jeff Gladney.

Gladney, who was released by the Vikings due to domestic abuse allegations, was proven unanimously innocent in court and suddenly found himself a widely sought-after free agent. A first round selection in 2020, Gladney still has an unknown ceiling and one that could pay off well for the Cards.

They anticipate him being a starter and they love his upside.

“We got an extra first round-pick in free agency,” said Dru Grigson, the Cardinals’ director of player personnel on the Big Red Rage radio show earlier this month. “(He is) incredibly quick-footed, highly instinctive player.

“We’re getting a starter in our building without having to waste any draft capital.”

Arizona Sports 98.7’s John Gambadoro reported interest in twelve teams to sign the former TCU product. Two of those included the division rival Rams and 49ers. It’s always reassuring to have outbid multiple teams for a free agent, as it validates your view on a player.

Gladney signed a two-year, $6.5 million dollar deal, numbers that indicated he was to receive significant playing time. It has been widely reported that the Cards view him as a starter. Grigson’s comments only re-affirmed their belief in him. As of right now, Gladney projects to take Robert Alford’s position from last year, though there may still be interest in having both on the roster.

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Cardinals NFL draft player preview: Penn State WR Jahan Dotson

The Cardinals continue to be linked to wide receiver prospects , one of the more recent being the former Nittany Lion Jahan Dotson

Despite re-signing wide receiver A.J. Green to a one-year deal late last week, the Arizona Cardinals are rightfully continuing to search for long-term help at the position.

A name many Cardinals fans may not have heard of a month ago has exponentially increased in draft stock. Jahan Dotson out of Penn State has seen his draft stock increase dramatically, projected by many to now be a late first-round pick.

The former Nittany Lion had 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season with the university. He emerged as one of the premier wideouts in the Big 10, earning an 87.5 grade from Pro Football Focus, which is the highest grade given to an offensive player from Penn St. since 2014.

While Dotson is projected by some to be an excellent slot receiver at the next level, he was primarily an outside threat during his time at Penn St. He did spend time at all three primary positions, those being the slot, the X and the Z. His positional flexibility would allow Kliff Kingsbury to create different packages week-by-week based on the weaknesses of opposing defenses.

Listed at 5-11, Dotson doesn’t possess the height the Cardinals have sought in the past few seasons, but his high separation rates make him an intriguing fit nonetheless. When DeAndre Hopkins went down with an injury, the offense struggled heavily to get separation against press coverage.

Given the recent hype about the top receiver prospects going earlier in the draft than originally anticipated, Dotson makes a lot of sense for the Cardinals.

Dotson has been heavily linked to the team, particularly by Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager.

Schrager has been money in accurately predicting the Cardinals’ first round picks, based on his mock drafts. In his final mock draft over the past three seasons, he had the team selecting Kyler Murray, Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins. It’s always worth paying attention to his mock drafts, especially given his history and close relationship with Kingsbury.

An NFC executive sat down with FanSided a few months back and raved about Dotson’s ability.

“I saw him catch one of those smoke routes…and he made three guys miss, they couldn’t even touch him. He looked like Barry Sanders.”

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A.J. Brown trade rumors should intrigue Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are still in need of another strong receiving presence. They should look no farther than Tennessee’s star A.J. Brown.

The Arizona Cardinals have primarily been linked to the wide receiver position with the 23rd overall pick in next week’s NFL draft. While that still could come to fruition, the number of receiver-needy teams ahead of them is concerning.

The Atlanta Falcons (No. 8), New York Jets (10), Washington Commanders (11), Philadelphia Eagles (15 and 18), Los Angeles Chargers (17) and Green Bay Packers (22), among others, have all been connected to this year’s top receiver prospects. That list could potentially be troubling for the Cards’ chances of landing one of their coveted receivers, those being Jameson Williams, Drake London, Chris Olave, Jahan Dotson and Treylon Burks.

There may be an alternative and less-risky option for the team, one that would surely help in the mending relationship with star quarterback Kyler Murray. This potential move would undoubtedly give the Cardinals and offense capable of matching their division rival and Super Bowl champions in Los Angeles.

Tennessee Titans star receiver A.J. Brown’s name has been circulated in trade talks in the past few weeks. Brown, along with others in the 2019 receiver class, are seeking lucrative contract extensions in the surging market at the position. This offseason saw former Cardinal Christian Kirk net roughly $20 million annually and likes of Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams getting nearly $30 million.

The Cardinals have been frustratingly quiet this offseason, but all could be amended by acquiring Brown from the Titans, should he become available. In three seasons with the team, Brown has totaled 2,995 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns. He missed four games last season due to injury, but has been reliable for the team otherwise.

