The Roster Upcoming

[kerouac9]

Wilson sure played like one down the stretch.

LAWLZ at Zach Allen as an edge. LAWLZ

Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Garrett Williams, Max Melton isn't an awful CB room with a credible pass rush and good scheme.

He's not mid. He's a good player.

It's still not a great roster mind you, but that roster 3 years ago was a disaster.

Coming back to the board to cape for Monti Ossenfort after his teams and coaches have produced a 15-36 record over three seasons is certainly a choice to make.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Wilson sure played like one down the stretch.

Do we have a top receiver now? I don't see anyone on our roster near top 10. Michael Wilson is a laughable comparison - nobody outside of Cardinal land would name him in their top 20.

LAWLZ at Zach Allen as an edge. LAWLZ

You're missing the point that Zach Allen is still better than our best D-lineman. The overall D-line is no better as well.

Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Garrett Williams, Max Melton isn't an awful CB room with a credible pass rush and good scheme.

That's a lot of qualifiers to call a group "not awful".

He's not mid. He's a good player.

Is he a top 15 player at his position? No. He's also continuing to have injury problems. Considering what we gave up to get him, he needs to be a top 5 LT. He's not, and doesn't look like he'll ever be. The best thing you can say about him is that he's above average. Much closer to mid than dominant.

It's still not a great roster mind you, but that roster 3 years ago was a disaster.

I don't know why you're so intent on gassing up this roster - there is very little evidence that it's clearly better than the mess Keim left.

 

[kerouac9]

Is he a top 15 player at his position? No. He's also continuing to have injury problems. Considering what we gave up to get him, he needs to be a top 5 LT. He's not, and doesn't look like he'll ever be. The best thing you can say about him is that he's above average. Much closer to mid than dominant.

I’m fine with where Paris is. I think he is top 10 at the position, although it’s in the bottom half or third of that group.

He was a very safe pick and a good leader.

 

[Krangodnzr]

When their QB is mid AF? Monti and Gannon had plenty of opportunity to discover that Kyler was not going to be it and develop a better alternative than Clayton Tune and Jacoby Brissett.

The Colts went into this season with Indiana Jones as an alternative to Anthony Richardson.

The Giants went into this season with Jameis and Jackson Dart as an alternative to Russ.

Atlanta went into this season with Cousins as an alternative to Penix a year after having the opposite situation.

Seattle had former first-rounder Drew Lock in the wings in case Sam Darnold went wrong.

The Jets had Tyrod Taylor waiting in the wings to relieve Justin Fields. The Steelers had Fields waiting in the wings to relieve Russ if he sucked.

Obviously there’s no replacing a top-shelf QB like Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes. You’re truly effed if those guys go down or forget how to play football. But Monti left the cupboard bare after just three seasons. That’s a legit criticism.

Thanks for proving my point.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Do we have a top receiver now? I don't see anyone on our roster near top 10. Michael Wilson is a laughable comparison - nobody outside of Cardinal land would name him in their top 20.

You must not watch football nerds on YouTube. Wilson has had fans in the analytic community for years and his little breakout was talked about quite a bit.

You're missing the point that Zach Allen is still better than our best D-lineman. The overall D-line is no better as well.

I get the point, but he's not an edge.

That's a lot of qualifiers to call a group "not awful".

Expecting competent play and scheming in front of a secondary isn't a lot of qualifiers.

Is he a top 15 player at his position? No.

He has been at times

He's also continuing to have injury problems. Considering what we gave up to get him, he needs to be a top 5 LT.

Agreeish.

He's not, and doesn't look like he'll ever be.

Disagree.

The best thing you can say about him is that he's above average. Much closer to mid than dominant.

That's subjective. Mid in the NFL at LT gets QBs killed. If you even paid attention to the Super Bowl for 3 mins, you watched bad LT play, and PJJ has been pretty good overall.

I don't know why you're so intent on gassing up this roster - there is very little evidence that it's clearly better than the mess Keim left.

Hyperbole and putting words in my mouth. It's not a high bar to say the roster is better than it was.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Coming back to the board to cape for Monti Ossenfort after his teams and coaches have produced a 15-36 record over three seasons is certainly a choice to make.

Deranged take. All I'm saying is that the roster is better, not good.

 

[daves]

Seattle had former first-rounder Drew Lock in the wings in case Sam Darnold went wrong.

