How the Cardinals can control the 2024 NFL Draft

Thanks to a significant amount of draft capital for next year, Arizona could be in the driver’s seat in less than 12 months.

Regardless of how the season goes for the Arizona Cardinalsyou will have plenty of opportunities to reconfigure your squad during the NFL Draft 2024in the month of April.

At the moment, the Cardinals they own 11 picks by 2024, including two in the first round, one in the second, and two three in the third. For those who keep count at home, there are six in the top 100 positions. Arizona Earned the first-round pick of the Houston Texans 2024 –among other picks– in last week’s draft, when the Texans rose from No. 12 to No. 3 of the Cardinals to select the outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. of Alabama.

What could those picks become, particularly the two first-rounders? If he Draft 2024 unfolds as projected in the Caesars Sportsbook based on their inverted odds of Super Bowllos Cardinals they could control the top of the draft with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks overall. The Cardinals y Texans have the longest odds to win the Super Bowland good campaigns are not expected of them, meaning that Arizona could finish with the first two places in the order of selections.

So every time they lose Cardinals –and the Texans— in 2024, the conversation will quickly turn to what’s at stake next April. And, until proven otherwise, the next draft’s top prize seems to be the quarterback of USC, Caleb Williamsnow managed by the former head coach of the Cardinals, cliff Kingsbury, ironically. Here’s the problem: the Cardinals They have a quarterback — a pretty good one — in Kyler Murraywho is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, and may not be ready for the start of next season.

They will debate, speculate and project the future of Murray with every pass he throws and every run he makes.

The reporter of the Cardinals for ESPNJosh Weinfuss, and analyst NFL Draft for ESPNJordan Reid, discuss the status of Murray for the 2023 campaign, his future with the Cardinalsand the prospects that Arizona You should be studying by 2024.

Where are the Cardinals in their rebuild after the 2023 Draft?

With this year’s draft in the rear view mirror, it’s pretty clear this is a two-year GM project at the very least. Ossenfort Mountains y el head coach Jonathan Gannon to build the template they want. They used free agency to add quick fixes at the positions of need at pass rusher, offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback. This was reinforced when Ossenfort he did not hand out any contracts longer than two years. Throughout the draft, the Cardinals they continued to fill the same positions of need, including investing their first-round pick at offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. of Ohio State. They drafted nine players, including four in the Top-100.

Arizona He’s added some intriguing young talent, but roster cleanups typically take more than one offseason.

But, here’s the thing with rebuilding the Cardinals: If the wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is not pierced, the offense of the Cardinals could be better than expected. His presence might not lead to a lot of wins, but the attack needs to be competitive, especially when he returns. Murray. — Weinfuss

What is the latest on the injury of Murray And your outlook for 2023?

Gannon said that the week before the draft that Murray he had taken a step forward in his recovery. “It’s progressing well,” he said. Gannon via the “PHNX’s Cardinals” podcast.

Murray is working and rehabilitating itself in the facilities of the Cardinals in Tempe, Arizona, after undergoing surgery on January 3. Most likely Murray will return at some point in the 2023 campaign, the question is when. There is no definite date for his return, but Kingsbury said the day after surgery Murray that the quarterback “probably” would not be back for the start of the 2023 season. Gannon said on February 23 that Murray He was going “right on schedule” with his rehab, but the team wouldn’t rush him back until they knew he was 100 percent. The notion that Murray He may miss the entire season he has missed out in recent months.

Ossenfort y Gannon They have said on multiple occasions that Murray is their quarterback and they are patiently waiting for him to heal. They have been impressed with the diligence of Murray in their recovery, and none have suggested that the future of Murray with the franchise is at risk. — Weinfuss

What does the contract look like? Murray for 2024 and beyond?

From a financial standpoint, if — and it’s a huge if — the Cardinals they would like to get rid of the five-year extension you signed Murray in July worth as much as $230.5 million, it might be too late.

Murray he received a $36 million optional bonus on the first day of the 2023 league year in March. And, $35.3 million of his base salary for the following season is guaranteed. He has no more guaranteed money after 2025.

