MadCards 2025 Offseason Plan post Super Bowl

[kerouac9]

What's changed is I expect them to draft iDL in the 1st 3 rounds in a good iDL class. Collier fills out the unit. If we resign Collier it has to be at vet min with limited guarantees so he can be cut later.

Dortch did nothing until the very end of the season. He doesn't really suit the role they want him to play because he isn't quick, so they can't use him as a gadget guy and he has super limited production as basically the 4th receiving option. 5th if you include Conner.

I actually think he's a decent player and can do better elsewhere and we can do better by replacing him with someone quicker. 5' 7" slot guys just don't really work for Kyler.

Oh so nothing's changed. Got it.

I'm no Dortch fan, but you don't actually improve as a team unless and until someone gets beaten out of a job by someone better. In fact, Dortch was beating others out of a job at the end of the season to get on the field/get targets.

The projected Right of First Refusal RFA tender is $3.2 million. That's slightly more than what DeeJay Dallas is going to make next year. I'm fine with that for a below-average #3 and a fine #4 WR.

As much as I beat up on him, he has a place on the team with the money he makes. Returner and 5 or so offensive snaps, mainly on 3rd and long drag underneath route he excels in with getting his YAC.

Sample sizes are hard to draw meaningful conclusions from, but people begging for a better YAC option in this offense are really asking to Light the Dortch. Dortch's average depth of target was a sad 4.1 yards -- 1.3 yards on receptions. But he averaged almost eight YAC per reception.

And I think he can sub in all three positions in the offense. That has value.

 

[MadCardDisease]

The main place I differ is that I don't agree that the Cardinals need to stock their draft pick shelves. They need to hit on their picks. Short term FA deals only work if you draft players who can fill the starting lineup once those FAs leave. I don't feel like I am seeing that play out. More Owen Pappoe and Xavier Thomas level players aren't making this team better. So if Monti does trade back, he better hit on the first rounder he drafts or I am pretty much done with his ass.

Monti has always planned to build this team through the draft. So I can't see him going into a draft with only 5 or 6 draft picks. In my trade example the Cardinals are only moving back 6 spots in the first round and end up with three additional draft picks. That's a small price to pay for the additional draft capital IMO.

 

[kerouac9]

Monti has always planned to build this team through the draft. So I can't see him going into a draft with only 5 or 6 draft picks. In my trade example the Cardinals are only moving back 6 spots in the first round and end up with three additional draft picks. That's a small price to pay for the additional draft capital IMO.

From everything I'm hearing, the dropoff among the prospects happens around #12. Teams are going to be scrambling to trade out of the middle of the first round, because the prospects from #14-40 are going to carry really similar grades.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Monti has always planned to build this team through the draft. So I can't see him going into a draft with only 5 or 6 draft picks. In my trade example the Cardinals are only moving back 6 spots in the first round and end up with three additional draft picks. That's a small price to pay for the additional draft capital IMO.

I completely agree he is trading back. He wants flexibility to move around.

 

[Chopper0080]

Monti has always planned to build this team through the draft. So I can't see him going into a draft with only 5 or 6 draft picks. In my trade example the Cardinals are only moving back 6 spots in the first round and end up with three additional draft picks. That's a small price to pay for the additional draft capital IMO.

I agree 100% that this is his direction and intention. I don’t believe he has demonstrated the acumen to execute it. His lack of self awareness is heading down a path of getting Gannon fired or the Marvin Lewis Bengals run. But, I said I will give him another offseason so we will see.

 

[Cardiac]

I agree 100% that this is his direction and intention. I don’t believe he has demonstrated the acumen to execute it. His lack of self awareness is heading down a path of getting Gannon fired or the Marvin Lewis Bengals run. But, I said I will give him another offseason so we will see.

I think Monti demonstrated that very acumen with his first draft. Not sure what the lack of self awareness means. I respect your opinion very much and would appreciate a clearer picture if you don't mind.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Man, some of you thinking Monti is actually doing well drafting need to look at teams like Rams and Eagles. We've had an incredible haul of picks, and so far have more questions than answers.

 

[QuebecCard]

What's changed is I expect them to draft iDL in the 1st 3 rounds in a good iDL class. Collier fills out the unit. If we resign Collier it has to be at vet min with limited guarantees so he can be cut later.