The Jets had Tyrod Taylor waiting in the wings to relieve Justin Fields. The Steelers had Fields waiting in the wings to relieve Russ if he sucked.

Do you really think Drew Lock or Tyrod Taylor are better than Brissett? Was Daniel Jones better coming into the season?

Brissett now has 65 starts in 101 games and has a career passer rating of 86.4; 94.1 for the Cardinals. The Cards are paying him $6.25M APY for two years.

Taylor is very similar - 62 starts in 100 games and has a career passer rating of 87.7. The Jets are paying him $6M APY for two years, spread out over five with three void years(!).

Lock has 28 starts in 41 games and has a career passer rating of 78.8. Oof. The Seahawks are paying him $2.5M APY for two years. He is in no way a credible alternative to Darnold.

Coming into the season, Jones had 69 starts and a career passer rating of 84.3 and a significant injury history. The Colts paid him $14M for one year. Turns out he was a credible starter, but wasn't able to finish.

The Falcons didn't cleverly plan to have Cousins as their backup - they were stuck with him after making a colossal blunder in their QB room planning.

The Giants had Winston - with 89 starts in 108 games and an 86.3 passer rating, extremely similar to Brissett, and they're paying him only $4M APY on a two-year deal - good value! They took a draft flyer on Dart, but that's something the Cardinals couldn't have realistically done with Murray still on the roster.

Bottom line: Ossenfort did about as well as any team in lining up a credible backup QB. It's one of the few areas where he doesn't deserve criticism. It was unrealistic to have a highly drafted developmental QB on the roster with Murray still ostensibly the "franchise QB" going into the season. Now it's time to get one. Brissett will be a great mentor.

 

[Chopper0080]

Deranged take. All I'm saying is that the roster is better, not good.

The roster might be slightly better but not in any meaningful way. It is younger which leaves some room for the possibility of players to get better, but there is also the possibility that Monti drafted bad players...just like Keim did. The OL and DL rooms are in tough spots, and as you know they are both very important. Same with QB which is a mystery box right now. I worry less about RB and ILB because there are always ways to improve there.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Do you really think Drew Lock or Tyrod Taylor are better than Brissett? Was Daniel Jones better coming into the season?

Brissett now has 65 starts in 101 games and has a career passer rating of 86.4; 94.1 for the Cardinals. The Cards are paying him $6.25M APY for two years.

Taylor is very similar - 62 starts in 100 games and has a career passer rating of 87.7. The Jets are paying him $6M APY for two years, spread out over five with three void years(!).

Lock has 28 starts in 41 games and has a career passer rating of 78.8. Oof. The Seahawks are paying him $2.5M APY for two years. He is in no way a credible alternative to Darnold.

Coming into the season, Jones had 69 starts and a career passer rating of 84.3 and a significant injury history. The Colts paid him $14M for one year. Turns out he was a credible starter, but wasn't able to finish.

The Falcons didn't cleverly plan to have Cousins as their backup - they were stuck with him after making a colossal blunder in their QB room planning.

The Giants had Winston - with 89 starts in 108 games and an 86.3 passer rating, extremely similar to Brissett, and they're paying him only $4M APY on a two-year deal - good value! They took a draft flyer on Dart, but that's something the Cardinals couldn't have realistically done with Murray still on the roster.

Bottom line: Ossenfort did about as well as any team in lining up a credible backup QB. It's one of the few areas where he doesn't deserve criticism. It was unrealistic to have a highly drafted developmental QB on the roster with Murray still ostensibly the "franchise QB" going into the season. Now it's time to get one. Brissett will be a great mentor.

Thanks for handling my light work. Such a ridiculous take, it's like there are even 32 good QBs, let alone enough for teams to have two good QBs.

 

[Krangodnzr]

The roster might be slightly better but not in any meaningful way. It is younger which leaves some room for the possibility of players to get better, but there is also the possibility that Monti drafted bad players...just like Keim did. The OL and DL rooms are in tough spots, and as you know they are both very important. Same with QB which is a mystery box right now. I worry less about RB and ILB because there are always ways to improve there.

Again, I don't disagree, but Keim's last team was bad AND old. There is at least some (maybe hopium) hope that the team could get better with better coaching and usage. Maybe MHJ takes a leap in year three...that could happen.

 

[NWMike]

If we release Kyler his cap charge is like $2m more than if we keep him.

What “mess” requires cleaning up?

