The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Wrapping up NFL free agency for 2024

2024 NFL free agency is just about in the books, so it’s time for Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar to analyze the biggest transactions in the second wave.

Now that most of NFL free agency for the 2024 league year is in the bag — though there are a few helpful players still on the open market — it’s time for Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, to recap the biggest and most important moves in the second wave of this free agency phase. Greg and Doug covered the first day of free agency last week in the Xs and Os; here’s the conclusion.

Among the discussion points:

  • What does Brian Burns bring to a Giants defensive line that already has Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence?
  • Can Justin Fields become the best version of himself in the Steelers’ offense?
  • Conversely, can Kenny Pickett turn his career around with the Eagles?
  • How can Calvin Ridley use his true X-Iso skill set to ramp up the Titans’ offense?
  • Can the Texans’ addition of Danielle Hunter, along with Will Anderson Jr. and Denico Autry, make Houston’s defensive line a Super Bowl-level group?
  • What can Hollywood Brown do for the Chiefs?
  • Tyron Smith is a future Hall of Famer, but what will he be able to do for the Jets’ offensive line in the short term?
  • Chase Young has been an inconsistent pass-rusher throughout his NFL career; can he turn it around with the Saints?
  • The Lions made important additions to their defensive line and their secondary; can all that put them over the top?
  • The Falcons already have a ton of weapons for new quarterback Kirk Cousins. How will the addition of receiver Rondale Moore affect what looks like one of like the NFL’s most explosive offenses (in theory, at least)?

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

and on Apple Podcasts.

Kyler Murray has Cardinals off fast against Texans

Kyler Murray is a difference-maker for the Cardinals

What a difference a quarterback makes.

The Arizona Cardinals came into Sunday’s game at the Houston Texans off a win over the Atlanta Falcons.

That could be attributed to the team getting Kyler Murray back as its quarterback.

And the Heisman winner from Oklahoma was at it fast against the AFC South team.

Murray went deep, deep, deep, and found a wide-open Rondale Moore for a 48-yard TD.

After the PAT, Arizona led 7-0.

Seahawks rookie CB Devon Witherspoon continues to lay the boom on opponents

Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon continues to make his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year with some major stick hits.

Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon was my CB1 in this draft class for a host of reasons, but his play demeanor was certainly one of them. At 5-foot-11 and 181 pounds, Witherspoon has no issue whatsoever throwing his body around and making opponents feel it. In that regard, he’s a real throwback to Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor — the Legion of Boom DBs who loved to clean you clock on the field, and then ask you exactly how you liked it.

Witherspoon added to his portfolio once again on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, when he just blew receiver Rondale Moore the heck up on this quick pass.

If you had watched Witherspoon’s college tape, as the guys at PFF certainly did, you would know that the rookie was just as excited about demolishing opponents during his collegiate career.

Witherspoon has also had a sack and an interception in this game that were negated by penalties on other players. He’s certainly making his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Previewing Week 4’s biggest NFL matchups

Lions-Packers! Dolphins-Bills! Browns-Ravens! Steelers-Texans! Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar preview Week 4’s biggest NFL matchups.

With three full weeks down in the 2023 NFL calendar, it’s time to look ahead to the most compelling matchups in Week 4 of the season. As always, Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of USA Today’s Sports Media Group, have you covered with comprehensive tape study and advanced metrics.

This week, the guys break down these genes:

  • Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
  • Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
  • Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
  • Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans
  • Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

WATCH: Cardinals WR Rondale Moore speeds by everyone for 1st career rushing TD

Moore took it to the house in the second quarter against the Cowboys.

The Arizona Cardinals took a 15-3 lead over the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter and had an explosive play showing off the speed of one of their players.

Wide receiver Rondale Moore ran the ball 45 yards for a touchdown.

It was his first career rushing touchdown in the NFL.

Check out the play:

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Moore didn’t have a touchdown run on some trick play. It wasn’t a jet sweep or lateral toss to him. He lined up at running back, took the handoff and blew past everyone.

Moore’s speed and frame give him running back vibes.

We will see if he gets any more looks there.

His last running touchdown came in college.

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 training camp roster preview: WR Rondale Moore

We take a look at Rondale Moore entering his third year in the league.

The Arizona Cardinals open training camp at the end of this month, so we will do a roster review, highlighting each player currently on the roster, going over last season, their salary and cap number, questions they face and what their expected roster status will be.

