Here are PFR’s examinations of the 32 NFL teams’ 2024 offseasons:
The Cardinals finished 4-13 last season. While the showing in Jonathan Gannon‘s first season locked down the No. 4 spot in the draft, Arizona obviously has a long way to go in GM Monti Ossenfort‘s rebuild. But some more attention is coming the organization’s way ahead of this regime’s second season.
Particularly, many around the league are studying the work of the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator. The scheme Drew Petzing has implemented is drawing praise, and The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicates a widespread belief exists the second-year coordinator will be summoned for HC interviews in 2025 (subscription required). With Gannon a defense-oriented coach, Petzing is going into his second season as an NFL play-caller.
[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Arizona Cardinals]
This would be a rare development for the Cardinals, who have not seen an OC land a top job since the Kurt Warner–Larry Fitzgerald combination powered Todd Haley to the Chiefs’ gig in 2009. (Before that, it had been since Rod Dowhower‘s 1985 Colts arrival.) The Cardinals will probably need to show significant improvement for Petzing to have a true opportunity to become a finalist for a position, but Ejiro Evero‘s recent rise — after being tied to 5-12 and 2-15 teams — does remind that clubs have been more willing to look for promising assistants on non-playoff teams.
Coming from a role as the Browns’ quarterbacks coach, Petzing helped Jacoby Brissett to a bounce-back season — during Deshaun Watson‘s 11-game suspension — and coached under or alongside Kevin Stefanski for nine years. Working with the Vikings’ wide receivers for most of the Adam Thielen–Stefon Diggs pairing’s duration, Petzing followed Stefanski to Cleveland and spent two years as the Browns’ tight ends coach. Stefanski moved him to QBs coach in 2022. While Petzing could not coax Watson to anything especially close to his Texans-level form, that appears to a bigger-picture issue involving the quarterback.
Petzing, 37, only coached Kyler Murray for eight games last season, doing so after late-summer acquisition Josh Dobbs and 2023 fifth-round pick Clayton Tune combined for nine starts as the Pro Bowler finished ACL rehab. Petzing’s offense ranked 24th in scoring and 19th in yards, with DVOA placing the unit 21st. Considering the Cards only had their starting QB for eight games, that is not exactly a discouraging finish.
After helping Trey McBride to an Arizona-years franchise tight end record, with 825 receiving yards, Petzing will have No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. at his disposal this season. A Cardinals ascent would appear to specifically boost their OC’s stock, as the NFL perpetually searches for up-and-coming offensive minds. Harrison elevating this unit, with Murray now nearly two years removed from his knee injury, could help determine if Petzing will be the rare Cardinals OC to jump onto the coaching carousel.
Here are Labor Day’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: TE Sage Surratt
Buffalo Bills
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: CB Dee Delaney
Carolina Panthers
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Tae Davis, OL Badara Traore
Dallas Cowboys
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: WR David Durden
Las Vegas Raiders
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: OL Corey Luciano
Miami Dolphins
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: RB Chris Brooks
Minnesota Vikings
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: TE Trey Knox
New Orleans Saints
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: TE Kevin Rader
San Francisco 49ers
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: DB Tayler Hawkins
Washington Commanders
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: C Ricky Stromberg
Stromberg sustained a knee injury that will require surgery. The 2023 third-round pick, one of five 2023 draftees that did not make Washington’s 53-man roster last week, will only need an arthroscopic procedure, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Stromberg is aiming to catch on somewhere else around the midseason point. He only played 26 rookie-year snaps on offense. The Arkansas product would technically have a chance to land back with the Commanders, depending on the terms of the settlement, but the team moving on so early may well point to the Adam Peters regime deeming the Ron Rivera– and Martin Mayhew-overseen move a mistake.
Davis figures to land elsewhere and play this season. The 28-year-old linebacker sustained a foot sprain and will be out for a few weeks, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Davis played in 16 games, split evenly between the Saints and Panthers, last season.
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from IR via injury settlement: RB Tony Jones Jr.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: CB Eric Scott Jr.