He is going to count $54M against our cap if we cut him and $52M if we keep him. If we cut him though and as you note absorb the $2M more this year, he counts 0 against the cap next year vs rolling over $5M with a post Jun 1 cut date. Just bite the bullet and do it.

 

[slanidrac16]

Do you really think Drew Lock or Tyrod Taylor are better than Brissett? Was Daniel Jones better coming into the season?

Brissett now has 65 starts in 101 games and has a career passer rating of 86.4; 94.1 for the Cardinals. The Cards are paying him $6.25M APY for two years.

Taylor is very similar - 62 starts in 100 games and has a career passer rating of 87.7. The Jets are paying him $6M APY for two years, spread out over five with three void years(!).

Lock has 28 starts in 41 games and has a career passer rating of 78.8. Oof. The Seahawks are paying him $2.5M APY for two years. He is in no way a credible alternative to Darnold.

Coming into the season, Jones had 69 starts and a career passer rating of 84.3 and a significant injury history. The Colts paid him $14M for one year. Turns out he was a credible starter, but wasn't able to finish.

The Falcons didn't cleverly plan to have Cousins as their backup - they were stuck with him after making a colossal blunder in their QB room planning.

The Giants had Winston - with 89 starts in 108 games and an 86.3 passer rating, extremely similar to Brissett, and they're paying him only $4M APY on a two-year deal - good value! They took a draft flyer on Dart, but that's something the Cardinals couldn't have realistically done with Murray still on the roster.

Bottom line: Ossenfort did about as well as any team in lining up a credible backup QB. It's one of the few areas where he doesn't deserve criticism. It was unrealistic to have a highly drafted developmental QB on the roster with Murray still ostensibly the "franchise QB" going into the season. Now it's time to get one. Brissett will be a great mentor.

Some could say Brissett was a good signing to back up Murray. However he was forced into a starting role with a depleted o- line and virtually no running game.

 

[kerouac9]

He is going to count $54M against our cap if we cut him and $52M if we keep him. If we cut him though and as you note absorb the $2M more this year, he counts 0 against the cap next year vs rolling over $5M with a post Jun 1 cut date. Just bite the bullet and do it.

$5m isn’t a meaningful number for cap purposes.

 

[NWMike]

$5m isn’t a meaningful number for cap purposes.

Exactly why I’d prefer to add it to the bucket for next year than try to scratch out something with it this year.

 

[kerouac9]

Exactly why I’d prefer to add it to the bucket for next year than try to scratch out something with it this year.

But it sounds like you’re using it as an excuse to not try to compete. $5 million would make no difference one way or the other.

It’s 1.5% of the cap

 

[NWMike]

But it sounds like you’re using it as an excuse to not try to compete. $5 million would make no difference one way or the other.

It’s 1.5% of the cap

If you can find a good use, go for it but don’t spend it on a 1 year guy or some sub par 3rd stringer to maybe win 1 more game next year. Thats all I’m saying.

 

[Stout]

Deranged take. All I'm saying is that the roster is better, not good.

It's objectively not. The depth is better but the starting team is not. You don't get extra credit for only fixing depth.

 

[BritCard]

The two areas of interest to me is how Monti addresses the DL and OL.

You can argue that with the Nolen injury, the DL is the worst unit on the Cardinals which is wild after three seasons under Monti. People talk about cutting Dalvin but he is the best DL player on the roster right now if Nolen doesn't play. It's also not a great class for pass rushing DL players so that leaves the options for upgrading the group fairly limited.

With OL, who is coaching the unit and is Monti will to spend? If Monti doesn't sign a FA RT of any quality, he is planning on drafting a RT at 3. Book it. It will also be interesting to see if he does anything different to address the interior OL group. He has some picks in there and players he has added, how stubborn is he going to be to give "his guys" a shot?

I have to be wary of judging guys based on what happened last season, as a new DC will come in with a new scheme. We've seen a million times how scheme can be very dependent on the players' performance, especially on the D line.

 

[Chopper0080]

I have to be wary of judging guys based on what happened last season, as a new DC will come in with a new scheme. We've seen a million times how scheme can be very dependent on the players' performance, especially on the D line.

For me it is more about bodies and talent.

