MadCards 2025 Offseason Plan post Super Bowl

[MadCardDisease]

My favorite podcast. Two former senior PFF analysts that started on their own. Much more insight.

They have a crush on Gardeck BTW

Yeah the whole Gardeck thing threw me off initially. Didn't know where that was coming from.

 

[BACH]

Yeah the whole Gardeck thing threw me off initially. Didn't know where that was coming from.

They actually back it up with facts. They love Gardeck's pass rush win rate, but are also very clear that he should be a situational pass rusher, not a full time starter.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

They did say it was because they were not sold on SMB and it would be to add a solid vet to the existing young core.

Which is absolutely fair if you can get it done at a reasonable price. SMB was frequently targeted and beaten throughout the year.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

They did say it was because they were not sold on SMB and it would be to add a solid vet to the existing young core.

Can’t keep blocking highly drafted cb’s development. We have three drafted in the first three rounds and a young guy in starling that the coaching staff obviously likes.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Which is absolutely fair if you can get it done at a reasonable price. SMB was frequently targeted and beaten throughout the year.

You have to hope that your second round pick at corner from last year ascends. Or that the third round guy that never played surprises. At some point your top 3 round picks have to contribute.

 

[Card'em]

With our roster needs on the IDL, Edge, OL, and LB it would be criminally negligent to draft a CB before the fourth round or throw significant cap dollars at a free agent. I'll make the argument that we can afford to "stand pat" with our secondary as is. Nice blend of veterans and young players, who should be improving.

 

[oaken1]

With our roster needs on the IDL, Edge, OL, and LB it would be criminally negligent to draft a CB before the fourth round or throw significant cap dollars at a free agent. I'll make the argument that we can afford to "stand pat" with our secondary as is. Nice blend of veterans and young players, who should be improving.

That's where I'm at.
Front 7
Oline
Wr
Ilb
If we can fill 2 of those before the draft it would be good. The available free agents ain't stellar enough to keep us from drafting a guy if a good one is there.

 

[BACH]

With our roster needs on the IDL, Edge, OL, and LB it would be criminally negligent to draft a CB before the fourth round or throw significant cap dollars at a free agent. I'll make the argument that we can afford to "stand pat" with our secondary as is. Nice blend of veterans and young players, who should be improving.

Agree. I do not see CB as a priority. I think the unit is fine if you base it on the expected development of the young players and more importantly a much better pass-rush

 

[Stout]

These guys popped up in my YouTube feed today. Their offseason "Fix" for the Cardinals seems pretty similar to what I suggested:

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They think to DL and OL need the most work. On the offensive side of the ball they think both Guard positions need to be addressed. They like the idea of bringing Will Hernandez back and think the Cards should fill the other Guard spot through FA.

They say the Cardinals should go after one of the Eagles big Free Agents on the DL (Sweat or Williams)

They really like Gardeck and think he should be brought back but he needs to be paired with someone like Sweat.

Said Bryan Robinson has tons of potential but he is still a huge unknown with how little he played last season.

They think the Cardinals need to add speed at WR. Brought up my boy Tez Johnson as a possible draft target. They also mentioned a guy like Darius Slayton

They thought that another starter at CB could be targeted in FA. Try to get a moderate priced Vet to pair with the young guys at CB. They were not sold on SMB on the outside.

Never heard of these guys before but overall I agreed with most of what they were suggesting to fix the Cardinals.

Credibility lost lol

 

[Harry]

They did say it was because they were not sold on SMB and it would be to add a solid vet to the existing young core.

I’m not sold on SMB either. However, bringing in another vet will just slow the growth ofthe young players. They need to play.

 

[kerouac9]

I’m not sold on SMB either. However, bringing in another vet will just slow the growth ofthe young players. They need to play.

Yeah, SMB is no great shakes, but he kind of fills the definition of "solid vet."

 

[BritCard]

Yeah, SMB is no great shakes, but he kind of fills the definition of "solid vet."

I thought he got better as the season went on. Have to remember new playbook, scheme, new town, new coaches etc. It sometimes takes players a minute to get up to speed.

I think he'll be "fine" and fill the role he was intended to.

 

[Harry]

SMB also dealt with a few injuries but still wasn’t an impact player when healthy.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Can’t keep blocking highly drafted cb’s development. We have three drafted in the first three rounds and a young guy in starling that the coaching staff obviously likes.

Yeah I agree. I would stick with the young guys at DB.

To be fair they did say that the Cardinals could choose to stay with the youth movement of STV, Williams and Melton. Then they gave the option that if the Cardinals did decide to upgrade the CB position that they would add a vet as they weren't as high on SMB.

I would prefer just staying with SMB, as cutting him to sign another mid tier vet doesn't sound very efficient from a cap standpoint. SMB wasn't great last year but he wasn't bad either.

 

[HairZach]

SMB also dealt with a few injuries but still wasn’t an impact player when healthy.

It was really concerning to me that Max Melton was never able to steal SMB's job. When SMB was active, Max only had 2 games with more than 50% of the snaps.

 

[MadCardDisease]

It was really concerning to me that Max Melton was never able to steal SMB's job. When SMB was active, Max only had 2 games with more than 50% of the snaps.

2024 Defensive Snap Counts for the Cardinals CB position:


#Snaps %
STV 820 75%
G Williams 781 72%
SMB 748 67%
Melton 565 52%
Clark 97 9%

 

[kerouac9]

It was really concerning to me that Max Melton was never able to steal SMB's job. When SMB was active, Max only had 2 games with more than 50% of the snaps.

It should be more concerning that no one was able to take ST5's job. Zero INTs; six passes defensed. NO ONE was good enough to get this guy off the field?