New England Patriots
- Released from IR via injury settlement: T Calvin Anderson
Players let go through injury settlements are open to return to their previous teams after an agreed-upon period of time. Jones could therefore return to the Cardinals’ backfield later on in 2024, after he played three games with the team last year. The 26-year-old has also seen time with the Saints and Seahawks, logging a rotational role while contributing on special teams.
Like Jones, Anderson (who missed time last year with malaria) will be able to sign with any interested team if he does not return to New England. The latter made five appearances with New England last season, starting twice. He was one of several players competing for a spot on the Patriots’ uncertain tackle depth chart until being placed on injured reserve during final roster cutdowns. A Broncos blocker from 2020-22, Anderson has 14 total starts to his name and could provide a depth option to his next team once healthy.
PFR’s practice squad rundown, signaling we are indeed close to games that count, begins Thursday. Here is how teams began to handle their 16-man P-squads.
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Jordan Murray, DL PJ Mustipher, OL Luke Tenuta
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Monty Rice, OL Elijah Wilkinson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Ja’Tyre Carter, WR Jalen Coker, TE Feleipe Franks, LB Thomas Incoom, DE Tarron Jackson, DT Jayden Peevy, S Demani Richardson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Chris Glaser, DL Sam Roberts
- Released: DB Quindell Johnson, DL Dashaun Mallory
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: G Tashawn Manning, RB Kendall Milton, DT Justin Rogers, DE Isaiah Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Gary Brightwell, WR Tulu Griffin, TE Cameron Latu, TE Blake Whiteheart
- Released: LS Rex Sunahara
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Phil Hoskins, CB Amani Oruwariye
Detroit Lions
- Released: S C.J. Moore
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Braeden Daniels, TE Cole Fotheringham, WR Xavier Johnson, S Mark Perry, QB Kedon Slovis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT McTelvin Agim, DE Titus Leo, TE Sean McKeon, G Atonio Mafi, K Spencer Shrader
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Blake Hance, S Matthew Jackson, WR Louis Rees-Zammit
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: TE Justin Shorter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: S Tony Jefferson, C Sam Mustipher, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Released: CB Robert Kennedy
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: RB Zach Evans
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: QB Tim Boyle
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Ricky Lee, RB Zavier Scott
- Released: WR Jeshaun Jones, RB DeWayne McBride
New England Patriots
- Signed: DE Brevin Allen, G Jerome Carvin, DT Trysten Hill, C Bryan Hudson, G Michael Jordan, WR Jalen Reagor
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Austin Deculus, TE Treyton Welch
- Released: TE Mason Fairchild
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Art Green, DT Elijah Garcia, CB Duke Shelley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Brett Toth
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Anthony Averett, FB Jack Colletto, CB Zyon Gilbert, CB Thomas Graham Jr., LB Marcus Haynes, DL Jacob Slade, RB Jonathan Ward, TE Rodney Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Terrace Marshall, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Josh Jobe, LB Tyreke Smith
- Released: T Raiqwon O’Neal
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: C Avery Jones, T Lorenz Metz, WR Ryan Miller, WR Cody Thompson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DL James Lynch
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LB Jalen Graham, CB Bobby Price
Slovis went to camp with the Colts, joining the team as a UDFA this year. Houston placed Case Keenum on IR and released Tim Boyle, who is now the Dolphins’ P-squad QB. Slovis, who played at USC, Pittsburgh and BYU in college, is now the Texans’ de facto third-stringer.
Shelley has 11 career starts — with the Bears and Vikings — on his resume. He joined the Raiders last year but ended up with the Rams, playing in 11 games as a backup. The Giants have spent time searching for a cornerback answer, having not been too satisfied with their Cor’Dale Flott–Nick McCloud CB2 competition. New York did not make any waiver claims at the position Wednesday.
Reagor, who played for the Patriots last season, is back after being released earlier this week. The former Minnesota first-rounder played in 11 New England games last season, returning a kick for a touchdown. Latu joins the Browns after being a 49ers cut. The 2023 third-round pick missed all of last season with an ACL tear. Jefferson is back with the Bolts hours after being released.