Here is the room right now

Dalvin Tomlinson - Some people want to cut him, I disagree.
Walter Nolen - Injured, might be out for the year.
Darius Robinson - 3rd year, but has not made a big impact
Dante Stills - 4th year, limited impact
Bilal Nichols - Has not been good in AZ. Another cut candidate
Zachary Carter - yeah

This is a bad collection of players which is why I can't understand why people want to cut Tomlinson because he is the best player out of that group. And it is not a bad draft to add DL players but most of the draft guys are more space eaters than pass rushers.

 

[slanidrac16]

For me it is more about bodies and talent.

Here is the room right now

Dalvin Tomlinson - Some people want to cut him, I disagree.
Walter Nolen - Injured, might be out for the year.
Darius Robinson - 3rd year, but has not made a big impact
Dante Stills - 4th year, limited impact
Bilal Nichols - Has not been good in AZ. Another cut candidate
Zachary Carter - yeah

This is a bad collection of players which is why I can't understand why people want to cut Tomlinson because he is the best player out of that group. And it is not a bad draft to add DL players but most of the draft guys are more space eaters than pass rushers.

I agree about Tomlinson and I like Stills.
I also tend to take in consideration the scheme and the coaching these guys were getting.

 

[MadCardDisease]

For me it is more about bodies and talent.

Here is the room right now

Dalvin Tomlinson - Some people want to cut him, I disagree.
Walter Nolen - Injured, might be out for the year.
Darius Robinson - 3rd year, but has not made a big impact
Dante Stills - 4th year, limited impact
Bilal Nichols - Has not been good in AZ. Another cut candidate
Zachary Carter - yeah

This is a bad collection of players which is why I can't understand why people want to cut Tomlinson because he is the best player out of that group. And it is not a bad draft to add DL players but most of the draft guys are more space eaters than pass rushers.

Tomlinson will be 32 years old and clearly started to show his age last season where he was often ineffective at stopping the run. Why continue to pay the guy when that $12M in cap space could be used to get younger and better. Bring back PJ Mustipher and add a solid veteran FA like John Franklin-Meyers to replace Tomlinson with that money saved.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

For me it is more about bodies and talent.

Here is the room right now

Dalvin Tomlinson - Some people want to cut him, I disagree.
Walter Nolen - Injured, might be out for the year.
Darius Robinson - 3rd year, but has not made a big impact
Dante Stills - 4th year, limited impact
Bilal Nichols - Has not been good in AZ. Another cut candidate
Zachary Carter - yeah

This is a bad collection of players which is why I can't understand why people want to cut Tomlinson because he is the best player out of that group. And it is not a bad draft to add DL players but most of the draft guys are more space eaters than pass rushers.

You get rid of a 15M cap hit with Tomlinson? I guess the idea would be you can do more with that money?

 

[Chopper0080]

Tomlinson will be 32 years old and clearly started to show his age last season where he was often ineffective at stopping the run. Why continue to pay the guy when that $12M in cap space could be used to get younger and better. Bring back PJ Mustipher and add a solid veteran FA like John Franklin-Meyers to replace Tomlinson with that money saved.

I care less about age and more about talent. You don't get better by getting rid of Tomlinson and signing Mustipher. This is one of the biggest issue I have with people's thought processes on this board. You don't get better by getting rid of your established talent for cap space when you don't have players ready to step into the vacated role. You just end up creating more holes that you fill with less talented players. If Nolen was healthy, it might be a different convo but he isn't. If Stills and Robinson had shown to be better players, it might make sense. But they haven't.

The answer isn't cutting Tomlinson and adding John Franklin-Myers (who 46% of snaps in 2025), it is just adding JFM. Add more talent.

Add John Franklin Myers
re-sign Calais Campbell
Add Sebastian Joseph-Day

Draft a DL or two.

Then by about week 6 you hopefully know what you have and can shift accordingly to your best guys.

 

[Chopper0080]

You get rid of a 15M cap hit with Tomlinson? I guess the idea would be you can do more with that money?

The FA DL market is not good. They are better off just adding the lower cost options that are on the market to the roster and raising the floor of the DL room.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I care less about age and more about talent. You don't get better by getting rid of Tomlinson and signing Mustipher. This is one of the biggest issue I have with people's thought processes on this board. You don't get better by getting rid of your established talent for cap space when you don't have players ready to step into the vacated role.

My problem with Tomlinson is he was pretty much ineffective last season. I don't see how an aging player who underperformed will suddenly get better this year. That's hopium at it's finest.

I'd rather have a 100 year old Calais back over Tomlinson. At least Calais lived up to and exceeded expectations last season.