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Kyler Murray Kyler Murray New target in form of Harrison
Wed, May 1, 2024, 3:35 PM
Murray will be throwing to a new No. 1 wide receiver in 2024 and beyond after the Cardinals selected Marvin Harrison, fourth overall, in this year's draft.
Analysis: Murray's 2023 debut was delayed due to a torn ACL in his right knee that he suffered Dec. 12, 2022. Upon his return Week 10, he started the final eight games of the campaign, completing 176 of 268 passes (65.7 percent) for 1,799 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing 44 times for 244 yards and three more TDs. By the end of the season, second-year TE Trey McBride had transformed into Murray's favorite target, and after the offseason departure of Marquise Brown (Chiefs), the quarterback was in search of a dynamic weapon in the passing game. The arrival of Harrison provides just that for Murray, who also will have RB James Conner and WR Michael Wilson at his disposal. |
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James Conner James Conner Leader of improved backfield
Tue, Apr 30, 2024, 4:47 PM
Rookie third-round pick Trey Benson is unlikely to take Conner's starting job but may eventually force a timeshare in the Cardinals' backfield, according to KC Joyner of The Athletic.
Analysis: Conner has missed multiple games in each of his seven NFL seasons, though never more than six in any one year, so any competition for touches could sort itself out. His 2023 included career highs for rushing yards (1,040) and yards per carry (5.0), with the downside being his fewest targets (33) and catches (27, 2.1 per game) since he was a barely-used rookie with Pittsburgh in 2017. The lack of receiving volume was partially a product of Emari Demercado getting playing time in passing situations, and it's worth noting that the Cardinals have two other backs in Michael Carter, DeeJay Dallas with track records as passing-down specialists. That said, Conner still figures to be the starter and lead runner, with Benson being the main threat to poach carries and TDs even if other guys are in the mix on passing downs. |
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Greg Dortch Greg Dortch Signs contract tender
Wed, Apr 3, 2024, 3:36 PM
Dortch signed his one-year exclusive rights tender with the Cardinals on Wednesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Dortch is coming off a 2023 season in which he recorded 24 receptions (on 41 targets) for 280 yards and two touchdowns in 16 contests for Arizona. With Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore no longer with the team, Dortch could see added opportunities during the upcoming season, though to what degree remains to be seen since the Cardinals will likely add receiver depth in the coming month via the 2024 NFL Draft. |
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Greg Dortch Greg Dortch Big opportunity ahead?
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 3:21 PM
Dortch is part of a thin WR room in Arizona after the team traded Rondale Moore and lost Marquise Brown in free agency, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
Analysis: The 5-foot-7 slot man and return specialist had eight games with seven or more targets over the past two seasons, seeing passes at an unusual rate for someone that only got significant playing time when injuries forced other players out of the lineup. Dortch might get a real opportunity in 2024, though the Cardinals still have time to strengthen their WR group, particularly via the NFL Draft in April. Dortch received a qualifying tender last week as an exclusive rights free agent, and he'll turn 26 this spring heading into this fourth year with the Cardinals. |
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Michael Wilson Michael Wilson Temporarily atop depth chart
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 3:15 PM
Wilson is part of a thin WR room in Arizona after the team traded Rondale Moore and lost Marquise Brown in free agency, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
Analysis: That said, the Cardinals own the fourth overall pick in a draft with three elite wide receiver prospects and might end up having their choice of the three. They also have time to pursue veterans, though journeyman Chris Moore has been the only free-agent addition so far. Wilson came in as a third-round pick last season and started 12 of his 13 games while posting excellent per-target efficiency numbers -- 65.5 percent catch rate, 14.9 YPR, 9.7 YPT -- but his low rate of targets per route (14.1 percent) leaves him as somewhat of a question mark. He's got opportunity and size (6-2, 213) working in his favor, while speed (4.58 40) and age (turned 24 in February) were dings on the prospect profile coming out of Stanford. If nothing else, Wilson seems to be in pretty good position to reprise his role as a starter who doesn't see that many targets. |
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Chris Moore Chris Moore Headed to Arizona
Thu, Mar 14, 2024, 8:58 PM
Moore signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Moore has been a possession receiver for the majority of his career, but he flashed big-play ability during the Titans in 2023. Despite making only 22 catches, he had nine receptions of at least 20 yards and three of more than 40 yards. The Cardinals lack clarity in their wide receiver corps, and while they're likely to add to the group in either free agency or through the draft, Moore steps into a situation that currently should afford him plenty of opportunity to produce. |
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Desmond Ridder Desmond Ridder Dealt to Cardinals
Thu, Mar 14, 2024, 12:34 PM
The Falcons are trading Ridder to Arizona in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Ridder gets a chance to start fresh after Atlanta opted to ink Kirk Cousins (Achilles) to a massive four-year contract, and he becomes the favorite to back up Kyler Murray for the Cardinals. The team also has 2023 fifth-round pick Clayton Tune available, and further competition could be added this offseason, but Ridder boasts enough experience to step up in emergency circumstances. Across 15 appearances last season he completed 249 of 388 passes for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. |
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DeeJay Dallas DeeJay Dallas Lands in desert
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 1:32 PM
Dallas is set to sign a contract with the Cardinals, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.