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: LB Krys Barnes
- Placed on IR: CB Elijah Jones
Carolina Panthers
- Signed from practice squad: TE Jordan Matthews
- Placed on IR: DL Jaden Crumedy
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: RB Trayveon Williams
- Placed on IR: DT McKinnley Jackson
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: T Chuma Edoga (story)
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Kristian Welch
- Waived: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: DL John Cominsky (story)
Green Bay Packers
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: CB Brandon Facyson, RB Jarveon Howard
Las Vegas Raiders
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Elerson Smith
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: RB Jaret Patterson
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: OL Conor McDermott
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LS Blake Ferguson
- Placed on IR: S Patrick McMorris
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Curtis Bolton, FB Jakob Johnson
- Placed on IR: OL Austin Schlottmann
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: WR Dennis Houston, OL Jalen Mayfield
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DT Marlon Tuipulotu
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Julius Welschof
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Kalen DeLoach
Tennessee Titans
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: WR Kyle Philips
Washington Commanders
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Keandre Jones, S Ben Nikke
Schlottmann suffered what Brian Daboll called a long-term injury. Elaborating on the injury Schlottmann suffered in practice Wednesday, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes the veteran backup O-lineman will rehab a broken fibula. The injury is expected to shut down the free agency addition for at least two months. No surgery is on tap for Schlottmann. The Giants considering him for activation may depend on their injury situation, as teams only have eight regular-season IR activations. The Giants have seven presently, as they used a summer IR designation on linebacker Matthew Adams on Tuesday.
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.
Arizona Cardinals
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Andre Baccellia, LB Markus Bailey, LB Krys Barnes, OL Jackson Barton, RB Michael Carter, WR Dan Chisena, CB Jaden Davis, OL Marquis Hayes, OL Keith Ismael, LB Julian Okwara, WR Tejhaun Palmer, QB Desmond Ridder, TE Bernhard Seikovits, DL Ben Stille, CB Divaad Wilson
Los Angeles Rams
Signed:
- DT Neville Gallimore (story)
Claimed:
Waived:
- DT Cory Durden
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- OL A.J. Arcuri, OL Justin Dedich, B Zach Evans, TE Miller Forristall, DB Tanner Ingle, DB Shaun Jolly, TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Cam Lampkin, DT Tuli Letuligasenoa, OL Mike McAllister, DT David Olajiga, WR Xavier Smith, WR Drake Stoops, DB Jason Taylor II, OLB Keir Thomas, LB Zach VanValkenburg, WR Sam Wiglusz
San Francisco 49ers
Signed:
- OL Ben Bartch, WR Terrace Marshall Jr., TE Eric Saubert, CB Rock Ya-Sin
Claimed:
Waived:
Placed on IR:
- OL Jon Feliciano, CB Ambry Thomas
Signed to practice squad:
- DE Jonathan Garvin, DB Chase Lucas, S Tracy Walker
Seattle Seahawks
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Artie Burns
Waiver claims can begin coming in at 11am CT. While the waiver order will depend on 2024 records in several weeks, teams’ 2023 finishes currently determine it. Here is how the waiver priority list stacks up heading into today’s round of claims:
- Carolina Panthers
- Washington Commanders
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- Los Angeles Chargers
- New York Giants
- Tennessee Titans
- Atlanta Falcons
- Chicago Bears
- New York Jets
- Minnesota Vikings
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New Orleans Saints
- Indianapolis Colts
- Seattle Seahawks
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Los Angeles Rams
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Miami Dolphins
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Green Bay Packers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Houston Texans
- Buffalo Bills
- Detroit Lions
- Baltimore Ravens
- San Francisco 49ers
- Kansas City Chiefs
The Cardinals gave up Rondale Moore for Desmond Ridder in March, marking one of a few trades this year involving a 2022 QB draftee. Arizona is moving on quickly.