At just 24-years-old, Brown has established himself as one of the premier receivers in the league. He’s just entering his prime and will likely continue to improve over the course of the next few seasons. Adding a receiving threat of Brown’s caliber to an offense that already features DeAndre Hopkins, Kyler Murray and Zach Ertz would be lethal.

While the initial reaction to many was that any trade reports were the result of agents putting media pressure on this draft class’ receivers respective teams to get extensions done, it appears to be more than that in Brown’s case. The former Ole Miss Rebel has taken to social media to express his blatant frustrations with the Titans, something that none of the other receivers have done.

ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported Monday that the Titans and Brown were working on a long-term extension, however, Browns comments can’t be ignored. Head coach Mike Vrabel has stated Brown will not be traded, but so did Pete Caroll when asked about moving Russell Wilson earlier this offseason.

General Manager Steve Keim has been extraordinarily successful in his recent trades. It’s been his best trait as an executive to this point, one that could come into play once more. This front office has not been shy about acquiring star players via trade and agreeing to multi-year extensions with them (Chandler Jones, DeAndre Hopkins).

Brown is obviously frustrated with his respective teams, and its almost certain teams will at least call the Titans to gauge their interest in a trade. Should he become available, the Cardinals must be aggressive. They should be running to the phone to call general manager Jon Robinson of the Titans.

Potential A.J. Brown trade

The Cardinals receive Brown and a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.

The Titans get the Cardinals’ first-round pick in the draft this year and a conditional third-round selection in 2023.

Potential A.J. Brown contract extension

The Cardinals could then give Brown a four-year, $90 million deal with $55 million fully guaranteed.

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Former Cardinals LB Kylie Fitts to retire after multiple concussions

Former Cardinals outside linebacker Kylie Fitts retired from the league due to recurring concussion issues.

Outside linebacker and core special teams player Kylie Fitts announced his retirement from the NFL on Friday morning. The former sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears posted on Instagram to announce the news, stating it is no longer safe for him to resume his playing career.

Fitts has been with the Cardinals since 2019. He has suffered from a series of concussions, the most recent coming last October, one that ended his season and effectively, his career.

This was his announcement:

After 21 years of playing, football has come to an end for me. Due to too many concussions and the severity of my recent one, it is no longer safe for me to continue to play. I am so grateful for this game and everything it has taught and brought into my life. Thank you to all my coaches and teammates throughout my career. I am also so thankful for my family and wife who have supported me through all the ups and downs and special thank you to my dad. Spent countless hours, early mornings and late nights helping me reach my goal of always wanting to play in the NFL. I believe we were created beyond just playing the game. I know God has great plans for me and my family and I’m so excited for what he has in store for me next!

Cardinals fans should remember one of the plays made by Fitts against the New York Giants in 2020.

There was also a key moment in the thrilling Cardinals-Seahawks Sunday Night Football in 2020. After the Cards rallied from down ten to send the game to overtime, Fitts perfectly read a pitch to Carlos Hyde, setting the Seahawks back and eventually stalling the drive and forcing them to punt.

We are wishing Fitts and his family the best moving forward.

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Cardinals hurting themselves by not extending Kyler Murray

The Cardinals have yet to extend their face of the franchise in Kyler Murray. What has taken so long?

Up until this point, the Arizona Cardinals have dragged their feet in giving two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray a contract extension as he enters his fourth NFL season.

His agent, Erik Burkhardt, said in a statement earlier this offseason that he gave the team a contract offer. There was plenty of interest from Murray in being the franchise quarterback for the Cardinals for the foreseeable future.

While there is certainly an argument to be made that the manner in which Burkhardt handled the situation, going public on social media, was less than ideal, his points were still valid. To this point, Burkhardt and the Arizona Cardinals’ fanbase have watched as other teams went out and made aggressive moves that signaled a desire to win. While the offseason is far from over, and the team has a chance to turn around some of that frustration with a home run draft in a few weeks, virtually nothing has been done to this point.

It has been floated around that team owner Michael Bidwill and the Cardinals front office agreed to open contract negotiations with Murray’s camp this summer, when the team isn’t pressed for time with the draft. It is incredibly important that the team hold true to their word.

The longer this plays out, the higher the price tag could potentially rise. Wednesday morning, the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to terms on a three-year extension with quarterback Derek Carr with an average annual value of $40.5 million per year.