Analysis: Dallas will stay in the NFC West after a four-year start to his career in Seattle. The 25-year-old is better known for his work as a return man than in the backfield and likely will be working to hold down return duties in Arizona. |
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Greg Dortch Greg Dortch Tendered by Cardinals
Thu, Mar 7, 2024, 3:18 PM
Arizona offered Dortch a qualifying tender of $1.13 million for the 2024 season, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap reports.
Analysis: Dortch, an exclusive rights free agent, has no choice but to sign the tender offered to him by the Cardinals if he wants to play in the NFL for the 2024 season. Across 16 appearances last season Dortch mostly contributed as Arizona's top punt and kick returner, but he also contributed on offense upon Kyler Murray's mid-season return from injury. In all, he secured 24 passes for 280 yards and two scores. |
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Elijah Higgins Elijah Higgins Makes some headway after Week 10
Thu, Feb 8, 2024, 11:08 PM
Higgins gathered in 14 of 19 targets for 163 yards and one touchdown in 11 regular-season games in 2023.
Analysis: A sixth-round pick of the Dolphins last April, Higgins transitioned from oversized wide receiver to undersized tight end in the move to the pros. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder didn't survive cut-down day in Miami in late August and subsequently was claimed off waivers by Arizona. He eventually became a regular in the Cardinals offense after veteran Zach Ertz went down with a quad strain Week 7 and even recorded at least one catch in each of the team's final seven contests. That said, Higgins played second fiddle by a large margin to 2022 second-round pick Trey McBride, a role that likely will continue for him next season barring further additions at the position. |
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Zach Pascal Zach Pascal Musters career-worst output
Thu, Feb 8, 2024, 11:03 PM
Pascal tallied four catches (on 15 targets) for 19 yards and no touchdowns in 14 games during the 2023 campaign.
Analysis: In a receiving corps devoid of size outside of rookie third-rounder Michael Wilson (6-foot-2, 213 pounds), the 6-foot-2, 219-pound Pascal had a chance for a decent role in a Cardinals offense otherwise dominated by the diminutive Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch. Instead, Pascal surpassed a 30 percent snap share in only two of his 14 appearances and stumbled to the lowest output of his six-year career by a long shot. He's an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, so the 29-year-old may not be much more than camp fodder for any team that inks him to a new deal in the coming months. |
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Greg Dortch Greg Dortch Serves mostly on returns in 2023
Thu, Feb 8, 2024, 10:59 PM
Dortch reeled in 24 of 41 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns, had one five-yard carry, recorded 17 kick returns for 360 yards and returned 29 punts for 275 yards in 16 regular-season games in 2023.
Analysis: Dortch was barely utilized (one target) before Week 9, but with Kyler Murray back from a torn ACL thereafter, the wide receiver was a regular option for the quarterback the rest of the way. Even though a variety of injuries stretched the receiving corps thin during that span, Dortch mustered just a 23-278-2 line on 39 targets over the final eight contests of the campaign. He's an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason, so he likely will be a member of the Cardinals in 2024 assuming they tender him a contract. |
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Clayton Tune Clayton Tune Uninspiring rookie season
Thu, Feb 8, 2024, 10:55 PM
Tune completed 12 of 21 passes for 62 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions and had eight carries for 30 yards and one touchdown in seven games during the 2023 season.
Analysis: In the lone start of his rookie season Week 9, the 2023 fifth-round pick led the Cardinals to their lowest offensive output (58 net yards) in any game of the campaign. In essence, Tune bridged the gap between Joshua Dobbs starting the first eight contests and Kyler Murray getting the rest of the nods after the latter completed his recovery from a torn ACL. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Tune got a handful of short-yardage reps in place of the smaller Murray in the second half of the year, but with Murray's five-year extension officially kicking in in 2024, the former is unlikely to be any higher than No. 2 on Arizona's QB depth chart next season. |
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Rondale Moore Rondale Moore Makes two end-zone visits in 2023
Fri, Feb 2, 2024, 11:18 PM
Moore gathered in 40 of 62 targets for 352 yards and one touchdown and took 28 carries for 178 yards and another touchdown in 17 games in the 2023 campaign.
