Move over Monti, Bruce Cooper puts on his Arizona Cardinals GM hat

Story by Bruce Cooper, AKA “Coop” 

 

The Cardinals’ 2024 off-season is upon us, and for the seventh time in the last eight years, the off-season begins without a berth in the playoffs; add to that, the Cardinals finished 2023 with a 4-13 record for the second year in a row.  But there is certainly a brighter, more optimistic feeling that the Cardinals are trending in the right direction.  General manager Monti Ossenfort got a lot of production and mileage from his first rookie class.  His maneuvering in last year’s draft also set him up with more draft selections in April’s annual NFL draft.

 

As usual, I don my Cardinals GM hat and offer my unsolicited advice, guaranteed to put the Cardinals over the top. 

 

FREE AGENCY

 

We start with free agency, where the Cardinals have around $80 million in salary cap space at their disposal.  Two outside free agents and one in-house free agent will take a big bite out of that cap space.

The Cardinals tallied the 3^rd fewest sacks (33) this past season and don’t want to force value with their top pick (4^th overall) trying to find that sack master in the draft.  So free agency is their best option at finding a pass rusher.

 

They turn to Jacksonville Jaguars former first-round pick, Josh Allen, to impact their pass-rushing woes:

The Cardinals sign Josh Allen to a 5-year $105 million contract.  The 26-year-old, 6’5, 255-pound Allen posted a career-high 17.5 sacks this past season with 33 quarterback hits.  In his 5-year, 74-game NFL career, Allen had 45 sacks and 103 quarterback hits.

 

The Cardinals allowed the 3^rd most touchdown passes (32) this past season.  Three rookies were relied on perhaps too much.  The Cardinals could use a veteran shutdown corner to lead the way in their secondary:

The Cardinals sign Chicago Bears free agent cornerback, Jaylon Johnson, to a 3-year $65 million contract.  Johnson was a second-round pick by the Bears in the 2020 draft.  The 6’0, 200-pound 24-year-old Johnson had a career-high 4-interceptions with a pick-6 and 10 PDs over 14 games this past season.  

 

Of their in-house free agent signees, Hollywood Brown will be their most expensive:

The Cardinals sign Brown to a 1-year $13.5 million contract.  Brown is still one of the game’s best deep ball threats.  Injuries have plagued Brown in each of his two years with the Cardinals.  He can try to re-establish his market value with the one-year prove-it contract.

 

The draft features a major question mark for Cardinals fans. Will Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. be available when the Card’s fourth overall pick of the first round rolls around?  That’s a really tough question to answer.  If the top three picks are made on quarterbacks (a real possibility), then Harrison would be available at four.  However, if the Bears at one or the Patriots at three passes on a quarterback and make Harrison their pick instead (a real possibility) Cardinals fans will be major league disappointed. With that said, I’ll make draft picks with and without Harrison using the fourth pick.  Option A will be with Harrison.  Option B will be without Harrison. The Cardinals’ second-round pick will also be affected or influenced relative to the draft options.

 

2024 NFL DRAFT

(OPTION A)

RD      

1. Marvin Harrison Jr.- 6’3, 210-WR-Ohio St. (Enough has been written and talked about regarding Harrison.  He’s a generational talent and the best receiver in the draft who immediately assumes the WR1 role on the team) 

 

1. Brian Thomas Jr. (From Texans)-6’4, 205-WR-LSU (Cards WR room is in desperate need of an upgrade and make over.  Thomas is an explosive athlete with good hands and would join Harrison and Brown in creating one helluva WR group)

 

2. Byron Murphy ll-6’1, 310-DL-Texas (The 21-year-old Murphy is both quick and strong.  He also shows pass rush ability as both a 3 and 5 technique performer)

(OPTION B)

RD

1. Joe Alt-6’8, 325-OL-Notre Dame (With DJ Humphries out for most or all of next season with an ACL injury, Alt takes over as the new starting left tackle. And with Paris Johnson Jr. gives the Cards great bookend tackles for the next decade or so)

 

1. Brian Thomas Jr. (From Texans)-6’4, 205-LSU (Thomas has a great combination of size and speed.  He’s an explosive athlete with good hands.  Impacts Cards WR room)

 

2. Emeka Egbuka-6’1, 205-WR-Ohio St. (Egbuka is quick, a great route runner with great hands and at times was the Buckeyes best receiver.  And that’s saying something with Marvin Harrison Jr. on the field as well)

 

Rest of the Draft

RD

3. Edgerrin Cooper-6’3, 230-LB-Texas A&M (Cooper is fast, rangy and athletic.  He adds talent and depth to a LB corp. racked by injury last season.  Cooper tallied 17 TFL with 8 sacks for the Aggies this past season)

 

3. Zak Zinter-(from Titans) 6’6, 325-OL-Michigan (Great value pick here.  Zinter was projected as a late first/early second round pick before breaking his leg in the Wolverines rivalry game against Ohio State.  Plug and play at left guard)

 

3. McKinnley Jackson-(from Texans) 6’2, 325-DL-Texas A&M (Cards need to upgrade defensive line.  Jackson has the frame, quickness and upside to be a disruptive force along the defensive front)

 

4. Darius Robinson-6’5, 290-DL-Missouri (Robinson can play both inside and as an edge rusher.  He earned 1^st team All-SEC honors by posting 41 TT, 12 TFL and 7.5 sacks for the Tigers this past season)

 

4. Justin Eboigbe-(comp pick) 6’5, 295-DL-Alabama (Eboigbe is athletic and instinctive.  Has the versatility to play 3 and 5 techniques as well as edge rusher. He had 17 QB hurries, 4 QB hits and 7 sacks for the Tide this past season)