This is a rather misleading contract, as that value rounds out to around $35 million per season if the entirety of the deal is played out. The guarantees are also quite low, as Carr himself opted to take a team-friendly deal after his contract was a large contributor as to why the team had to trade star pass rusher Khalil Mack a few seasons back.

Still, the point stands that as other teams extend their respective quarterbacks, Murray’s camp can use them as leverage to earn a higher salary from the Cardinals.

This offseason has seen the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson all receive lucrative deals that have increased the annual price tag of having an elite quarterback, as the Cardinals do. The Watson deal, in particular, likely drove up the price of Murray’s eventual extension with the Cards.

The likes of the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and the Broncos’ newly acquired Russell Wilson are both candidates for extensions in the near future. Bidwill and the front office would be wise to extend Murray prior to that point, should they hope to not have his price tag rise any further.

Maintaining a good relationship with star players has been a struggle at times for this Cardinal organization, particularly when it comes to contract negotiations. Extending him now helps in creating a sour relationship between the two parties.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke at the NFL owners meeting, stating the team flirted with the idea of acquiring a young quarterback, a trade that would have included multiple first-round picks. Given Deshaun Watson was the only other young star that would have warranted multiple first-round selections, and the Texans blocked the division rival Colts from interviewing him, it’s safe to assume Irsay was referring to Murray.

If a perennial playoff organization is calling you about your 24-year-old quarterback, shouldn’t that give you an even greater push to realize what you have and make sure he stays put for a long time?

Following the NFL draft at the close of the month, the organization should turn all efforts to extending Kyler Murray.

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Cardinals set to host Alabama WR Jameson Williams for a visit

The Cardinals are set to meet with star receiver Jameson Williams next week, a move that would be praised across the valley.

Perhaps the most exciting news for Arizona Cardinals fans this offseason, the team is set to host Alabama star receiver Jameson Williams for an official top-30 visit next week.

Williams, who has largely been connected to the Cardinals and is at the top of many of the fans’ wish lists, is one of the premier prospects in this draft. His draft stock has fallen due to a torn ACL suffered in the national championship in January, otherwise, he would likely be completely out of the Cardinals’ range at pick 23.

Originally reported by Jordan Schultz, Williams will meet with the team brass next week with two weeks to go until draft night. We’ve discussed Williams’ perfect fit in Arizona at length on the site, so it’s certainly reassuring to see the team potentially looking to make him their first-round draft selection.

Prior to this news, there were rumblings of the Cardinals’ interest in Williams and the high-ceiling they view him to have. This only confirms those rumors and adds to the signs that the team is looking to draft a wide receiver with their first-round pick.

With a large cap hit for star wideout DeAndre Hopkins, it appears the Cardinals are looking towards the draft to fill their void at receiver, as securing a star in the first round grants the team up to five years of affordable production at the position. It is also a sign of good faith towards Kyler Murray, as they have yet to add any pieces to support himself offensively this spring.

Could the Cardinals also be eying a trade-up in the draft? They’ve now met with the likes of Williams, LSU’s Derek Stingley and FSU’s Jermaine Johnson, all of whom are projected to be selected by pick 23. It’s possible the Cardinals were quiet on the trade block during free agency with eyes on some of these prospects.

Jameson Williams to the Cardinals is slowly turning into a real possibility.

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Cardinals NFL draft player preview: Purdue EDGE George Karlaftis

George Karlaftis, a projected first round pick, recently had a Top-30 visit with the Cardinals. Can he be the successor to franchise icon Chandler Jones?

We are a little over two weeks away from the highly anticipated 2022 NFL draft. As we get closer, some official top-30 visits become known to the general public. For the Cardinals, one of those visits is Purdue’s George Karlaftis, whom they hosted for a visit last week.

The Cardinals currently have yet to make any major moves in free agency. They brought back two of their own in Zach Ertz and James Conner, but have left huge holes at both the edge rusher and wide receiver position. While most of the draft hype for the Cardinals has involved the receiver position, perhaps they are looking at finding Chandler Jones’ replacement.

Karlaftis is a projected first-round edge rusher who has seen his draft stock increase over the past few weeks. While he only had 4.5 sacks last season, he was a consistent threat in opposing backfields. Nicknamed ‘The Greek Freak’, Karlaftis was named to the second-team All-Big Ten in 2020, despite only appearing in three games. In his rookie season, he totaled 7.5 sacks.

Karlaftis is at his best with power and bull rush moves that force offensive tackles back into their quarterback. One of his biggest critiques is trying too many speed moves on the edge, particularly for a guy his size. These critics don’t believe, at his speed, that those moves will translate in the NFL.