Analysis: For the first time in his three-year career, Moore logged a full 17-game slate, and he managed career highs in yards from scrimmage (530) and TDs (two) while working with three different signal-callers. Having said that, he had similar success with No. 1 Kyler Murray back under center than he did prior to Week 10, notching 31.5 total yards per game after that versus 30.9 before then. Moore has one year remaining on his rookie deal, and offseason moves will determine where the 2021 second-rounder stands in the WR pecking order next season. |
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Emari Demercado Emari Demercado Nets 79 touches as rookie
Fri, Feb 2, 2024, 11:14 PM
Demercado tallied 284 yards and two touchdowns on 58 carries and hauled in 21 of 30 targets for 119 yards in 14 regular-season games in 2023.
Analysis: The undrafted rookie had a moment in the spotlight from Weeks 5-8, a span in which he earned two starts in place of an injured James Conner and netted 228 yards from scrimmage and one TD on 52 touches. Otherwise, Conner dominated the Cardinals backfield, and midseason waiver-wire pickup Michael Carter even surpassed Demercado on the RB depth chart over the final six outings of the season. All of Conner, Carter and Demercado will be back in 2024, so Demercado again won't be higher than No. 2 or 3 at the position as the roster currently stands. |
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Michael Carter Michael Carter Ends 2023 as Conner's main backup
Fri, Feb 2, 2024, 11:11 PM
Carter compiled 30 carries for 187 yards and 24 catches (on 31 targets) for 101 yards and one touchdown in 15 games between the Jets and Cardinals during the 2023 season.
Analysis: After racking up 338 touches in 30 contests for the Jets to begin his career, the 2021 sixth-round pick took a back seat to Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook in New York to kick off this past campaign. Carter subsequently was cut loose by the Jets after Week 10 and promptly was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals. From that point on, he was the Arizona running back called on most behind starter James Conner, averaging a healthy 6.8 yards on 22 rushes. Carter has one year remaining on his rookie contract, so he and Emari Demercado likely will serve as the team's top reserve RBs in 2024. |
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Jeff Smith Jeff Smith Stays in AZ on reserve/future deal
Mon, Jan 8, 2024, 7:23 PM
The Cardinals signed Smith to a reserve/future contract Monday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Smith has ample NFL experience, recording 34 catches on 67 targets for 426 yards over 36 regular-season games since coming into the league with the Jets in 2019. However, he didn't play at all in 2023, spending the first part of the season on Arizona's practice squad before being placed on the practice-squad IR in late October and reaching an injury settlement a few days later. Smith rejoined Arizona's practice squad in December and, with the reserve/future contract, will get the chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp this summer. |
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Tony Jones Tony Jones Lands reserve/future deal with AZ
Mon, Jan 8, 2024, 7:12 PM
The Cardinals signed Jones to a reserve/future contract Monday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Davis is a four-year NFL veteran who has seen action with three different teams, including two stints with New Orleans, over the past two campaigns. He played a prominent role in Weeks 2 and 3 with the Saints this season, tallying 65 yards and two touchdowns on 20 rushes along with 21 yards on four receptions, but he was released two weeks later. Jones subsequently signed with Arizona and spent much of the remainder of the campaign on the practice squad but did see action in three games, carrying five times for 25 yards and adding three catches for 16 yards. He'll have a chance to complete for a spot on the team's roster during training camp this summer. |
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Andre Baccellia Andre Baccellia Gets reserve/future deal from Cards
Mon, Jan 8, 2024, 6:58 PM
Arizona signed Baccellia to a reserve/future contract Monday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Baccellia got into five games with the Cardinals this season, logging 46 offensive snaps without seeing a target or getting a touch. He also played 18 snaps on special teams and returned a kickoff for 22 yards. The wideout was more involved in 2022, corralling seven of 10 targets for 45 yards over eight contests. Baccellia will have a chance to compete for a roster spot during training camp this summer. |
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Trey McBride Trey McBride Catches third TD Sunday
Sun, Jan 7, 2024, 10:37 PM
McBride had three receptions on six targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-20 loss to Seattle.
Analysis: McBride finished his breakout fantasy campaign on a high note by catching the only touchdown Kyler Murray threw against the Seahawks on Sunday. The second-year tight end saw huge jumps in usage after Week 1 starter Zach Ertz (quadriceps) landed on season-ending IR in Week 7. McBride took advantage of the opportunity and rattled off 69 receptions, 655 yards and all three of his touchdowns over the ensuing 10 games as the No. 1 option. That is a healthy enough snapshot to get an idea of the impact McBride could have in the shallow fantasy tight end pool in 2024. |
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