Bruce Cooper’s Cardinals GM hat

By Bruce Cooper

With Mike LaFleur in place as the Cardinals new head coach and the Super Bowl in our rearview mirror, It’s time for me to roll up my sleeves and slip on my Cardinals GM hat.

The first order of business is to address the quarterback situation. Kyler Murray is my starting quarterback; he’ll be backed up by Kedon Slovis. Jacoby Brissett traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 5th round draft pick.

Next order of business is to identify players, both free agents and those under contract, who will not be returning to the team.
Offensive players not returning:
James Conner
Trey Benson
Michael Carter
Greg Dortch
Jalen Brooks
Semi Fehoko
Zay Jones
Pharaoh Brown
Josiah Deguara
Kelvin Beachum
Will Hernandez
Jonah Williams
Evan Brown

Defensive Players not returning:
Calais Campbell
L.J. Collier
Bilal Nichols
Akeem Davis-Gaither
Austin Keys
Jalen Thompson
Sean Murphy-Bunting
Darren Hall
Kalen King

In-house free agents to re-sign with the team:
Emari Demercado
Bam Knight
Starling Thomas V
P.J. Mustipher
Aaron Brewer
Matt Haack
Chad Ryland

Outside free agents to sign:
Zion Johnson-OL- LA Chargers (Johnson slots in as starting left guard)
Leo Chenal-ILB-KC Chiefs (Chenal starts inside alongside Mack Wilson)

Next on the list is the NFL draft. Notre Dame players and trading future premium draft picks figure prominently in this matter. Time to aggressively upgrade the roster with speed, burst and playmakers.

Trades:
Send 1st and 2nd round picks in 2027 along with 1st and 2nd round picks in 2028 to the LA Rams for 1st round 2026 pick #13 and 2026 1st round pick #29.
Send 3rd round pick in 2027, 3rd round pick in 2028 along with 1st round pick in 2029 to the Houston Texans for 2026 2nd round pick #38 and 2026 2nd round pick #59

2026 NFL draft:
1st round pick #3— Jeremiyah Love—RB-Notre Dame—6’0, 214. (vision, burst, speed, high-impact receiver. Big-time playmaker)
1st round pick #13 (from Rams via Falcons) Makai Lemon—WR-USC—5’11, 195 (sure-handed, great route runner, intense competitor who wants the ball with the game on the line)
1st round pick #29 (from Rams) Lee Hunter—DL-Texas Tech—6’4, 330 (quick first step, disruptive force who penetrates the backfield. Pairs nicely with Walter Nolen)
2nd round pick #34 Jadarian Price—RB-Notre Dame—5’11, 210 (vision, speed to power, home run threat who provides great 1-2 punch with Jeremyiah Love just as he did at Notre Dame)
2nd round pick #38 (from Texans via Commanders) Caleb Tiernan—OL-Northwestern—6’7, 329 (solid pass protector who slides in to take over starting right tackle position)
2nd round pick #59 (from Texans) Malachi Fields—WR-Notre Dame—6’4, 223 (has that D.K. Metcalf build, physical, attacks the ball in the air and makes a great red-zone target)
3rd round #65 Darrell Jackson jr.—DL-Florida State—6’5, 337 (bull rusher, stout against the run, good rotation player)
4th round #104 Brenen Thompson—WR-Mississippi State–5’9, 170 (might be faster player in the draft. His vertical speed creates explosive plays and pockets underneath)
5th round #141 Pat Coogan—OL-Indiana—6’5, 315 (high football IQ, 42 games against power-5 competition, adds depth to offensive line)
5th round #159 (from Steelers-Brissett trade) Tanner Koziol—TE-Houston—6’7, 250 (nice hands, great frame creates red-zone mismatches)
6th round pick #181 Justin Pickett—OL-Duke—6’6, 320 (physical player who excels in pass protection, adds depth to offensive line)
7th round pick #217 Haynes King—QB-Georgia Tech—6’3, 215 (dual-threat athlete, accuracy on the move outside the pocket highlights his athleticism. Strong runner who runs a 4.5-forty)

Cardinals proposed unofficial roster:
QB—Kyler Murray, Kedon Slovis, Haynes King (practice squad)
RB—Jeremyiah Love, Jadarian Price, Emari Demercado, Bam Knight
WR—Marvin Harrison, Michael Wilson, Makai Lemon, Malachi Fields, Brenen Thompson, Xavier Weaver
TE—Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tanner Koziol, Tip Rieman
OL—Paris Johnson, Zion Johnson, Hjalte Froholdt, Jon Gaines, Caleb Tiernan, Christian Jones, Isaiah Adams, Pat Coogan, Justin Pickett, Josh Fryar

DL—Walter Nolen, Lee Hunter, Darius Robinson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Darrell Jackson, Dante Stills, P.J. Mustipher (practice squad)
OLB—Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, B.J. Ojulari, Baron Browning, Jordan Burch
ILB—Mack Wilson, Leo Chenal, Cody Simon, Owen Pappoe
CB—Will Johnson, Max Melton, Starling Thomas V, Denzel Burke, Elijah Jones, Kei’Trel Clark (practice squad) Garrett Williams (Injured List)
SS/FS—Budda Baker, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Kitan Crawford, Joey Blount
LS/PK/P— Aaron Brewer, Chad Ryland, Matt Haack, Lucas Carneiro (Ole Miss-PK signed as undrafted free agent to provide camp competition with Chad Ryland)