HEADLINES

Cardinals Rumors

Draft Notes: Titans, Alt, Chargers, Jags, Hawks, Cardinals, Bucs, Pats, Latu, Rams

April 11th, 2024 at 8:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cutting Andre Dillard and not replacing him to this point, the Titans have a clear left tackle need going into a draft loaded with high-end prospects at the position. The Titans are “definitely” interested in Joe Alt, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller writes, noting the team’s recent visit and Combine meeting with the two-time All-American. But the Chargers should be considered a team to watch for the Notre Dame alum. The Bolts, whose first-round slot (No. 5) is two in front of the Titans’, have a clear wide receiver need but have hired a coach (Jim Harbaugh) who has not emphasized that position.

Alt continues to come up in connection to the Chargers at 5, ESPN’s Jordan Reid adds, and SI.com’s Albert Breer is not sure the Titans will have a chance at the decorated blocker due to the Bolts staying drafting Alt at 5. Alt would replace Trey Pipkins at right tackle in this scenario. Alt was a left tackle for the Fighting Irish and would step in there immediately if he lasted until the Titans at 7. One avenue for Tennessee to have a shot here would be if the Bolts trade down — a move they have made it known they are willing to make. Other quality tackles like Alabama’s JC Latham and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga could be options for the Bolts if they move down, Reid adds.

Here is the latest from the draft:

  • Personnel around the NFL are tying the Jaguars to a cornerback investment at No. 17, Reid adds in the above-referenced ESPN piece. Jacksonville has hosted both Alabama CBs — Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry — and has a need at the position due to the Darious Williams cut. The Jags signed Ronald Darby, but the 30-year-old CB is signed to a two-year deal that can be shed easily in 2025. A young corner to pair with Tyson Campbell would make sense. With Josh Allen signed long term and Trevor Lawrence perhaps on deck this year, the Jags finding quality starters on rookie contracts will be paramount.
  • The Cardinals and Seahawks have hosted Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson on visits this week, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. The ex-Nittany Lions sack artist has been busy during the draft run-up, having already met with the Eagles, Ravens, Saints, Giants and Jets. Robinson would come into play for the Cardinals if they moved down from No. 4, but Arizona — which certainly needs help on the edge — also holds the No. 27 choice courtesy of its Texans trade early in last year’s draft. The Seahawks hold the No. 16 selection. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com mock draft sends Robinson to the Buccaneers at 26.
  • Speaking of the Bucs, they recently brought in Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley for a pre-draft meeting, Pelissero tweets. The Bucs have plenty of money allocated to the receiver position, with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on deals north of the $20MM-AAV mark. Corley profiles as a second-round option in a deep receiver draft, with teams who pass on filling a WR need in Round 1 likely paying attention to the ex-Hilltoppers standout’s status entering Day 2. The Browns, Ravens, Seahawks and 49ers have also scheduled Corley visits.
  • Moving to another Day 2-level wideout, Troy Franklin is believed to have scheduled a Patriots meeting, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan tweets. The Patriots not landing Calvin Ridley places them on the radar for a wideout in Round 2, assuming they fill their QB need at No. 3 overall. The Pats did sign K.J. Osborn and kept Kendrick Bourne off the market, but the team’s rookie QB will need more help.
  • Most teams to meet with UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu have cleared him medically, per Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline, who indicates the Rams are one of them. A neck issue forced a Latu medical retirement in 2020, and the ex-Washington recruit missed the 2021 season. He re-emerged to post back-to-back double-digit sack seasons in L.A., and ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop notes edge rusher is a priority for the Rams. With Aaron Donald gone and the team not making any additions here in free agency, that adds up. The reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year has already met with the Eagles, Bears, Broncos, Vikings and Cardinals.

Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2024

April 10th, 2024 at 10:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 2024 draft nears, numerous picks have already changed hands. A handful of picks have already been moved twice, with a few being traded three times. Multiple deals from 2021 impact this draft. Here are the 2024 picks to have been traded thus far:

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Broncos Meet With Laiatu Latu; OLB To Visit Vikings, Cardinals

April 9th, 2024 at 10:43am CST by Sam Robinson

Among the first-round edge rushers in this year’s class, Laiatu Latu is coming off back-to-back 10-plus-sack seasons. This came after the UCLA alum had retired from football due to injury. Given the production and medical history, Latu is becoming popular on the visit circuit.