Dortch did nothing until the very end of the season. He doesn't really suit the role they want him to play because he isn't quick, so they can't use him as a gadget guy and he has super limited production as basically the 4th receiving option. 5th if you include Conner.

I actually think he's a decent player and can do better elsewhere and we can do better by replacing him with someone quicker. 5' 7" slot guys just don't really work for Kyler.

Collier has earned a raise and will get it here or somewhere else.

I'd bet it's here.

Dortch is cheap.

 

[Stout]

With 60 years experience I know being a Cardinal fan can be very frustrating. You’ve also been told too many times to be patient. That said, I bravely urge patience. If you’ve read much of what I write most wouldn’t characterize me as an optimist. Through the years I’ve watched many rebuild attempts and this one was massive. A large part of it was the need to entirely change the character of the team. That purge necessitated building a foundation. I think in addition to talent they tried to build with the right long term attitude. They wanted trainable, very athletic players. Growth may be slower than we’d all like but I think the substance is there. I believe you’ll see significant improvement in many of young players, as this staff actually teaches. Several units are already strong. Now I expect more focus on the trenches. This is a tricky offseason. Free Agency is thin. The Cards draft position will require taking chances. By July we should have a much better concept of where the Cards stand. If by then things look bleak, I may have to modify my position. IMO Ossenfort has done much of the job correctly. In the scope of things, 5 months is not a long time to stay hopeful.

I hope so. Trouble is, Monti (and probably ownership) has painted himself into a corner. If he doesn't get this offseason absolutely spot on, it all falls apart. Building the belly of the team and changing culture is all fine and dandy but it is the bare minimum. He has done the bare minimum while failing quite hard at anything beyond that. Where's the bit talent on this team? What major holes have been filled? He's impacted the low end but done very little to impact the high end. He needs SEVERAL Big Johns in the draft. Not maybe kinda in three or four years they'll be stars...he needs them NOW, because he hasn't been bringing that top-end talent in. That's to say nothing of FA. It doesn't matter if it's thin--he didn't spend last year and now he HAS to spend. If he's smart, he'd blow FA dollars on the OL and at Edge, then take advantage of the Edge and DT class in the draft. We shall see. He is a far cry from proving himself smart at this point. He can get there, but he's rather stacked the deck against himself so far, in my books.

 

[Stout]

Monti has always planned to build this team through the draft. So I can't see him going into a draft with only 5 or 6 draft picks. In my trade example the Cardinals are only moving back 6 spots in the first round and end up with three additional draft picks. That's a small price to pay for the additional draft capital IMO.

Hard disagree. The smart play is to stick or even trade up, targeting instant talent infusion. Draft Picks don't win games; stars win games. We've traded back too much and taken non-stars. I can't point to a single pick and say, "Yep, that's an absolute star he's drafted." He's drafted a few really good players but no stars. What we need is star talent, not more draft picks ffs.

 

[Stout]

I think Monti demonstrated that very acumen with his first draft. Not sure what the lack of self awareness means. I respect your opinion very much and would appreciate a clearer picture if you don't mind.

You mean when he traded away from a top Edge, the very position he still hasn't proven able to fill?

 

[Cardiac]

You mean when he traded away from a top Edge, the very position he still hasn't proven able to fill?

But filled an even more position at LT. Both are very important positions and he found a deal that got us our LT and extra picks to fill the myriad of other holes in the roster. You wanted the Edge guy so you won't or can't see the impressive trades he made. He had a plan and executed perfectly.

 

[kerouac9]

But filled an even more position at LT. Both are very important positions and he found a deal that got us our LT and extra picks to fill the myriad of other holes in the roster. You wanted the Edge guy so you won't or can't see the impressive trades he made. He had a plan and executed perfectly.

How good was the plan when we’re averaging six wins per season?

 

[Stout]

But filled an even more position at LT. Both are very important positions and he found a deal that got us our LT and extra picks to fill the myriad of other holes in the roster. You wanted the Edge guy so you won't or can't see the impressive trades he made. He had a plan and executed perfectly.

See the above. And the LT he got isn't as good as the Edge he didn't get.

