Tag: Monti Ossenfort

Cardinals load up on 2024 draft picks

Entering the 2023 draft, they had eight picks. They left with nine player selections and four 2024 draft picks.

The Arizona Cardinals were busy in the NFL draft over the weekend. Every other team was, too, but the Cardinals were quite active in making moves.

They entered the draft with eight selections. They left with nine players and four future draft picks.

Including one with the Philadelphia Eagles to settle a tampering investigation, the Cardinals had four trades of draft picks during the draft.

Here is what they ended up with for 2024:

  • Houston Texans’ first-round pick
  • Houston Texans’ third-round pick
  • Tennessee Titans’ third-round pick
  • Philadelphia Eagles’ fifth-round pick

The Texans are expected to be one of the worst teams in the league in 2023. So are the Cardinals. That means the Cardinals could have two top-five picks in the first and third rounds.

With a projected fourth-round compensatory pick coming next year, the Cardinals are in line to have 11 picks next year with two in Rounds 1, 3, 4 and 5.

New general manager Monti Ossenfort is looking ahead at 2024 as an opportunity to make the roster exactly what he wants it to be. He has cap space and draft picks, both of which are critical to building a team.

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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 Spotify.

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Cardinals, Eagles make trade to settle tampering investigation

The Cardinals and Eagles swap third-round picks and the Cardinals get a fifth-rounder next year because of impermissible contact.

The Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagle made a trade involving draft picks on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Per Schefter, the two teams settled a tampering investigation in the hiring of Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator last season.

In the deal, the Cardinals send the Eagles the No. 66 pick, their original pick in the third round. In exchange, the Cardinals receive the No. 94 pick (the Eagles’ third-round selection) and a 2024 fifth-round pick.

The Cardinals released a statement to explain what happened.

The Cardinals self-reported to the National Football League that General Manager Monti Ossenfort had a phone conversation with then-Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon in the days following the NFC Championship Game, a period during which contact is not permitted under the League’s Anti-Tampering Policy.

The issue is now resolved, but it is yet another instance of a blunder or scandal the team is involved with.

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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 Spotify.

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GM Monti Ossnfort, Cardinals coaches attend Kyler Murray’s special day

The GM, head coach and three other offensive coaches were in Norman, Oklahoma as Murray had a statue unveiled.

Last offseason, there seemed to be some question as to how much support Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray had in the building. An anonymous report attacking Murray’s character came out early. When he agreed to his contract extension, it included clauses like attending offseason workouts and doing film study at home.

With changes in the front office and coaching staff, things are going differently.

The organization is publicly praising him, privately pushing him and spending time with him, and now they are supporting him in his special days.

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Murray was honored this weekend in Norman, Oklahoma. The school unveiled a bronze statue of Murray to be added to Heisman Park outside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Murray was the Heisman Trophy winner in 2018 after his one season starting for Oklahoma before the Cardinals selected him first overall in the 2019 draft.

Murray’s family was there and so were many from the Cardinals.

General manager Monti Ossenfort, head coach Jonathan Gannon, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, quarterbacks coach Israel Wollfork and Bill Bidwill coaching fellow recipient Connor Senger also attended in support of their quarterback.

The number of coaches in attendance says how much they value Murray.

Showing Murray that support can only help with him buying in to their style of play and system moving forward.

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

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Cardinals open to trade talks for No. 3 overall pick in NFL draft

GM Monti Ossenfort didn’t say the pick will go to the highest bidder, but he is willing to listen to potential offers.

The Arizona Cardinals currently hold the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Because they already have a franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray, they have the opportunity to potentially land the most talented player in the draft who isn’t a quarterback.

They could also trade down and they are open to the idea.

General manager Monti Ossenfort was asked about it at the NFL combine last week.

“Our phone will also be open and I’m open to hearing any conversation about anybody that’s willing to come up,” Ossenfort said. “I think with that No. 3 pick, it’s an opportunity to add a player, it’s an opportunity to potentially get some calls on that pick and ultimately, we’ll make the best decision for us at the time.”

He did indicate that trade phone calls don’t typically begin until later in the draft process.

