There will involuntarily be an element of name dropping in this column, but I have looked at the players as fits in the schemes before mentioning them.
Like I have mentioned here many times, the salary cap is not relevant at all. You cannot ignore the salary cap, but teams can get around it very, very easily. By the way, it has just been set at 208.2 million – going up with 25.7 million from last year. And that development will 99.9% surely continue in the coming years. Thus, I have not even considered it in this column.
----------
1 – I would focus primarily on the offense (all offseason, actually). The Cards were arguably the best team in the NFL until the offense broke down, and even though the defense also played worse down the road, they were still good enough to win.
If the starting quarterback next season is named Kyler Murray, I would be okay with that. He obviously has a lot of talent, so the possibility of getting that unlocked is very intriguing. Most teams in the league are looking for that.
But improve the talent around him, please.
2 – Don’t think that it signals anything that Keim said “absolutely” when asked if they would pick up Murray’s fifth year option. He is 1000 times easier to trade if he is on a rookie deal, and even if a new team would want to extent him, they would strongly prefer to do it themselves.
(And also, Murray’s agent’s letter is very obviously a threat. “Sign me or get into trouble.”
+ There is a big need for quarterbacks around the league, hence the timing, so that Murray can get in on the wide-open supply-and-demand window, and thus increase his contract. After the draft, when teams are more or less set, that approach will not have nearly the same effect).
3 – Who steps up inside, at right guard? Maybe someone from outside (see what I did there?). Conner Williams from the Cowboys, Austin Corbett from the Rams or Alex Cappa from the Bucs are interesting.
4 – Chandler Jones is no longer good enough. Bring back Haason Reddick. They should have kept him last offseason (yeah, that’s easy to say now, but my post at that time will show that I have said it all along).
By the way, Jadeveon Clowney have always been a very good run defender, and being injury prone seems like a major plus to Keim.
5 – They usually make one big signing, and I only pay a big contract for a wide receiver. Trading for Amari Cooper from the Cowboys?
6 – I read some speculation that the Cards would be an obvious fit for Saquan Barkley, and that he would cost a third- or fourth round pick. I would be down with that.
7 – Deshaun Watson. You have to mention him.
8 – My biggest priority bring-backs are Zach Ertz, James Conner, Maxx Williams, Dennis Gardeck, Zeke Turner, Andy Lee, Colt McCoy, Charles Washington.
9 – Calais Campbell reunion? Sure, let’s go. Other intriguing defensive tackle options include D.J. Jones from the Niners and B.J. Hill from the Bengals.
10 – Stephon Gilmore seems like an obvious target. Great cornerback, but up in age, and a little injury prone, so he could easily hit the market, even though the Panthers traded for him just last season. I believe in Marco Wilson, but I prefer Byron Murphy in the slot, and thus it would be perfect to add an experience vet, that still have a high level, to the outside.
Like I have mentioned here many times, the salary cap is not relevant at all. You cannot ignore the salary cap, but teams can get around it very, very easily. By the way, it has just been set at 208.2 million – going up with 25.7 million from last year. And that development will 99.9% surely continue in the coming years. Thus, I have not even considered it in this column.
----------
1 – I would focus primarily on the offense (all offseason, actually). The Cards were arguably the best team in the NFL until the offense broke down, and even though the defense also played worse down the road, they were still good enough to win.
If the starting quarterback next season is named Kyler Murray, I would be okay with that. He obviously has a lot of talent, so the possibility of getting that unlocked is very intriguing. Most teams in the league are looking for that.
But improve the talent around him, please.
2 – Don’t think that it signals anything that Keim said “absolutely” when asked if they would pick up Murray’s fifth year option. He is 1000 times easier to trade if he is on a rookie deal, and even if a new team would want to extent him, they would strongly prefer to do it themselves.
(And also, Murray’s agent’s letter is very obviously a threat. “Sign me or get into trouble.”
+ There is a big need for quarterbacks around the league, hence the timing, so that Murray can get in on the wide-open supply-and-demand window, and thus increase his contract. After the draft, when teams are more or less set, that approach will not have nearly the same effect).
3 – Who steps up inside, at right guard? Maybe someone from outside (see what I did there?). Conner Williams from the Cowboys, Austin Corbett from the Rams or Alex Cappa from the Bucs are interesting.
4 – Chandler Jones is no longer good enough. Bring back Haason Reddick. They should have kept him last offseason (yeah, that’s easy to say now, but my post at that time will show that I have said it all along).
By the way, Jadeveon Clowney have always been a very good run defender, and being injury prone seems like a major plus to Keim.
5 – They usually make one big signing, and I only pay a big contract for a wide receiver. Trading for Amari Cooper from the Cowboys?
6 – I read some speculation that the Cards would be an obvious fit for Saquan Barkley, and that he would cost a third- or fourth round pick. I would be down with that.
7 – Deshaun Watson. You have to mention him.
8 – My biggest priority bring-backs are Zach Ertz, James Conner, Maxx Williams, Dennis Gardeck, Zeke Turner, Andy Lee, Colt McCoy, Charles Washington.
9 – Calais Campbell reunion? Sure, let’s go. Other intriguing defensive tackle options include D.J. Jones from the Niners and B.J. Hill from the Bengals.
10 – Stephon Gilmore seems like an obvious target. Great cornerback, but up in age, and a little injury prone, so he could easily hit the market, even though the Panthers traded for him just last season. I believe in Marco Wilson, but I prefer Byron Murphy in the slot, and thus it would be perfect to add an experience vet, that still have a high level, to the outside.
