MadCards Way Too Early 2025 offseason plan

[Stout]

I don't see lacking a pro bowl player as a gaping hole. We have a pretty average DL group IMO. I want better, but that doesn't mean it is bad.

I would put it below average with the capability to become mid. In a vacuum, eh, it's still not ideal, but you can get away with it if you have dynamite edges. And that's the problem. So yes, DT is a big hole for me. Running it back would be disgusting.

 

[Stout]

Geez, relax ASU. Understand your opinion is not the Gold Standard of ASFN.
You seem to forget where this team was the last two years and can’t seem to grasp the improvements that have been made.
It takes time which you seem unable to “ grasp”. I didn’t say you were asking for all blue chip players. I’m saying we replaced 5 bums with 5 lunch pail type guys. Some of those lunch pail type guys will now be bumped to second string and replaced with better players.

You apparently don’t believe we did enough last year. Okay. But some of us understand the concept of this rebuild. Although disappointing, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. We can only hope it’s not a train heading toward us.

Except the reason some of those holes were created was directly Monti's fault. He doesn't get slack and extra time for filling those holes. We're into year three (this coming offseason) and still haven't approached the talent level we had before. Unacceptable. He needs to do big things in FA as well as the draft.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Except the reason some of those holes were created was directly Monti's fault. He doesn't get slack and extra time for filling those holes. We're into year three (this coming offseason) and still haven't approached the talent level we had before. Unacceptable. He needs to do big things in FA as well as the draft.

How about chase young on a 2 year deal say 16 or 17 per…and Mekhi Becton who would give us a good player at guard..then go edge and defensive tackle in the first 2 rounds….Carson beck in the third?….i would be doing cartwheels down my block on draft night

 

[BigDavis75]

Updated cap space for AZ is 73 mil.

Does this factor in the cap hold for the rookie pool?

 

[slanidrac16]

Except the reason some of those holes were created was directly Monti's fault. He doesn't get slack and extra time for filling those holes. We're into year three (this coming offseason) and still haven't approached the talent level we had before. Unacceptable. He needs to do big things in FA as well as the draft.

I don’t understand this talent level perception. The defense allowed less points, less yards, had more sacks and won twice as many games.
Somebody is doing something right. They certainly are not worse than last year.

 

[kerouac9]

Does this factor in the cap hold for the rookie pool?

Yes

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I don’t understand this talent level perception. The defense allowed less points, less yards and won twice as many games.

Ask yourself this question - how many Cardinals starters on D are above average players? That might have something to do with the talent level perception.

 

[slanidrac16]

Ask yourself this question - how many Cardinals starters on D are above average players? That might have something to do with the talent level perception.

Your perception and mine are different. But I don’t think our defense is not totally void of talent.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Your perception and mine are different. But I don’t think our defense is not totally void of talent.

I'm genuinely curious...which players on the D do you think are above average players?

 

[slanidrac16]

Nobody said it was - I just don't appreciate my position being misrepresented, as it was here.

You seem to think that the "upgrades" are good enough to justify two years of choosing not to compete for the playoffs. I don't.

This has been proven wrong time and time again. It doesn't require 3 years to rebuild. There are tons of examples. This was a choice.

Yeah, I'm not sure that's true. Our line before Monti was markedly better than what we have now. Even now, guys like Lopez were playing as well as our big FA additions. Even worse, as Chopper intimated, we could theoretically run it back with the same cadre of below average starters.

Hope is not a plan. I see plenty of the same holes and a team full of below average starters. I don't know how you can expect to get better when your talent level is below that of nearly every playoff team. The only way to transcend that is to have a superstar QB - we all know we don't have that.

Okay final word. I believe this defense has players right now that will contribute to the success in the future.
You don’t or at least believe there aren’t many.
Every statistic shows this defense is better than last year and better than in 2022. However, you claim there is less talent today. Okay.
Is it good enough? No. Has progress been made? Yes.

 

[Totally_Red]

I'm genuinely curious...which players on the D do you think are above average players?

Two. Budda and Garret Williams.