The Broncos have met with the former Washington recruit, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds Laiatu is in Minnesota today for a Vikings visit. The Cardinals will huddle up with Latu on Wednesday. The Bears met with Latu on Monday, with the Eagles having already brought him in for a previous visit.

[RELATED: Vikings, Cardinals To Host Dallas Turner]

It certainly should be expected a talent with this medical issue in his past will log a number of visits before the draft. A neck issue during the Huskies’ training camp in 2020 led to a medical retirement. Latu, however, resurfaced at UCLA in 2022. He ripped off 10.5- and 13-sack seasons. The latter effort produced a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honor in the conference’s swansong season. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board slots Latu 16th — behind fellow edges Dallas Turner and Jared Verse — while Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board places him 12th.

The Broncos jettisoned both their veteran edge players — Frank Clark, Randy Gregory — during the season and went with a trio of younger performers (Jonathon Cooper, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto) and saw improvement. An argument can also be made the Broncos are missing an anchor pass rusher. While Latu only makes sense for the Broncos if they pass on a quarterback at 12 or avoid the urge to trade up for one. Considering the need Sean Payton‘s team has at the game’s premier position, mock drafts continually send QBs Denver’s way.

Although the Vikings lost Danielle Hunter after nine seasons, they replaced him with Jonathan Greenard. Ex-Dolphin hybrid linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel also joined the Vikings, but the team lost D.J. Wonnum and Marcus Davenport as well. Brian Flores‘ bunch is in need of a pure edge rusher to complement Greenard.

After totaling just 33 sacks last season, the Cardinals have a bigger need than most at this position. While Arizona moved Zaven Collins to the edge and returns 2023 sack leader Dennis Gardeck (six), the team certainly needs more help here. Arizona used a second-round pick on edge BJ Ojulari last year. The Cardinals hold the Nos. 4 and 27 picks in this year’s first round. Closely tied to being the team that trades out of the top four to give a QB-needy team — like the Vikings or Broncos — the opportunity to land one of this draft’s top four arms, the Cards could wind up in the Latu range if they move out of 4.

Vikings, Chargers, Cardinals To Host Dallas Turner

April 8th, 2024 at 2:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

As one of the top defensive prospects in the 2024 class, edge rusher Dallas Turner unsurprisingly has a busy schedule in the build-up to the draft. Having already lined up visits with the Falcons and Bears, he is also on the radar of three other interested teams.

Turner is visiting the Vikings today, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He adds Turner also has ‘top 30’ trips set up with the Chargers and Cardinals. Those teams own a total of four first-round picks, including three of the first 11 selections.

The Alabama product is widely regarded as the top edge rushing prospect available, something which has frequently led to top-10 connections. The Falcons in particular have become a frequent landing spot in many mock drafts, in large part because of Atlanta’s need to make additions along the edge. That scenario would lead to Turner hearing his name called eighth overall, after the Cardinals and Chargers’ selections but before the Vikings’.

Minnesota – a team which is also hosting DT Byron Murphy today – saw both Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum depart in free agency. While Jonathan Greenard (who signed a four-year, $76MM deal) will fill one starting spot along the edge, the Vikings could use another notable addition during the draft. Of course, the team has instead been most closely connected to a QB selection, something which would likely entail moving up the draft order. If Turner were to make it out of the top 10, though, he could be in the Vikings’ plans.

Arizona and Los Angeles own picks No. 4 and 5, although both are known to be available in a trade for the right price Each team is in the market for a receiver, and the top prospects at that position will be on the board if the first three selections go as expected with quarterbacks hearing their names called. The Cardinals (who have been busy on the ’30 visit’ front recently) have made a number of moves on the defensive line this offseason, but after finishing 30th in sacks last year the team will likely make edge additions a draft priority.

Faced with a significant cap crunch in his first offseason at the helm, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz elected to keep both Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa in the fold on restructured contracts. That will give the team a pair of established starters on the edge, a contrast to the receiver position as things currently stand. Especially if Los Angeles elects to move down the board slightly, though, Turner could be in consideration for Hortiz and Co.

The 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Turner posted a career-high 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season. Those figures helped earn him All-American acclaim as he took over from Will Anderson as the Crimson Tide’s lead edge rusher. He will face high expectations right away during his rookie season in the NFL, and his first pro team will no doubt be among those spending considerable time evaluating him as part of their draft preparation.