Unless and until he lands some stars and gets this team over the hump, Monti is not "the guy." For the time being, he's potential, hopium, and not good enough.

 

[BritCard]

From everything I'm hearing, the dropoff among the prospects happens around #12. Teams are going to be scrambling to trade out of the middle of the first round, because the prospects from #14-40 are going to carry really similar grades.

I still think there will be trade interest enough for Monti to move back. Why the general consensus might be there's 12 or so true 1st round talents and then it's fairly close out to pick 40-50 that won't be the case for every team, or who they have down as 1st round talents. It only takes one tackle, iDL or TE that some team really likes to be there at #16 and I think there are good odds of that happening.

 

[BritCard]

Collier has earned a raise and will get it here or somewhere else.

I'd bet it's here.

Dortch is cheap.

Both are positions we can easily upgrade at and we should.

Should we bring them back on cheap deals that can be cut later? Sure. Dortch's RFA isn't guaranteed for example. But we should be looking for both to get beat out and cut, and if not then something went wrong.

 

[Carolinacacti]

My off-season plan is to keep my mouth shut. I was so wrong about Simmons I keep silent. You really need to find out what's in these players minds and heart. Gannon seams to know, Keim was clueless. I believe Marvin, Parris and the CB'S are all high level players

 

[blindseyed]

Man, some of you thinking Monti is actually doing well drafting need to look at teams like Rams and Eagles. We've had an incredible haul of picks, and so far have more questions than answers.

I'm there with ya, I do understand it's only 2 drafts but has any draft pick (or 3) jumped out to be a stud in these past 2 drafts? Seriously asking everyone because I can't think of any off hand

 

[cardncubfan]

I'm there with ya, I do understand it's only 2 drafts but has any draft pick (or 3) jumped out to be a stud in these past 2 drafts? Seriously asking everyone because I can't think of any off hand

Garrett Williams.

 

[blindseyed]

Garrett Williams.

He ranks like middle of the pack in the NFL, he's young I get it and he'll improve but i don't see any Boldin, Peterson etc type picks as of yet , I think that's what @ASUCHRIS and I are wondering (maybe he isn't and I just rudely spoke for him anyway lol)

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Man, some of you thinking Monti is actually doing well drafting need to look at teams like Rams and Eagles. We've had an incredible haul of picks, and so far have more questions than answers.

I think he was pretty good his first draft and pretty bad the 2nd one.

 

[Stout]

He ranks like middle of the pack in the NFL, he's young I get it and he'll improve but i don't see any Boldin, Peterson etc type picks as of yet , I think that's what @ASUCHRIS and I are wondering (maybe he isn't and I just rudely spoke for him anyway lol)

Right. You see other teams draft players that become immediate Big Johns. Monti hasn't done that. I do like GW and PJJ, but one is burgeoning now and the other was a good starter day one, but certainly no Big John.

 

[BritCard]

Right. You see other teams draft players that become immediate Big Johns. Monti hasn't done that. I do like GW and PJJ, but one is burgeoning now and the other was a good starter day one, but certainly no Big John.

Paris Johnson was PFF's 12th ranked tackle last year. Marv was their 24th ranked wide receiver as a rookie and had nearly 900 yards. Was he Justin Jefferson in year 1? No. But then expectations were way over the top in my opinion. Garrett Williams was PFF's 4th ranked CB and I see greatness in DTD, very impressed by the snaps he had as a rookie and I think we'll be adding him to the list of great picks after next year.

I have high hopes for Wilson, Melton while the jury is still out on D-Rob, Benson, Reimann, Beej etc

For me, both Monti's draft class are better than anything Keim ever did at the same stage.

 

[kerouac9]

Paris Johnson was PFF's 12th ranked tackle last year.

I think I see your problem.

 

[Cardiac]

How good was the plan when we’re averaging six wins per season?

You bring so many quality posts but then do this. How about he doubled the # of wins in just one year. Both these stats are true but neither really speaks to the point.
It was an obvious tank job in year one for several reasons. Monti missed big time imo in year 2 by not getting an impact edge but the original post was about Monti not being able to work the draft because of his lack of self awareness. It was not about the actual picks that were made.