Next up is receiver Rondale Moore.

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

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown remains motivated by his NFL draft slight

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown remains motivated by his NFL draft slight even after two great NFL seasons

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It’s been no secret that Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has used his fourth-round selection from the 2021 NFL Draft for motivation. He remembers the 16 wide receivers taken before him as a way to stay sharp on the field. 

On Monday, St. Brown was interviewed on NFL Network’s Total Access with Mike Yam. During the interview, he was asked about his memory of the receivers selected before him.

He said, I actually have my goals written down in my notebook. What I want to achieve every year. So, what I want to achieve this year going into the season, my personal goals, and then right below that I have the 16 receivers written down, where they went to college right below that. And so, I read that whole list three times before I go to practice every day. It’s something I’ll never forget. Something I make sure I’m always reminded of.”

While St. Brown was selected after players such as Ja’Marr Chase, Rondale Moore, DeVonta Smith and 13 others; he still has more career receptions than all of them. Through two seasons in the NFL, St. Brown has 196 receptions a figure that is tied with Michael Thomas and Justin Jefferson for most in NFL history. 

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During the rest of the interview, St. Brown talked highly of general manager Brad Holmes and how the front office “did a great job of drafting.” He talked about Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and other weapons that are now part of the Lions offense. 

He admitted it during the interview, it’s safe to say that St. Brown still thinks about the 2021 NFL Draft. For the full interview, you can watch it here

Sifting through the mess that is the Arizona Cardinals’ receiving corps

Arizona’s WR corps is underwhelming, and the QB situation is even bleaker.

A year ago, all the arrows were pointed up for the Arizona Cardinals. They’d made the playoffs in 2021, handed head coach Kliff Kingsbury a lucrative contract extension, and swung a deal with the Baltimore Ravens to acquire wide receiver Marquise Brown with the idea of pairing him with WR DeAndre Hopkins to bring quarterback Kyler Murray to the next level. Yeah, about all that…

As we sit here in late June, Hopkins is a free agent after having been released, Murray is rehabbing from a torn ACL, Kingsbury is an assistant coach at USC, and the Cardinals are the betting favorites in most spots to have the NFL’s worst record. Things change fast.

Fantasy owners looking to get a read on Arizona’s receivers should probably start with the quarterback situation, specifically when Murray will return and who’ll fill in for him. The second question is far easier to answer as the expectation is QB Colt McCoy will be the Week 1 starter. Beyond that, it gets dicey in a hurry. Murray tore his ACL on Dec. 12, and while there’s been some chatter that he could return before midseason it’s impossible to know.

What makes it even more difficult to project is we can’t know how the new regime views 2023. If the team is terrible, as many believe is possible, would they consider holding out Murray entirely for a shot at USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in 2024? If so, might they try one of the younger quarterbacks, such as rookie QB Clayton Tune, instead of McCoy once the season goes sideways? There are a lot of moving parts, but let’s see what the Cardinals at working with on the outside.

Cardinals offseason needs: Wide receiver

We take a look at the state of the wide receiver position.

With a new general manager and coaching staff, the Arizona Cardinals have a lot of work to do with the roster coming off a 4-13 season.

Virtually every position group has some level of need to be addressed.

Over the next few days in this offseason series, we will take a look at each position group, what the offseason outlook is, what questions they have what what level of need is there — critical, urgent or secondary.

Next up are the wide receivers.

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

 

Cardinals place QB Kyler Murray, WR Rondale Moore on IR

Murray’s injury has him out for the rest of the season. Moore will not be able to play in the regular season again this year.

The Arizona Cardinals announced a number of roster moves on Wednesday, including the ending of two players’ season, barring a miraculous turnaround and unlikely trip to the postseason.

The Cardinals announced that quarterback Kyler Murray and receiver Rondale Moore were placed on injured reserve.

Players on IR must miss at least four games before they are eligible to return. The Cardinals have only four games remaining on the schedule in the regular season.

Murray tore his ACL in Monday’s game against the New England Patriots.

Moore had missed the last two games with a groin injury.

Moore’s season ends having played in only eight games. He had 41 receptions for 414 yards and a touchdown.

With Murray done for the year, Colt McCoy will start at quarterback, while Moore’s role will be balanced between the other receivers on the roster.

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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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