NFC Contract Details: Packers, Moore, Maddox, Burns

April 7th, 2024 at 8:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on recent new contracts around the NFC:

  • Eric Wilson, LB (Packers): One year, $1.38MM. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Wilson’s new contract with Green Bay includes a base salary of $1.21MM and a signing bonus of $167.5K.
  • Kristian Welch, LB (Packers): One year, $1.21MM. Demovsky also tells us that Welch’s re-signed deal will have a base salary of $1.13MM and a signing bonus worth $20K. Welch can earn an additional $20K with a workout bonus as well as a per game active roster bonus of $2,647 for a potential season total of $45K.
  • Chris Moore, WR (Cardinals): One year, $2MM. Moore’s contract with the Cardinals will have a guaranteed amount of $750K comprised of $250K of his 2024 base salary (worth a total of $1.28MM) and a $500K signing bonus, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports. Moore will add another $50K with a workout bonus and an additional $10K per game that he’s on the active roster for a potential season total of $170K in per game active roster bonuses.
  • Avonte Maddox, CB (Eagles): One year, $1.5MM. Maddox’s new deal will have a guaranteed value of $875K consisting of $500K of his base salary (worth $1.13MM in total) and a $375K signing bonus.
  • Brian Burns, OLB (Giants): Five years, $141MM. We noted recently that Burns’ deal was not worth the reported $150MM amount and was actually for $141MM. Thanks to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, we now know that the $9MM difference comes from incentives wherein he can earn an additional $1.8MM for each year that he either reaches 12.5 sacks, makes a Pro Bowl, or earns first-team All-Pro honors. He’s reached that sack total once in 2022 and made two Pro Bowls in 2021 and 2022, but because he didn’t reach any of those achievements last year, the potential $1.8MM won’t count against New York’s cap space in 2024.

Cardinals Hosting WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

April 5th, 2024 at 2:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Closely linked to a trade-down maneuver, the Cardinals have now scheduled visits with all three of this draft class’ top wide receivers. After their “30” visit with Malik Nabers, the Cards have Marvin Harrison Jr. in town Friday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

A Rome Odunze meeting is also on Arizona’s docket. The Cardinals have a chance to acquire considerable future draft capital by trading down from No. 4 overall, but unless they slide down just a few picks (perhaps with the Giants, who sit at No. 6), they will forfeit their access to the Harrison-Nabers-Odunze tier by trading down. This raises the stakes for the receiver-needy team.

Harrison presents an interesting profile. The Ohio State product delivered tremendous on-field production, coming out of a program that has regularly churned out high-level receiver talent in recent years. Harrison also has bucked tradition by not working out for teams during the pre-draft period. After passing on work at the Combine, Harrison also did not perform any drills or run a 40-yard dash at the Buckeyes’ pro day last month. This is highly unusual, but teams are believed to have given the top-flight prospect indications they did not need to see him go through drills during the run-up to the draft.

Rather than training for pre-draft workouts, the second-generation wide receiver talent is taking the atypical step of preparing for an NFL offseason program. With Nabers blazing to a 4.35-second 40 time after moving onto the Harrison tier as a prospect by helping Jayden Daniels to the Heisman, it will be interesting to see if Harrison’s strategy backfires. Though, even if Nabers is the first receiver chosen, Harrison will not need to wait long before he strolls across the draft stage.

While some teams are believed to prefer Nabers, Harrison impressed the Cardinals during his Combine interview. Harrison’s game tape also leaves little doubt about his draft status. Harrison eclipsed 1,200 yards in each of his final two college seasons and caught 14 touchdown passes in both years. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board places Harrison as this class’ No. 3 overall prospect (and top wideout), while Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com offering has Harrison as No. 2 overall prospect. At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, the younger Harrison is much bigger than his Hall of Fame father was during his career.

With quarterbacks widely expected to be chosen in the top three, the Cardinals have a clear opportunity to land this class’ top receiver. The team, which lost Marquise Brown last month, has a glaring need at the position. This draft class houses another deep receiver crop, however, which could convince the Cardinals to trade back — as they did in last year’s first round — to bolster their rebuild.

The Cardinals also hold the No. 27 overall pick, by virtue of their trade-down with the Texans. If the Vikings (No. 11), Broncos (No. 12) or Raiders (No. 13) are to climb up, the Cards could pick up two future firsts. It will be interesting to see if those kind of offers emerge, as that would stand to force the team to consider passing on the Harrison-Nabers-Odunze tier of WR.