Ossenfort’s background with the New England Patriots, who regularly trade back in the draft to acquire more picks, makes many believe that a trade is likely. However, nothing about what he said indicates any preference.

He is saying he will take phone calls, which is what any general manager should do about any player or pick.

The Patriots never had a pick in the top five, so this will be a rare opportunity to make a blue-chip selection.

Could the Cardinals trade the pick? Certainly.

Is Ossenfort saying the No. 3 pick is up for grabs? Not exactly.

He is willing to listen to offers and will weigh that with the potential of landing an impact player.

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

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GM Monti Ossenfort both happy and sad Cardinals losing Adrian Wilson

Wilson’s departure for a promotion with the Panthers is definitely bittersweet.

The Arizona Cardinals had to say goodbye to a team legend. Adrian Wilson, who after a possible Hall of Fame career and entry into the team’s Ring of Honor, worked his way up in the organization to be their vice president of pro personnel, has left the organization.

After getting passed over for the general manager job that Monti Ossenofrt got, he recently landed a new job, becoming the vice president of player personnel for the Carolina Panthers.

He gets a promotion and the opportunity to go back to his home state of North Carolina.

For the Cardinals and Ossenfort, it was bittersweet.

Ossenfort was asked about it at the NFL combine. Is he more happy or sad for Wilson’s new job?

“I would say both at the same time,” he said. “Adrian was around for a few weeks when I first started and he was able to go through some unrestricted free agent meetings with us. This is a great opportunity for him. I know what he’s meant to this organization as a player and a personnel executive, so yes, I’m sad to see him go but I’m also excited for him and this new chapter and this opportunity for him to go back to his home state and Panthers’ organization.

“So, excited for him, but disappointed that he won’t be with us.”

With Ossenfort bringing in Dave Sears as assistant GM, Wilson was No. 4 in the front office hierarchy after being previously No. 3 and co-No. 1 with Quentin Harris when Steve Keim had his leave of absence.

And with a new GM, it looked unlikely he would be able to progress further.

In Carolina, he gets to go home, move up and prove he can do more somewhere else, which will give him opportunities for interviewing next offseason.

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

 

Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort interviewed coaches on own time last offseason

Team owner Michael Bidwill explains how Ossenfort had coaches he wanted to interview because he met many potential candidates a year ago.

The Arizona Cardinals are very excited about the direction of the team with new general manager Monti Ossenfort. Team owner Michael Bidwill said Ossenfort’s detailed plan stood out over other candidates.

Bidwill, appearing on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM this past week, also revealed something that Ossenfort did that no other candidate did.

He went out and had conversations with potential head coaches before he was ever in a position to hire them.

Ossenfort interviewed for general manager jobs last year and was known as an up-and-coming executive the year before. In interviews, he would give names of coaches he would want to interview and target to lead his teams.

“He knew he was going to get a chance to be a general manager, so what did he do last year after throwing a bunch of names out,” Bidwill asked. “What he did is, last year, he took all his free time and he spent time interviewing coach. He did his own interviews.”

Ossenfort realized that some of the coaches he was recommending were guys he had never spoken to. So he contacted candidates he felt would be good and interviewed them unofficially.

Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals’ new head coach, was at the top of the list.

Bidwill noted that Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was also on that list. The Cardinals interviewed Glenn for the job before hiring Gannon.

Ossenfort took guys off his list after speaking with some and was more excited about others, explained Bidwill.

Gannon was one of those guys.

Now they work together and Bidwill is thrilled to have a general manager with a detailed plan from an organization that has had sustained success and with enough “foresight and the vision to weed out the chaff,” coming in prepared with coaching candidates from all over the league he had some relationship with.

It is a good start for the new Arizona GM.

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

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Owner Michael Bidwill impressed with GM Monti Ossenfort’s plan for Cardinals

Bidwill believes in his new GM’s vision and plan for the Cardinals moving forward.

The Arizona Cardinals will do things a little differently than they have in the past. Their new general manager, Monti Ossenfort, did not come up through the organization as the last several GMs did.

Team owner Michael Bidwill is excited to see what is coming.

