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Cardinals Want Both James Conner And Chase Edmonds Back

March 5th, 2022 at 10:56am CST by Adam La Rose

Regardless of how the Cardinals handle quarterback Kyler Murray‘s contract situation, they have big decisions to make at a number of other positions. One of those is running back, where the possibility exists for both James Conner and Chase Edmonds to leave in free agency. If he has his way, though, general manager Steve Keim would bring back the pair. 

[Related: Conner Interested In Returning To Arizona]

When speaking to the media, Keim said “it’s no secret, having James and Chase, in a perfect world, we’d want them both back”. He was quick to add, however, that “it’s a business and we’ll see what happens”. Conner has indicated a willingness to stay with the Cardinals, something that the team should make a high priority, given his success last year.

After getting a second chance to be a starter, the former Steeler put up 752 yards on the ground, along with 375 yards in the passing game. More notably, he scored 18 total touchdowns, ranking him second in the league behind only Jonathan Taylor. That makes him the likelier tailback to be given a new deal, one which would probably be worth more than the $1.75MM he played for in 2021.

As for Edmonds, he posted a career-high 903 scrimmage yards in 2021, despite missing five games. Injuries limited the amount of time both he and Conner were available simultaneously, but the tandem would have plenty of potential if both were to be re-signed. With Eno Benjamin on the roster, though, the Cardinals may already have Edmonds’ successor in place.

Ultimately, Keim reiterated his desire to keep the known commodities at the position, adding “I understand that analytically, it tells you that the best backs come as a whole in rounds three through six, but at the same time, when you have one that is a difference-maker or you think is special or brings something to the table like leadership and toughness, it’s hard to put a price on those guys”.

Cardinals To Pick Up Kyler Murray’s Fifth-Year Option, Unconcerned About Holdout

March 3rd, 2022 at 7:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Negative fallout has emerged from the Cardinals’ first playoff berth in six years, centering around Kyler Murray. The former No. 1 overall pick remains part of the Cardinals’ future, but headlines in recent weeks have complicated the quarterback’s offseason.

After a report of acrimony between the fourth-year quarterback and his team, Murray attempted to quiet that noise. But his agent soon sent a extension proposal/mission statement. That arriving two days before the Cards extended Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury, who shares an agent with Murray, is unlikely to minimize this storyline.

Nevertheless, the Cards are picking up Murray’s fifth-year option — a fully guaranteed figure that will be north of $25MM due to Murray having made two Pro Bowls. Keim also said he is unconcerned about Murray becoming a holdout if no extension is reached this offseason. Murray’s extension memo certainly puts this on the radar, as do the re-ups for Keim and Kingsbury, but the 10th-year Cards GM declined to comment when asked about the prospect of Murray being extended this offseason, per ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss.

The list of quarterbacks to sign big-ticket extensions before their fourth seasons has become extensive since the 2011 CBA reshaped rookie contracts. Russell Wilson and Ryan Tannehill did so in 2015, while Jared Goff and Carson Wentz inked their deals — pacts their respective teams soon regretted — in 2019. Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson and Josh Allen followed suit in 2020 and ’21, respectively. Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson represent the outliers here. Given this offseason’s developments, Murray may join them by playing a fourth season on his rookie contract.

The dual-threat quarterback waiting until 2023 to strike a deal may not be the worst idea for his earning potential, with the QB market amid a rapid rise over the course of the past four years. Murray, 24, is also coming off a brutal outing in the Cards’ wild-card loss to the Rams. Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill addressed Murray’s extension timetable recently, not ruling out a 2022 summer deal while also calling this process “complicated.” Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer‘s extensions were not in the same ballpark as what Murray will command, putting the Cardinals on new contractual terrain.

The former MLB top-10 pick is set to make just $965K in 2022, though his cap number — as part of a fully guaranteed rookie contract worth more than $35MM — will come in at $11.4MM if no extension is reached. A holdout would be costly for Murray; the 2020 CBA prevents teams from waiving daily fines that come for missing mandatory workouts. Those fines would begin at the Cards’ June minicamp. Players on rookie deals can be fined $40K per each training camp absence. Of course, a Murray holdout would be a more notable development than just about any other player’s considering his unique skillset and importance to his team. That represents the former Heisman winner’s leverage here, if he is intent on securing an extension this year.

Cardinals Shopping WR Andy Isabella

March 2nd, 2022 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite being a second-round pick, Andy Isabella has been unable to carve out a consistent role with the Cardinals. The team has given the ex-Division I-FCS standout permission to seek a trade, Josina Anderson of USA Today tweets.

Isabella’s agent plans to reach out to teams in mid-March about finding his client a new home. The UMass product is going into his contract year but has not found his footing as a pro yet, which will limit the Cardinals’ return in the event a trade suitor surfaces. Merely cutting Isabella would save the Cardinals $1.1MM.

