Johnny's Take - Arizona Cardinals rumblings and whispers from 2024 NFL Combine

There’s no question that the Arizona Cardinals are in a far better spot as an organization compared to this time last year. General manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon are in complete lockstep, with the ultimate backing from team owner Michael Bidwill.

The aura around this team is overly positive, with both Ossenfort and Gannon garnering rave reviews by media and NFL executives alike while in Indianapolis. In just a year’s time, both men have worked hard to transform how opposing franchises perceive the Cardinals’ football operations.

The league also views both Drew Petzing and Nick Rallis as “rising star coordinators” who could be 1-2 productive years away from securing their own head coaching opportunities. Petzing in particular could be out the door should Kyler Murray produce a career year and the Cardinals field a top-10 offense in 2024.

With still a ways to go from both an organizational reputation and general roster construction, Cardinals brass understands that this singular offseason isn’t truly “make or break.” Arizona will have their fair share of swings and misses. For every Hjalte Froholdt, there’s the decision to roll with Colt McCoy instead of ponying up a little more coin to have Joshua Dobbs in the building last March.

Every franchise makes mistakes.

But if Arizona can minimize those instances, Ossenfort’s offseason efforts could very well vault the Cardinals back into postseason contention for the first time since 2021.

That all starts with NFL free agency, set to kickoff a mere eight days from now.

As we’ve reported on our daily PHNX Cardinals podcast, expect the Cardinals to be active, especially at the line of scrimmage. They will reportedly pursue a “high-priced guard” to begin the process of solidifying the left side of their offensive line. With a potential rookie set to start at left tackle, Ossenfort and Gannon would prefer the presence of a seasoned veteran to help with protections.

Think Will Hernandez and Paris Johnson Jr. circa last season.

Folks have already begun connecting the dots with impending free agent Jonah Jackson, a Pro Bowler in 2021, and member of the Detroits Lions during Dave Sears’ tenure with the club. Sears, Arizona’s Assistant GM to Ossenfort, was Detroit’s Director of College Scouting back when the Lions made Jackson the 75th-overall-pick in 2020.

Jackson has played the entirety of his pro career at left guard, starting 57 games in four seasons.

The impending offensive guard market is much more enticing when compared to the free agent bandaids that reside at left tackle. Should Kelvin Beachum remain on the roster, I’m told he’s primarily viewed as a swing-tackle and not a realistic option to start the season on the left side.

Outside of offensive line, the team could also target a veteran wide receiver, but don’t expect anything outside of a comparable move to that of Zach Pascal a year ago. Arizona will obviously address the position early in the NFL Draft but could always use a veteran with size to supplement some of the club’s younger pass-catchers.

As for their own free agents, I’m told the team would only consider a reunion with Hollywood Brown if it came “cheap” on a one-year deal. Given the lack of quality options set to hit the open market, I think it’s safe to assume Brown’s tenure with the Cardinals could be coming to an end.

Despite inconsistent play and time missed due to injury, Hollywood has been a model teammate while in Arizona. He deserves to hit the open market for the first time in his career and could cash in with a desperate team that’s lacking high-end picks (hello, Carolina?).

At the combine, Ossenfort hinted strongly that the ultra-versatile Greg Dortch would be back in the fold come the 2024 season. Given their similar skill-sets, it’s fair to wonder if fourth-year pass-catcher Rondale Moore’s roster spot is truly safe.

The running back room remains perhaps the deepest unit on the team, with the coaching staff incredibly high on the tandem of James Conner and Michael Carter Jr. entering next fall. Throw in UFA Emari Demercado and a mid-to-late round prospect, and the team should be set.

Lastly, expect the Cardinals to give second-year player Clayton Tune every opportunity to secure the QB2 role. The coaching staff was especially impressed following Tune’s gutty outing last season against the Browns depsite what the final stat line would suggest.

Which means I wouldn’t expect the team to pursue any “big name” backup options a la Gardner Minshew or Jacoby Brissett. Rather, they’ll likely go with another fringe veteran in the form of a “Jeff Driskel” type.

On the defensive side, the Cardinals may have to be patient considering the bevy of defensive tackles poised to be hit with the dreaded franchise tag. During our interview at the combine, Gannon alluded to a potential target that is now otherwise unavailable, which is likely attributed to the raised salary cap. Whether that was Baltimore’s Justin Madubuike or Miami’s Christian Wilkins (hope alive?), Arizona may have to revert back to 2023’s strategy of rotational depth vs. high-end talent.

It’s alway a sobering reminder that very few “elite” defensive tackles ever truly reach free agency. The club would be wise to use a multitude of picks to supplement an otherwise weak rotation, beginning as early as pick No. 27.

For what it’s worth, I’m told the Arizona Cardinals have done “extensive work” on Illinois DT Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton.

Speaking of the 2024 NFL Draft, despite Dianna Russini’s report of Arizona fielding offers for the fourth overall pick, I still believe it’s likely that the club opts for Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. should he fall to pick No. 4. Harrison met with the Cardinals on Wednesday in Indy and is poised to be one of Arizona’s top-30 visits in the coming weeks.

That’s not to say Ossenfort won’t continue to explore his options, especially if the team can swindle a mini trade down that would allow them a shot at someone like Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga. Alt reportedly had a terrific meeting with the Cardinals and would act as the heir apparent to the injured D.J. Humphries at left tackle.

The Cardinals would prefer to be built upfront as opposed to outside, viewing Harrison Jr. as the lone true exception to their preferred method of roster construction.

At this point in time, I do not expect Arizona to target either LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze with their first pick.

For what it’s worth, QB Kyler Murray has privately given his support to the front office to target yet another offensive linemen in the first round. This remains on brand for Murray, who outside of former Oklahoma teammate CeeDee Lamb, has been consistent with his preferred draft targets:

• Tristian Wirfs
• Creed Humphries
• Paris Johnson Jr.

Fortunately for both Murray and the Cardinals, Arizona is loaded with draft capital that will allow Ossenfort the opportunity to wheel-and-deal yet again. Moving up from pick No. 27 to secure the likes of Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton or Georgia’s Amarius Mims feels like the logical play, especially to this podcast host.

Then again, should a team like the New York Giants become thirsty for J.J. McCarthy at pick No. 4, the combination of a bounty of draft picks AND Joe Alt could be too enticing for Ossenfort to ignore.

As difficult of a decision as that would be for Ossenfort, the prospect of having Harrison fall into Arizona’s lap only to pass would be damn-near crippling for this fanbase — especially when you consider that, per sources, Harrison would “absolutely relish” the opportunity to play for this franchise.

The Cardinals gambled on a trade down last year, securing Paris Johnson Jr. in the process. Despite Will Anderson Jr. garnering Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, I still believe that moving back was the right play in 2023.

For what it’s worth, so do the Cardinals.

Yet passing on what many believe is the best singular player of the past two draft classes would be something else entirely. For starters, it puts an absurd level of pressure on someone like an Alt to reach immediate Pro Bowl level potential.

That’s not impossible, but as NFL Insider Benjamin Allbright shared, many around the league view the 20-year-old as being closer to a “Nate Solder” type than another Penei Sewell.

Translation: a good player to build around, but not the kind of prospect you select in front of a generational talent.

The Cardinals understand the impact of selecting a prospect of Marvin Harrison Jr.’s caliber. They have no issues with his decision to seemingly bypass the draft process and would feel comfortable with selecting him fourth overall.

They also understand that failing to do so could result in a ritual haunting not seen in Arizona since the likes of Adrian Peterson/Levi Brown.

NFL “silly season” is right around the corner, and it’s going to be a crazy one here in the desert.

Buckle up.