Arizona is simply trying to improve after yet another disappointing season. The Cardinals have focused heavily on upgrading the defensive side of the ball, but the true test of those moves won’t come until the team steps onto the field.
Quarterback Kyler Murray is aiming for a strong season, though there’s still a chance he could be traded before it’s all said and done.
“Murray’s dead cap number almost halves after this season,” Conor Orr wrote. “The former No. 1 pick is not a bad quarterback, but the Cardinals will likely conclude that the club has maximized Murray in Arizona and that it’s best to recoup some kind of draft asset before pivoting. Murray had a six-game stretch at the tail end of last season in which he failed to top 100 in quarterback rating, and he has played just one fully healthy season since 2020. While a lot of this is not Murray’s fault and is often the reality of playing for a team bad enough to qualify for the No. 1 pick, Arizona will prepare for larger-scale changes after finishing in the NFC West basement.”
If the Cardinals do move on from Murray, that would mean breaking up the new duo of Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison has been in the gym this offseason, putting on muscle he believes will give him an edge.
The hype around Harrison—and veteran running back James Conner—is real. Orr predicts the two will combine for over 20 touchdowns this season.
“Opening the season with an incredibly fortuitous slate against New Orleans and Carolina, the Cardinals will pick apart the lesser defenses on their schedule but struggle overall. Harrison will amass 11 touchdowns while Conner, in his age-30 season, will log 12, including three in a Week 5 game against the Titans that will be remembered by almost no human,” Orr wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Harrison is aiming for a breakout year, while Conner remains a consistent playmaker with a nose for the end zone. If they can combine for 23 touchdowns, it would be a massive boost for Arizona’s offense.
Read the full article here