2017 Arizona Cardinals Offseason Preview
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2016 Season Recap
It’s safe to say many were left disappointed with how things turned out for Arizona. The Cardinals were expected to be Super Bowl contenders after winning the NFC West division with a solid 14-2 record in 2015, including a trip to the conference championship game. But they couldn’t build on that apparently, finishing with a sour 7-8-1 mark this season.
The same could be said with regards to Carson Palmer’s play. His total quarterback rating significantly dropped from 82.1 in the previous year all the way down to 52.8. He did bounce back in the second half of the season, passing for 2,165 yards with 16 TDs and only eight INTs in the final eight games.
Nevertheless, it’s pretty clear that the Cardinals have some fixing to do in the offseason, especially about their quarterback for the future. Palmer, who turns 38 this year, isn’t getting any younger.
Top Free Agency Needs
There are arguably three realistic free agents who could fill in the future quarterback hole for the Cards, who are projected to be about $35 million under the cap. Those are Mike Glennon, Geno Smith and EJ Manuel, all of whom are below 30 years old and have relatively enough experience and talent to be great if given the opportunity.
Another need is at the tight end position, where Arizona currently has three names under contract with two quite prone to injuries. Potential targets here could be Levine Toilolo, Jermaine Gresham and Jack Doyle.
Top Draft Needs
Quarterback. Arizona’s picking 13th overall in the draft, which potentially puts them in position to nab someone like Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer as Palmer’s successor. Kizer threw for nearly 3,000 yards with 26 touchdown passes in his final season with the Fighting Irish.
Wide Receiver. Larry Fitzgerald just negated rumors about retiring, but nevertheless, the Cards’ receiving corps doesn’t look promising. There’s John Brown, JJ Nelson, an injured Jaron Brown and Brittan Golden. That might not be enough weapons for Palmer to throw to.
Cornerback. Collectively speaking, the Cards defense was good in 2016. This group led the league in sacks, ranked second in both DVOA and total yards allowed and fourth in takeaways. However, this unit had a glaring hole at the cornerback position as Arizona struggled to guard opposing No. 2 receivers. That said, the Cards need someone reliable and one who can form a fearsome duo with Patrick Patterson to solidify the secondary.
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