While I wait for Uber to come pick me up, here's my thoughts on where to go next. Two branching paths.
@Garthshort
Path 1, and what I'd do if I really held all the power: Blow it all up. Axe Keim, axe KK, even leave KM potentially open to trade (I don't think he's the problem but I still am unsure if he's the solution, either). Sign either an experienced GM or up and coming guy that has been in football for a long time. No wunderkinds. Hand him the keys to build the team from the ground up, with this caveat - it starts in the trenches/the middle of the field. If we hire one more guy who is absolutely unwilling to build a decent offensive line or defensive line, I am going to scream. From this point, there's too many variables to really sort out, so I won't go too much deeper into it unless anyone really cares.
Path 2, which I think is more realistic: Fire Keim. Find a GM who believes in KK and KM, but give him the freedom to do what they did with Hue Jackson with the Browns - if it doesn't work after a year, the GM can fire KK. Same goes with his power over Kyler Murray's future - if we're two years in and KM hasn't shown proper growth, we can move on.
In the offseason:
- Tag Humphries, look for his eventual replacement in the first/second round.
- Go after an RT, I'd target La'el Collins.
- If there's any chance of signing Michael Thomas or Amari Cooper, do whatever it takes. Otherwise, work out a way to sign AJ Green. Some kind of upgrade needs to occur at X/Y WR, but I can't stomach drafting a 5th WR in 3 years.
- Thank Larry Fitzgerald for his service and encourage him to retire a Cardinal.
- No more AQ Shipley. Sign a center. There are decent FA options this year, and it's clear the team doesn't believe in Cole (thanks Keim!).
- Sign one or two of the top tier DL guys that are available. Invest heavily in the draft at this position outside of the top two rounds.
- You have to grab an ILB and OLB. I would love to sign Bobby Wagner to not only bolster our team, but hurt the Seahawks too. I would like to target Vic Beasley as well, since I think he'll be a little cheaper than some of the other OLB names.
In the draft, I go mainly BPA, since this team sucks at almost every position, but ideally the top two picks are one of these three position groups: OL, DL, LB.
That's 6-7 prime to mid-tier acquisitions in FA, and bolstering positions in the draft instead of reaching for starters.
I unfortunately don't really think KK is the right coach for any of this, but with an eye toward 2021, hopefully the team now has a core, and we can lure a solid, proven NFL coach here, who can choose to mentor KM or go his own direction at the position.