The Cards drafted Isabella 62nd overall in 2019, but he has only caught 31 passes for 426 yards in three seasons. Drafted to work in Kliff Kingsbury‘s Air Raid attack, the 5-foot-9 pass catcher joins fellow 2019 Arizona receiver picks Hakeem Butler (Round 4) and KeeSean Johnson (Round 6) in not working out with the Cardinals.

Arizona is shopping Isabella during an offseason in which a receiver need has again surfaced. The Cards’ Nos. 2 and 3 wideouts — Christian Kirk and A.J. Green — are on track for free agency. While the team figures to lean on 5-foot-7 Rondale Moore in a more prominent supporting role next season, more DeAndre Hopkins sidekicks will be needed.

Cardinals Extend Kliff Kingsbury, Steve Keim

March 2nd, 2022 at 10:11am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have agreed to brand new deals with head coach Kliff Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Per the team’s official announcement Keim and Kingsbury are now signed through the 2027 season. 

[RELATED: Latest On Cardinals, Murray]

“The leadership of both Steve and Kliff have been key factors in the team’s turnaround over the last three seasons,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said. “We are all looking forward to continuing that progress and recognize these two individuals will be a big part of achieving our long-term goals as an organization.”

Under their leadership, the Cardinals reached the postseason for the first time since 2015. Of course, it wasn’t all roses in 2021 either. The Cardinals went 9-2 in the first eleven games of the season, but went on to lose five of its final seven contests, including the playoffs. For what it’s worth, Kingsbury’s collegiate and pro teams have gone a combined 42-20-1 record in the first seven games of a season, and 17-45 from Game 8 onward.

For his part, Bidwill believes that DeAndre Hopkins‘ late-season absence played a huge role in the Cardinals’ collapse.

“I think [the struggles are] a combination of things, certainly (Hopkins’) impact on the field and off the field is huge,” Bidwill said (via Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network). “And losing him from not only a football Xs and Os standpoint, but also from an emotional standpoint was big.”

Now, the Cardinals can turn their attention to other offseason matters, including the future of quarterback Kyler Murray. The former No. 1 overall pick missed three games due to a high ankle sprain and didn’t look the same afterwards. Then came the playoff game against the Rams, his worst showing of the season.

“The window has just opened for a contract extension. Certainly he’s part of our long-term plan,” Bidwill said recently. “Most of the big ones are done further down the road, I think Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen were done in the summer time. Others were done in the summer time. So we’ve got time, but they’re complicated.”

Latest On Kyler Murray’s Contract Status

February 28th, 2022 at 9:56am CST by Adam La Rose

After drama started to build around the Cardinals and quarterback Kyler Murray, the team seemed to make it clear they plan on extending him. Today, his agent made a strong statement putting pressure on the team to make that new deal their top priority (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 

[Related: Cards’ Owner Bidwill On Kyler Murray]

“Kyler wants to be direct with loyal Arizona Cardinals fans and the great community of the Valley in stating his two very important goals and objectives”, it begins, listing those two goals as remaining the Cardinals’ QB long-term, and winning a Super Bowl with the team. It stresses that “achieving both goals will take incredible commitment from himself and the entire organization”.

It further states that Murray’s camp has sent “a detailed contract proposal to the organization” which “provides financial protection, is in-line with the current QB market that compares his results alongside relevant comps, lowers his 2022-23 salary-cap number to allow the Cardinals to re-sign other deserving teammates and add additional free agents, and, most importantly, represents a real commitment from the organization”.

The move publicly puts the ball in the organization’s court, stating that “actions speak much louder than words in this volatile business”, a reference to owner Michael Bidwill recently saying the team has had “good conversations” with the 24-year-old and is eyeing the summer as a time to hammer out a new deal. However, the statement reads, “words and hypothetical contractual promises are regularly dismissed“, further pushing for a new pact to be offered as soon as possible.

The statement concludes that Murray “remains hopeful that the organization chooses to commit“, something they can do as early as the new league year in mid-March. As Bidwill noted in his recent comments, however, recent mega-deals with emerging QBs like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen were both signed in the summer, after free agency and the draft had passed. Whether the club opts to stick to that kind of timeline – or, alternatively, let him play out the fourth and potentially fifth years of his rookie deal, not unlike the Ravens and Lamar Jackson – will be even more of a key offseason storyline after this.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero notes that Murray is due roughly 5.5MM this season (video link). He states, however, that he doesn’t expect Murray to play at that figure in 2022. Overall, then, this situation is set to remain one of the most important in the upcoming QB market.

Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill On HC Kliff Kingsbury

February 27th, 2022 at 11:04am CST by Rory Parks

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill touched on a number of key topics during a Friday radio interview, including rumors of acrimony between the team and QB Kyler Murray. In addition to his affirmation that Murray remains in the Cards’ long-term plans and that he has had “good conversations non-stop” with his star signal-caller, Bidwill also discussed head coach Kliff Kingsbury‘s future in the desert.

“I look at the college coaches who have made the transition from college to the pros and the ones that are successful, and Kliff is [successful],” Bidwill said (via Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network). Throughout the interview, Bidwill reiterated that Kingsbury has a “bright future” and gave no indication that he is on a short leash.

Wilson, though, says that the 42-year-old HC is on “something of a hot seat” heading into 2022. If true, that would be due to Arizona’s late-season swoon that culminated in an ugly wildcard round loss to the eventual-Super Bowl champion Rams.

Indeed, we heard in early December that an extension for Kingsbury was one of the Cardinals’ top offseason priorities, but that report surfaced at a time when Arizona was sitting at 9-2. The team would go on to lose five of its final seven games, including the playoff defeat, which added to the narrative that Kingsbury is unable to make necessary in-season adjustments. As Wilson notes, Kingsbury’s teams at both the collegiate and professional levels have a 42-20-1 record in the first seven games of a season but are just 17-45 from the eighth game forward.

Bidwill ascribed the Cardinals’ stumbles down the stretch of the 2021 campaign primarily to the injuries sustained by Murray and top wideout DeAndre Hopkins. “I think [the struggles are] a combination of things, certainly (Hopkins’) impact on the field and off the field is huge,” Bidwill said. “And losing him from not only a football Xs and Os standpoint, but also from an emotional standpoint was big.”

He added, “Kyler got injured for three games. He certainly, before the injury, was playing at the top of his game, and then he came back. I think having a healthy Kyler Murray is always better than Kyler coming off of an injury. This team has a bright future and I’m excited about it, especially knowing those guys are coming back 100 percent.”

Kingsbury’s contract expires at the end of the 2022 season, though Arizona holds a team option for 2023. It remains to be seen if the Cardinals will explore an extension in the coming months, or if they wait to see if Kingsbury can overcome his reputation as a fast starter but slow finisher (as well as the concerns that have been expressed about his play-calling acumen).

At least publicly, Bidwill is confident in his HC’s abilities. “I feel like (Kingsbury’s) had an adjustment period. Had a few years to adjust and I feel like he’s going to get better and better because I feel like he understands the pro rules and the pro game and the pro speed and everything else much better than he did a couple of years ago,” Bidwill said. “[W]e’ve got a bright future together. Kliff, Kyler, [general manager] Steve [Keim], all of us have to make great contributions as we go forward. I know they have a great relationship.”

Cards’ Owner Bidwill On Kyler Murray

February 26th, 2022 at 8:32pm CST by Ely Allen

With everything starting to appear copacetic between the Cardinals and quarterback Kyler Murray, the team’s owner, Michael Bidwill, addressed the 24-year-old’s future in Arizona, as reported by Jeremy Cluff of The Arizona Republic. As Murray heads into the fourth year of his rookie contract, Bidwill discussed the possibility for an extension. 

“The window has just opened for a contract extension. Certainly he’s part of our long-term plan,” Bidwill said of Murray. “Most of the big ones are done further down the road, I think Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen were done in the summer time. Others were done in the summer time. So we’ve got time, but they’re complicated.”

In respect to the turmoil surrounding the quarterback, Bidwill claimed he and Murray have had “good conversations non-stop.”

While expressing the desire to give Murray an extension out of his rookie contract, Bidwill also acknowledged that the team has other priorities, as well, namely bringing back some key free agents. He recently expressed his wishes to retain two-time All-Pro linebacker Chandler Jones, which Jones appeared scoff at. Newcomers to the desert, running back James Conner and tight end Zach Ertz, have both made it known that they would be more than happy to consider re-signing.

Other Cardinals headed to free agency include running back Chase Edmonds, wide receiver Christian Kirk, veteran wideout A.J. Green, and tight end Maxx Williams. While the Cardinals’ owner is looking forward to finding a way to keep Murray long-term, he and his front office have some work to do in the meantime.

Cardinals Want To Re-Sign Chandler Jones

February 25th, 2022 at 5:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Since Chandler Jones requested a trade ahead of last season, not much has emerged about his prospects of staying in Arizona on another new contract. He played out his previous deal and is now a month from testing the market for the first time.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said Friday he “would love” to have Jones back. Of course, there are some complications. Jones’ age, the fact that he has been previously franchise-tagged and other teams’ potential willingness to outbid Arizona stand to affect Jones’ status with the team.