Terry McDonough Files Lawsuit Against Cardinals, Michael Bidwill

April 5th, 2024 at 8:53am CST by Adam La Rose

Former Cardinals employee Terry McDonough recently saw his arbitration case against the team and owner Michael Bidwill come to an end. After being awarded $3MM as a result of the Cardinals’ statement made against him last year stemming from his other allegations, the matter could now proceed in court.

McDonough has filed a lawsuit against the Cardinals, Bidwill, the third-party PR firm Counterpoint Strategies and others, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. The suit comes in the wake of an NFL arbitrator ruling the team’s statement against him was “false and defamatory,” resulting in the awarding of punitive damages as well as awards for emotional distress and damages to McDonough’s reputation.

“We are aware of the complaint but have no additional comment as it is an active legal matter,” the Cardinals said in a response to the situation (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).

The arbitration case against Bidwill and the Cardinals did not result in damages owing to the team’s dismissal of McDonough in January 2023. That decision – which ended his 10-year run with the organization during which he served as a high-ranking executive – was argued by McDonough to be retribution for his stance against the usage of burner phones with then-suspended general manager Steve Keim and head coach Steve Wilks (among other allegations). The latter’s own legal situation appears to have a connection to this latest McDonough development.

Mike Jurecki of Arizona Football Daily reports McDonough is prepared to continue his legal action until Wilks succeeds in his involvement in the ongoing Brian Flores-led racial discrimination lawsuit. Wilks became a complainant in that case to argue for wrongful termination stemming from his dismissal after a single season at the helm of the Cardinals in 2018. Portions of the suit will be allowed to proceed in open court, but Wilks’ allegations will be tested in arbitration.

As Jurecki (who has reported other ex-Cardinals staffers received an award in addition to McDonough) notes, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell‘s mentor was Will McDonough. That could grant Terry McDonough, Will’s son, direct access to Goodell and thus help his chances of receiving further compensation from the Cardinals. In any event, this case along with that of Wilks will remain an off-field storyline for Arizona for the foreseeable future.

Cardinals Host Malik Nabers, Terrion Arnold, JC Latham

April 4th, 2024 at 6:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

As mock drafts have the Cardinals addressing their wide receiver need at No. 4 or trading down to stockpile more assets — as they did last year — the rebuilding team has a big decision to make. Being effectively assured of the draft’s top wide receiver by sticking at 4, the Cardinals made some pivotal trade-down maneuvers in Monti Ossenfort‘s first GM year.

Committed to Kyler Murray, the Cardinals are not in consideration to draft a quarterback early. After trading down from No. 3 to No. 12 (and then back to No. 6) last year, the team has two first-round picks. The Cards also hold the No. 27 overall selection, thanks to the trade that gave the Texans Will Anderson Jr.

[RELATED: Cardinals Host WR Xavier Worthy]

Arizona is doing its due diligence on players that will not be available at 27, hosting LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers and Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe and Ian Rapoport note. They also met with Alabama tackle JC Latham, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board slots the trio fourth, ninth and 18th in this year’s class.

While the Giants face a similar decision regarding a wide receiver, theirs involves trading up for a quarterback or staying put and having a top-flight WR available. The Cardinals, however, are in a better position thanks to the No. 4 slot. Ossenfort’s pledge of being open to trading down has produced rumblings that is what Arizona is planning to do, but the team can instantly upgrade its receiver spot by drafting Nabers, Marvin Harrison Jr. or Washington’s Rome Odunze. It is quite possible none would be available if the Cardinals trade down. Odunze is also on the Cards’ visit list.

QB-needy teams like the Vikings, Broncos and Raiders could be eyeing the Cardinals’ pick. If Arizona deals with any of that trio, it would slide out out of the top 10. After the Cards lost Christian Kirk and DeAndre Hopkins in 2022 and ’23, Marquise Brown joined the Chiefs this offseason. That leaves the team in dire need at the position. The 2024 class is set to deliver another deep receiver crop, however, and Ossenfort could view a future first-round pick (and other assets) as more valuable than the Harrison-Nabers-Odunze WR tier.