Appearing on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM this week, he explained what he was most impressed with about Ossenfort and why earned the job after Steve Keim left the organization.

He is in love with Ossenfort’s plan. When asked, Bidwill used the word “plan” several times.

“He’s got a plan,” he said. “It’s a modified New England plan about how we are going to acquire talent both through the draft an free agency (and) the types of players we’re going to look for.

“It marries up very well with (new head coach) Jonathan Gannon and his vision for players and how we’re going run an offense, how we’re going to run a defense and special teams as well.”

Ossenfort spent more than a decade in the Patriots’ organization in the scouting department and was part of multiple championship teams there.

“I have a lot of faith in his plan because he spent years in New England,” Bidwill explained. “He was invited back twice. Talking to (Patriots owner) Robert Kraft, they would have him back in a minute. He was a big loss when he left.”

Bidwill is “excited about watching him evaluate.”

Things will happen fast.

Bidwill described how the Cardinals are doing things right now as “kind of changing the tire and driving the car down the road at the same time,” as the organization will be heading to the NFL combine next week, they have to finish putting together a coaching staff and they need to evaluate the players they have on the roster and where they need to upgrade.

“It’s go time.”

Luckily, Ossenfort has a direction and a plan.

Is it a good one? Bidwill thinks so.

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

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Monti Ossenfort might not have been Cardinals’ 1st choice for GM

Jay Glazer reports that the Cardinals offered Bears asst. GM Ian Cunningham the job but had that offered turned down.

The Arizona Cardinals announced on Monday that former Tennessee Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort was hired to be the team’s new general manager. He replaced Steve Keim, who stepped down after 10 years to focus on his health.

However, Ossenfort might not have been the Cardinals’ first choice.

Owner Michael Bidwill said he interviewed seven candidates. Three were internal candidates and four external.

One of the external candidates was Ian Cunningham, Chicago Bears’ assistant general manager.

According to Jay Glazer, Cunningham was offered the Cardinals’ job but turned it down.

That is interesting news. Both Cunningham and Ossenfort are both more than qualified for the job, but this is not good news to hear that the Cardinals did not get to land their first choice.

It might not end up being anything, as Ossenfort seems to be the right guy for the job, but what happens with Cunningham over the next several years will be telling.

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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 Spotify.

PODCAST: The Monti Ossenfort hiring, head coaching updates

Have a listen to the latest edition of the podcast.

This new episode of the podcast comes after the Arizona Cardinals’ announcement that former Tennessee Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort was hired to be general manager and he was introduced to the media.

In this edition of the show, Seth Cox and I react to the hiring and discuss his background and what he said in his introductory press conference.

We also go into detail about the search for a head coach, discussing new names that came up Tuesday — Frank Reich, Ejiro Evero and the candidates we already know in Sean Payton, Vance Joseph, DeMeco Ryans and Brian Flores.

Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

Here are the topics and approximate timestamps.

(1:00) Intros and reactions to the hiring of Monti Ossenfort and his background

(22:03) Reactions to what Ossenfort said in his introductory press conference

(45:12) Frank Reich as a head coaching candidate

(54:26) Ejiro Evero as a head coaching candidate

(1:06:17) The other candidates — Sean Payton, Vance Joseph, DeMecor Ryans, Brian Flores

New Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort thanks Titans in intro presser

New Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort had high praise for his former employer during his introductory press conference on Tuesday.

The Tennessee Titans lost one of their executives this week, with former director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort being hired as the Arizona Cardinals’ new general manager.

Ossenfort was one of seven candidates for the Titans’ vacancy but was ultimately scooped up by Arizona. Tennessee has reportedly made its own GM hire since in San Francisco 49ers director of pro personnel, Ran Carthon.

Tennessee also had interest in a Cardinals executive, Quentin Harris, who was among the original targets for the team.

Ossenfort has spent 21 seasons in the NFL, including three in his former role with the Titans. He garnered interest for multiple general manager openings in 2021, also.

In his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Ossenfort went out of his way to compliment the Titans, including owner Amy Adams Strunk. Check out the clip below.

Ossenfort will now be tasked with finding Arizona’s next head coach and getting the franchise back on track after a 4-13 season.

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