But, starting in 2024, his number against the salary cap is astronomical, as is the dead money charge he would incur at Arizona in case of cutting Murray. According to Over the Cap, the number of Murray in 2024 against the cap it will be 51.857 million dollars, and his charge for dead money would reach 81.5 million. The Cardinals they would lose $64.9 million in money against the cap, rather than save anything, if the player leaves.

In 2025, although he does not have guaranteed money, the impact against the salary cap of Murray amounts to $45.6 million, but his dead money charge drops to $33.2 million, and Arizona he would save 12.4 million against the cap if they said goodbye to him. — Weinfuss

What would it take for the Cardinals to hit the quarterback market in 2024?

Murray you have quite a bit of guaranteed money left over, something that will probably prevent you from Arizona make moves ahead of the 2024 campaign. And let’s not forget the following: Murray He has played at an elite level in this league. He led the Cardinals to a 7-0 start in 2021, and were at 10-2 before the season imploded, just as it has in three of the past four seasons under Kingsbury. Murray he gets most of the blame for the downfall of a franchise that was, by and large, out of his control.

So he’s healthy and has the offensive options to work with, such as Hopkinsplaying in a structured environment and in an offense that is built for him, then it is very possible that Murray can get back into the conversation Most valuable Player at some point in the next two years, as happened at the start of the 2021 season.

But, if the 2023 campaign suffers setbacks, there is always the possibility that the new regime of the Cardinals –who did not select Murray— want to bring in your own quarterback, especially if Arizona is perched at the top of the draft order. The challenge then becomes to convince the owner Michael Bidwill of eating the guaranteed money that will be paid to Murray, which will not necessarily be something simple. To soften the idea of ​​taking another quarterback at No. 1, the Cardinals they would need to transfer to Murray for another package of selections. — Weinfuss

Who are the best prospects at the quarterback position for the 2024 Draft?

The two names that will hear the most for the next campaign will be Caleb Williams of USC y Drake Intoxication of North Carolina. Both enter a critical junior campaign where all eyes will be on them as the most coveted quarterbacks of the next crop. Williamsreigning winner of the Heisman Trophyis the next in a long line of quarterbacks developed by Lincoln Riley (including Murray). Williams (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns against five interceptions in 2022 while adding another 382 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Last season was his first as a starter after transferring as Oklahomaand many have high expectations for him to become the first global recruit.

Intoxication He’s not far behind and is another prospect who enjoyed a breakout season in his first year as a starter. Getting honors like Offensive Rookie of the Year y Offensive Player of the Year in the ACC, had 4,321 passing yards and 38 touchdowns against just seven interceptions in 2022, also adding 698 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. At 6 feet 4 inches, and 225 pounds, Intoxication he’s lean but powerful as a pitcher, and he can challenge for the No. 1 overall pick.

Outside Williams y Intoxicationnames to watch in the upcoming campaign include Quinn Ewers (Texas), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), y Bo Nix (Oregon). Everyone has the potential to go high in the first round. — Reid

What else does the Cards’ roster need in 2024, and what prospects at other positions should we be aware of?

Los Cardinals they are in the early stages of rebuilding their roster. Ossenfort did an excellent job of keeping the focus on adding young talent in the premium positions during the 2023 NFL Draft, while earning future draft capital. Add offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.quarterback hunter BJ Ojulariand to the corner Garrett Williams, it was a positive start towards the reconstruction of a squad that needs talented players. Looking forward to 2024, the goal should remain the same, given that the team is multiple years away from being a true contender. Arizona he must continue to add players at key positions while adding future draft capital to eventually plug holes at other positions. The wide receiver of Ohio State, Marvin Harrison Jr.; defensive end of Florida State, Jared Verse; cornerback of Alabama, Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry; and pin hunter Crimson Tide, Dallas Turnerare among the top prospects who don’t play the quarterback position that makes sense for players. Cardinals ahead of the 2023 collegiate campaign. — Reid