Still, Nabers is viewed by some teams as this draft’s top wideout. The Cardinals already met with the LSU alum previously, though “30” visits provide better opportunities to gauge prospects’ fits. Nabers posted a 1,000-yard season in 2022 but unlocked another level to his game last season, totaling 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns to help Jayden Daniels win the Heisman. Nabers’ 4.35-second 40-yard dash at LSU’s pro day certainly did not hurt his stock.

Arnold and Latham could be targets for the Cards if they move down. The team has been in need at corner for years, losing the likes of Patrick Peterson and Byron Murphy in free agency earlier this decade. Arnold rates as the top corner on Jeremiah’s big board; the Cards have not gone corner in Round 1 since Peterson in 2011. Operating across from fellow top prospect Kool-Aid McKinstry, the 6-foot Arnold recorded six interceptions (five in 2023) and 20 passes defensed over the past two seasons.

The Cardinals climbed up for Paris Johnson last year, and while the team recently released longtime left tackle D.J. Humphries, Jonah Williams signed a two-year deal. This would not make tackle a front-burner need. Latham joined Arnold as a first-team All-SEC player last season. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board lists Latham 12th overall and as the third-best tackle in this year’s draft.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/3/24

April 3rd, 2024 at 8:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Washington Commanders

  • Signed: DT Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi

Dortch was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent a month ago, essentially ensuring that the diminutive receiver would be back in 2024. He made it official today, though, signing his one-year exclusive rights tender.

Ndubuisi entered the league as a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program in 2022 as an offensive lineman. After failing to make a roster, he returned to the IPPP as a defensive tackle. He spent all of 2023 on the Broncos’ practice squad and most recently spent a week and a half with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL. Ndubuisi will look to make his NFL debut with Washington in 2024.

Terry McDonough Awarded $3MM In Arbitration Case Against Cardinals

April 2nd, 2024 at 8:47am CST by Adam La Rose

Almost exactly one year ago, former Cardinals employee Terry McDonough filed an arbitration claim against Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill accusing his former employer of cheating and gross misconduct. That process has now concluded with McDonough’s accusations of defamatory claims against the Cardinals resulting in an arbitration award.

The Cardinals have been ordered to pay McDonough $3MM, as detailed in a 62-page decision from arbitrator Jeffrey Mishkin (via ESPN’s Tisha Thompson). In response to McDonough’s original arbitration filing – which stemmed from allegations of using burner phones during then-GM Steve Keim‘s suspension (and McDonough’s subsequent demotion and dismissal upon taking issue with it) – the Cardinals released a statement which accused the longtime executive of spousal abuse and neglect of his disabled adult daughter.

Mishkin’s findings describe that statement as “false and defamatory,” adding that Bidwill and the Cardinals defamed McDonough “with malice.” The latter will receive $150K for damages to his reputation, $600K for emotional distress and $2.25MM in punitive damages. Per the ruling, McDonough had initially been seeking eight-figure sums for the harm done to his reputation, lost future earnings and emotional distress along with between $60 and $90MM in punitive damages.

“Despite what we consider to be a fundamentally unfair arbitration process, Terry McDonough is the first person ever to win against an NFL owner,” McDonough’s attorney said in a statement. “Why the NFL has not held Michael Bidwill accountable remains a mystery.”

On that point, Arizona Football Daily’s Mike Jurecki reports Bidwill has, in fact, been found responsible and that the true figure the team will be ordered to pay out will be higher than $3MM. Jurecki adds other employees beyond McDonough have been awarded six figure settlements by Mishkin’s decision. Further updates on those fronts will thus be worth watching for.

Per Thompson, the ruling dismissed claims of unlawful retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy on the part of Bidwill and the Cardinals. For that reason, no financial award was given with relation to McDonough’s termination in January 2023. That ended his 10-year tenure with the organization, which included positions as high ranking as VP of player personnel. McDonough was a finalist for the 49ers’ general manager position in 2017, finishing as a runner-up to John Lynch. He has not been on the radar for a GM vacancy since, and it will be interesting to see how his career arc is affected by the conclusion of this process.

Responding to the arbitrator’s ruling, the Cardinals released the following statement: “We are pleased with the arbitrator’s decision dismissing all of Terry McDonough’s employment claims and finding that there was nothing improper about his dismissal from the team. As for Mr. McDonough’s other claim, we respect the arbitrator’s determination that our initial statement went too far. We accept responsibility for that statement and are grateful that the arbitration is now resolved.”

Load More Posts