While Ridder could conceivably still be in the Cardinals’ plans (via the practice squad), he will need to clear waivers first. After battling for the team’s backup job with 2023 draftee Clayton Tune, Ridder received word he will be cut, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Between their Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. additions, the Falcons quickly moved to deal Ridder. The team had benched the 2022 third-rounder twice last season, a year that led to Arthur Smith‘s ouster. It had been assumed going into the Cards’ offseason program Ridder would likely be Kyler Murray‘s new backup, but Tune has changed the equation. The 2023 fifth-rounder will remain in that role, with Ridder now available to be claimed before Wednesday’s 11am CT deadline.
This move might come with an injury designation. Ridder sustained a concussion in the Cardinals’ preseason finale against the Broncos. Tune, however, completed 67% of his preseason passes and averaged 6.9 yards per attempt. Ridder closed at 57% and 6.4 yards per pass. Tune also spent the second half of last season as Murray’s backup. Although Tune submitted an ugly showing in Cleveland following the Josh Dobbs trade, he held his own this summer.
Arizona has moved on from its presumed backup for a second straight summer. The team cut Colt McCoy last year, acquiring Dobbs via trade and turning to him as a Week 1 starter despite a late-August arrival. The Cardinals traded Dobbs to the suddenly QB-needy Vikings at the deadline, moving Tune up the depth chart. Tune did throw an interception against the Broncos on Sunday, but the Cards’ staff looks to feel comfortable enough to move on from a notable trade addition.
Two years remain on Ridder’s rookie contract, but the Cards will incur no dead money from the cut due to the Falcons having taken on the prorated signing bonus money in the trade. Three seasons remain on Tune’s deal, and it is certainly worth noting this Cardinals regime drafted the Houston product. Ridder has conversely seen his stock tumble since being drafted by the Falcons.
The Falcons showed surprising confidence in Ridder last year, proclaiming the Cincinnati alum their starter months before training camp. Ridder had replaced Marcus Mariota late last year, and Arthur Blank expressed interest in building around his rookie contract. After Ridder finished with a 12-12 TD-INT ratio and ranked 26th in QBR, the Falcons returned to the high-priced QB business by paying Cousins hours into the legal tampering period. They traded Ridder later that week.
A team claiming Ridder would have him on a $985K base salary. If unclaimed by Wednesday’s deadline, the 2022 No. 74 overall pick will make a surprising voyage into free agency.
The Cardinals finalized their initial 53-man roster with the following moves:
Released:
- WR Andre Baccellia
- LB Markus Bailey
- LB Krys Barnes
- OL Jackson Barton
- DL T.J. Carter
- S Andre Chachere
- WR Dan Chisena
- OL Keith Ismael
- CB Bobby Price
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
Waived:
- RB Michael Carter
- CB Jaden Davis
- RB Hassan Hall
- OL Marquis Hayes
- DL Phil Hoskins
- DL Naquan Jones
- LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
- DL Myles Murphy
- LB Trevor Nowaske
- WR Tejhaun Palmer
- QB Desmond Ridder (story)
- TE Bernhard Seikovits
- LB Tyreke Smith
- DL Ben Stille
- TE Blake Whiteheart
- CB Divaad Wilson
Waived/injured:
- TE Sage Surratt
Placed on IR:
Placed on IR (designated for return):
We’ve already reported on the most notable name, Ridder. The Cardinals instead opted to rely on second-year passer Clayton Tune to back up Kyler Murray behind center. There’s still a chance Ridder could remain on the practice squad as QB3.
Robinson and Jones will miss the first four games of the season, but both have been designated to return from IR eventually. Jones Jr. will miss the 2024 season, though.
Two rookie draft picks failed to make the 53-man. Alabama Birmingham receiver Palmer (sixth-round) and Miami (FL) cornerback Davis (seventh-round) both hit the waiver wire following the preseason. Undrafted receiver Xavier Weaver out of Colorado, does make the roster, though.
Other surprises were the cutting of Carter and Barnes. Carter struggled last year before parting ways with the Jets, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2021. Six games in Arizona last year were not enough to warrant a return in 2024 on the active roster. Carter had been shopped around a bit as of late, but with no buyers, he hits the waiver wire. Barnes started six games for the team last year after three years in Green Bay, where he started 24 games.