“I can tell you we love Chandler and we would love to have him back,” Bidwill said during an appearance on Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta (via ArizonaSports.com). “The devil’s in the details. I’ll leave that up to [GM] Steve [Keim] and Chandler’s representatives to work on. But we love Chandler and what he’s done for us in the past and hopefully in the future as well.”

Jones did not appear to take Bidwill’s comments at face value, firing off some laughing emojis on Twitter shortly after. Some bad blood has been in the mix here for a bit. The Cardinals refused to adjust Jones’ deal last year, and the talented outside linebacker skipped minicamp and requested a trade in response. Jones was back with the team for the regular season and forced six fumbles, the second-most he has has tallied in a season, en route to his fourth Pro Bowl.

The Cards tagged Jones in 2017, and the NFL’s tag formula would make re-tagging Jones a tough proposition for the team. Because Jones’ cap number came in at $20.2MM last season, his tag figure would be 120% of that — as opposed to the standard linebacker tag, which is set to come in around $18MM — and cost the Cards nearly $25MM. This puts the Cardinals to a difficult decision, given Jones’ impact.

Acquired from the Patriots via trade in 2016, Jones has thrived in the desert. Jones has three double-digit sack seasons, including a 10.5-sack slate in 2021, and two All-Pro nods as a Cardinal. The Cards’ hopes of a Jones-J.J. Watt tandem fizzled, after another major injury sidelined Watt for much of the season, but Watt remains under contract for next season. Jones will turn 31 this weekend and missed much of the 2020 season due to a biceps injury, further complicating matters for the Cards, who also have Zach Ertz, Christian Kirk, James Conner and Chase Edmonds set for free agency.

Arizona losing Jones would represent a major blow. The Cards let Haason Reddick walk after his breakthrough contract year and, talent notwithstanding, cannot count on Watt. The team’s other outside linebacker starter, Markus Golden, is under contract for one more season.

AFC Notes: Raiders, Chiefs, Dupree, Weddle

February 19th, 2022 at 10:52pm CST by Ely Allen

First-round draft pick Alex Leatherwood had an up-and-down rookie season in Las Vegas. After struggling a bit at right tackle, Leatherwood was moved to guard to fill in after injuries to starters Richie Incognito and Denzelle Good. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders’ former staff intended to move Leatherwood back to his drafted position next season.

The decision is now out of their hands and in the hands of new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. With Kolton Miller set at left tackle and Andre James filling in admirably this season with the loss of center Rodney Hudson in a trade to the Cardinals last year, the Raiders have three offensive line spots with which to play around. Bricillo’s placement of Leatherwood will likely depend on how they choose to address those open positions.

Here are a few more notes from around the AFC, starting with another note from the West:

AFC Coaching Notes: Texans, Browns, Bettcher, Ravens, Gould

February 19th, 2022 at 9:45pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans have hired former Dolphins’ coaching assistant Kenyon Jackson in the position of assistant defensive line coach, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Son of former Pro Bowl tight end Keith Jackson, Kenyon played defensive tackle at the University of Illinois under new Texans’ head coach Lovie Smith.

In what is starting to seem like a trend, Smith also hired Dele Harding as a defensive assistant. Harding also played for Smith at Illinois, serving for two years as a team captain at linebacker.

Here are a few more notes on coaching changes in the AFC, starting with a note from the location of this weekend’s NBA All-Star game:

  • The Browns have hired Jordan Thomas in the role of assistant defensive line coach, according to Wilson. Thomas has coached defensive linemen at San Diego State and spent time at Lamar and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, as well. In addition, the Browns added Jeff Anderson to the staff as a defensive quality control coach.
  • Staying in the Buckeye State, recent 2021 NFL runner-ups the Bengals have made a move to replace former linebackers coach Al Golden. Golden is headed back to the college coaching ranks to become Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former NFL defensive coordinator James Bettcher will fill the role. After time as the defensive coordinator for the Cardinals and Giants, Bettcher spent last season as a senior defensive assistant in San Francisco.
  • Staying in the AFC North, Baltimore brought in former Texans’ offensive line coach Mike Devlin to become the Ravens’ assistant offensive line coach, according to Wilson. Devlin coached big men for the Jets before Houston and at Toledo before that. The Ravens will certainly welcome the help for an offensive line that frequently had quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley scrambling for their lives last year.
  • Lastly, the Chargers have hired 49ers’ kicker Robbie Gould‘s kid brother Chris Gould. The 36-year-old was a former kicker in the Arena Football League and will be the Chargers’ assistant special teams coach, a role he’s held for the past five seasons for the Broncos. Additionally, the Chargers have hired Brendan Nugent as their new offensive line coach. Last year was Nugent’s first year coaching offensive linemen in the NFL in his seventh year with the Saints. He’ll 17 years of NFL coaching experience to Los Angeles.
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