This coming week the Cards will have a challenge they haven’t recently faced. They will likely have to cut players who could play in the NFL. Additionally they will have to decide if they will shore up any thin positions. It’s the latter concern I want to look at.
If you’re thinking waiver claims; forget it. The Cards are victims of their own success, since a better record last year means a lower priority for an award. Therefore if the Cards want a player, they’ll have to trade for him. Of course giving up a pick increases available options. The question is will the success of this year’s draft make the Cards reluctant to give up a pick. The Cards’ 2025 draft was outstanding top to bottom. The seventh pick, Kitan Crawford, is so good there’s little chance the Cards could sneak him through to the Practice Squad. He’s either part of the 53 or he’s gone. I believe they keep him.
The issue is will Ossenfort give up a 6th or 7th round pick to get the guy they want for the Oline. The talk of taking a WR seems unlikely as they already passed up a bunch of free agents and trade possibilities. At CB the only thing that would seem worth having is a vet and again they were there for the taking at bargain prices. The Cards like what they have. An injury could change that, but I don’t see a trade otherwise. It’s true there were also Olinemen they could have had, but I think they wanted to see what they had. I suspect they were more disappointed in this group than the other two. Also I like the upside of at least one Olineman who could be acquired.
My guess is it all depends on if the Cards think someone like is available with the correct salary and upside. I’ve looked at likely Oline cuts and none excites me. However for a pick, someone like Penning might be available and worth the risk. He’s not going to be a star, but Frye may think he can salvage Penning. A former first round pick, scouts were very high on him. There’s no shortage of tape. He’s a little tall(6’7”) for a guard though there have been successful guards at that height and taller. It might be a small problem considering Murray’s height. Still Penning is a superior athlete who had a solid mean streak. He got overwhelmed trying to adjust to the NFL and the coaches did him no favors. If he can get his attitude adjusted he was a great drive blocker who can hit people on the move. He might be a better guard than tackle, but could play tackle in an emergency. There will be other players available, but this is the one who appeals to me.
If you’re thinking waiver claims; forget it. The Cards are victims of their own success, since a better record last year means a lower priority for an award. Therefore if the Cards want a player, they’ll have to trade for him. Of course giving up a pick increases available options. The question is will the success of this year’s draft make the Cards reluctant to give up a pick. The Cards’ 2025 draft was outstanding top to bottom. The seventh pick, Kitan Crawford, is so good there’s little chance the Cards could sneak him through to the Practice Squad. He’s either part of the 53 or he’s gone. I believe they keep him.
The issue is will Ossenfort give up a 6th or 7th round pick to get the guy they want for the Oline. The talk of taking a WR seems unlikely as they already passed up a bunch of free agents and trade possibilities. At CB the only thing that would seem worth having is a vet and again they were there for the taking at bargain prices. The Cards like what they have. An injury could change that, but I don’t see a trade otherwise. It’s true there were also Olinemen they could have had, but I think they wanted to see what they had. I suspect they were more disappointed in this group than the other two. Also I like the upside of at least one Olineman who could be acquired.
My guess is it all depends on if the Cards think someone like is available with the correct salary and upside. I’ve looked at likely Oline cuts and none excites me. However for a pick, someone like Penning might be available and worth the risk. He’s not going to be a star, but Frye may think he can salvage Penning. A former first round pick, scouts were very high on him. There’s no shortage of tape. He’s a little tall(6’7”) for a guard though there have been successful guards at that height and taller. It might be a small problem considering Murray’s height. Still Penning is a superior athlete who had a solid mean streak. He got overwhelmed trying to adjust to the NFL and the coaches did him no favors. If he can get his attitude adjusted he was a great drive blocker who can hit people on the move. He might be a better guard than tackle, but could play tackle in an emergency. There will be other players available, but this is the one who appeals to me.