 

[Stout]

How about chase young on a 2 year deal say 16 or 17 per…and Mekhi Becton who would give us a good player at guard..then go edge and defensive tackle in the first 2 rounds….Carson beck in the third?….i would be doing cartwheels down my block on draft night

I can do all of that except Beck in the 3rd.

 

[Stout]

I don’t understand this talent level perception. The defense allowed less points, less yards, had more sacks and won twice as many games.
Somebody is doing something right. They certainly are not worse than last year.

Nick Rallis.

 

[Stout]

Two. Budda and Garret Williams.

Yep, that's it.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm genuinely curious...which players on the D do you think are above average players?

Above-average players or above-average starters?

 

[Cardiac]

How about bringing Hump back as the starting LG and back up swing OT. I heard a Justin Pugh say the RG for the Chiefs will get 20 million per this coming FA period. Pay Hump 17 per with incentives for each game he plays OT if a starter gets hurt.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Two. Budda and Garret Williams.

+1!

And technically Williams isn't even a starter since he's the Nickelback! But I think it's okay to count him. You could make a case for Mack Wilson being above average.

After that it's pretty sparse. Stills and Melton aren't starters on their own team so I don't see how you can count them.

Kyzir is probably right at 16th in the league terms of starters. Maybe Collier is the same, but that's pushing it.

But SMB and Zaven are below average, sorry. Thompson has disappeared this year. ST IV isn't horrible but I think is also below average along with Lopez and N. Jones. Browning, eh.

Don't get me wrong, I think this group overacheived this year, and generally I'm proud of them!

I'm only saying we need a pretty big infusion of talent on defense! We need playmakers besides Budda and Williams on that side of the ball. We need a JJ Watt or a young Chandler Jones and/or a Aeneas Williams type lock down #1 CB.

 

[slanidrac16]

Nick Rallis.

Thank god, then.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm only saying we need a pretty big infusion of talent on defense!

I disagree. I think we just need a catalyst or maybe two.

 

[slanidrac16]

I disagree. I think we just need a catalyst or maybe two.

This.
If you have an average guard but he has a very good center and a blue chip ot he is going to perform better.
I think we have some pretty good pieces that need, like you said, a couple of impact players.
The other thing that is forgotten is for the most part this defense has a rotation of players and arguable not a “ starting 11”.

 

[Cardiac]

How about bringing Hump back as the starting LG and back up swing OT. I heard a Justin Pugh say the RG for the Chiefs will get 20 million per this coming FA period. Pay Hump 17 per with incentives for each game he plays OT if a starter gets hurt.

 

[PDXChris]

I think more options at WR will become available as the new league year approaches. Teams are going to have to make decisions on big contracts that are coming due for several Vets.

Davante Adams (cap hit of $38M in 2025)

Deebo Samuel (1 year left on his contract. 2025 cap hit $16M. Contract Voids in 2026 and the cap hit is $33M)

Tyler Lockett (cap hit of $30M in 2025 if option is exercised. Hawks save $17M by cutting him)

Cooper Kupp (cap hit of $30M in 2025, $27M in 2026.)

Calvin Ridley (cap hit of $28M in 2025. New GM might want to move on from this contract.)

Christian Kirk (cap hit of $24M in 2025 with $5M due in 2026 Void year. $10M in savings if cut)

Gabe Davis (Lots of money due past 2025 season. New Jags coach may want to trade?)


If Tyler lockett gets cut I wouldn't mind his veteran presence at a reasonable price as a one year stopgap. K9 mentioned possibly trading for Gabe Davis with a 5th round pick as another option which I would be on board for. Maybe even a homecoming for Kirk on the cheap?

Lockett is near the end! Word is up here he's considering retiring.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I disagree. I think we just need a catalyst or maybe two.

Maybe we're not that far apart. A couple of catalysts (i.e. top ten players at their position) is kind of what I mean.

At a minimum we need a legit pass-rusher. I also think we need a legit CB1, and then either for DRob to morph into Darnell Dockett or to pick up somebody an IDL a step and half above Bilal Nichols.

But somebody said you can't have a star at every position and of course I agree with that.