Despite the critics, Karlaftis excelled on the field when he played. In 26 games, he had 29 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. He’s been one of the more polarizing prospects in this draft. Some love him while the others wouldn’t spend a first-round selection on him.

There is certainly a question as to the team’s ability to groom a first-round defensive player. Their last two selections, Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins, hardly saw playing time in their rookie seasons. It was extraordinarily frustrating, particularly given the reserve players that often played over two first-round picks. Is the front office really going to do the same again?

Karlaftis would have competition from Devon Kennard and Dennis Gardeck, which would bode well for his playing time on paper. However, the past two seasons have proven nothing in terms of developing young defensive talent.

What are your thoughts on drafting George Karlaftis with the 23rd overall pick?

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Cardinals NFL draft preview: WR Drake London

USC’s Drake London is an intriguing option to complete Cardinals’ group of skill position players.

With the Arizona Cardinals, to this point, opting not to add any wide receivers in free agency, all signs point to a premium draft pick going towards the position in this month’s NFL draft.

One of the highest-rated prospects at the position this year is USC’s Drake London. At 6-4, he was one of the nation’s best at making contested grabs and the jump ball.

It just so happens, Cardinals’ star quarterback Kyler Murray often gives his big-bodied receivers chances to make plays, even in contested coverage. London fits the height the team has sought at the Z receiver position, particularly with A.J. Green last season.

Most mock drafts have London being selected far before the Cardinals pick at 23, but recently Charles Davis of NFL.com had the Pac-12 playmaker falling to Arizona. Davis actually suggested London could play in the slot as well.

Big frame, big production. Larry Fitzgerald moved to the slot and put up terrific numbers at the end of his career. London moved inside often at USC in 2021 and thrived. He can do the same to help QB Kyler Murray get the Cards back to the playoffs — and potentially log a postseason win or two.

While London would most likely play most of the time outside, it certainly helps to have positional flexibility based on the strengths and weaknesses of opposing defenses. In 2020, he actually lined up primarily in the slot before moving outside last season.

Prior to suffering an ankle injury, London was absolutely electric. In only eight games, he totaled 88 receptions, 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. His 19 contested catches were the most among qualified receivers. Coupled with that were his 22 forced missed tackles in those eight games, a trait desperately needed in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

Due to his size and strength, London’s most common NFL comp is Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans. There are some concerns about his route-running ability, given his limited route tree at USC and low separation rates. He wasn’t the fastest receiver in college, either, but we’ll know more when he officially runs his 40-yard dash during his pro day on April 15th.

If London succeeds at the NFL level as he did in college, he would be a perfect addition for the Cardinals. They have DeAndre Hopkins to draw most of the attention, allowing London to see more single coverage, particularly as he learns on the spot during his rookie year. Rondale Moore is projected to be their speed and deep threat player. London’s height and jump ball ability is a perfect complement to Kyler Murray’s game.

His physicality would also be welcome, particularly given the team’s second-half struggles the past two seasons. Partnered with the physical running game behind James Conner, London would thrive in Arizona.

We’ll see if the SoCal product comes out east to the valley in a few weeks time.

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Cardinals sign veteran TE Stephen Anderson to one-year deal

The Cardinals added depth to their tight end room Monday morning by adding veteran TE Stephen Anderson.

The Arizona Cardinals added to their already strong tight end room Monday afternoon with the addition of veteran tight end Stephen Anderson. The team announced he signed a one-year contract Monday.

The fourth-year tight end out of Cal was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2016. After a brief stint with the Patriots in 2018, Anderson signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he played the last three seasons.

Appearing in all 17 games last season, Anderson recorded 16 receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown. His best game came in Week 9 against Philadelphia, where he had 39 yards and a touchdown.

In his career, Anderson has 60 receptions for 706 yards and three touchdowns (12 starts). Last season, he had a lot of playing time on the Chargers special team unit.

Anderson will likely be counted on as a special teams player for the Cardinals, who also has the ability to come in for heavy sets offensively. It is the Cards’ third tight end signing this offseason, with zero moves made at the wide receiver position.

In 2021, Anderson played roughly half of the team’s special teams snaps and 29% of offensive snaps. At 6-3. he gives the team another big-bodied pass-catcher in a room that already features Zach Ertz and Maxx Williams.

His signing likely signals the end of Darrell Daniels’ tenure in the desert. He is still unsigned.

Chargers fans took to Twitter to voice their displeasure in the team not opting to re-sign Anderson. He had become a favorite amongst some of their fans and will look to get familiar with his new fanbase in the desert.

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