MadCard's 2026 Cardinals Offseason Plan

[MadCardDisease]

With the hiring of Mike LaFleur as the new Cardinals HC it's time for this team to move in a new direction. That new direction starts at QB and moving on from Kyler Murray. If MO has one job this offseason it's finding a trade partner so the Cardinals can move off of Kyler.

Roster reset by purging previous regimes players:

#1: Trade Kyler Murray - MO needs to find a trade partner for Kyler. The Jets or Steelers make the most sense as they have the cap room and need a starter at QB. Both teams also have a bunch of extra draft picks to play with.

TRADE: Cardinals trade Murray to the Steelers for the #99 overall pick in the 2026 Draft. The Cardinals sweeten the deal converting $15M of his 2026 salary into a signing bonus. This would drop Kylers 2026 cap hit for the Steelers down to $26M while the Cardinals would be able to add $19.7 million to their cap. The rest of Kylers contract is an easy out after 2026 if the Steelers decide that he isn't the answer.

Cap Savings $19.7M


#2: Cut James Conner - Conner has been the heart of this offense the last couple of seasons but he is going to be 31 this year. Now is the perfect time to move off of an aging RB and start fresh.

Cap Savings $7.6M


#3) Cut Dalvin Tomlinson - Designate as Post June 1st cut. I had very high hopes for Tomlinson when the Cardinals signed him. However he was very underwhelming for most of the season. I think there are better places to spend that money.

Cap Savings $14.5M


#4) Cut SMB - The young guys showed enough for me to be comfortable moving off the Veteran SMB.

Cap savings $7.3M


#5) Cut Bilal Nichols - Nichols provided zero return on investment and moving off of his contract is an easy choice.

Cap Savings $5.8M


#6) Cut Evan Brown - Better options at LG

Cap Savings $4.9M


TOTAL CAP SAVINGS: $59.8M



Free Agency Targets:


After the cuts listed above the Cardinals Effective cap space would be:

Cardinals 2026 Effective Cap Space: ~$90M


#1) RB Breece Hall, Jets (3 years, $36M)
With the ML connection, the Cardinals add a young workhorse RB who can replace the aging James Conner.

#2) RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jets (3 years, $42M)
Again ML uses his old Jets connection to improve the Interior OL for the Cardinals.

#3) RT Braden Smith, Colts, (3 years, $40M)
The Cardinals add a strong RT who can help establish a solid running game under ML.

#4) QB Malik Willis, Packers (2 years, $44M)
I'm not sold on Willis as a long term answer at QB, but he is brought in to compete with Jacoby until the Cardinals find their QBOTF. Willis is young, mobile with decent size and a strong arm.

#6) IDL John Franklin-Myers, Broncos (3 years, $30M)
Everything that we had hoped Tomlinson would be.

#7) S Kamren Curl, Rams (2 years, $17M)
If Pleasant ends up the Cardinals DC, he brings in Curl to pair up with Baker, DTD and Crawford.


Way too Early Draft thoughts:

Pick #3: Edge Rusher David Bailey, T. Tech
IMO the best Edge rusher in the draft.

Pick #34: OG Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Athletic IOL who ML could deploy in his motion-heavy running game.

Pick #65: WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Strong Route runner that plays physical. Big reason for the Indiana's offensive success this past year.

Pick #99 (from Kyler Trade): QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Cardinals add a developmental QB for ML to work with while Jacoby and Willis battle for the starting job in 2026.

 

[Goodyear Card]

Great plan. If we can get anything for KM, I will be happy. Do you have a plan for the coaching staff? The Cardinals don't seen to have one.

 

[Cardinal88]

With the hiring of Mike LaFleur as the new Cardinals HC it's time for this team to move in a new direction. That new direction starts at QB and moving on from Kyler Murray. If MO has one job this offseason it's finding a trade partner so the Cardinals can move off of Kyler.

Roster reset by purging previous regimes players:

#1: Trade Kyler Murray - MO needs to find a trade partner for Kyler. The Jets or Steelers make the most sense as they have the cap room and need a starter at QB. Both teams also have a bunch of extra draft picks to play with.

TRADE: Cardinals trade Murray to the Steelers for the #99 overall pick in the 2026 Draft. The Cardinals sweeten the deal converting $15M of his 2026 salary into a signing bonus. This would drop Kylers 2026 cap hit for the Steelers down to $26M while the Cardinals would be able to add $19.7 million to their cap. The rest of Kylers contract is an easy out after 2026 if the Steelers decide that he isn't the answer.

Cap Savings $19.7M


#2: Cut James Conner - Conner has been the heart of this offense the last couple of seasons but he is going to be 31 this year. Now is the perfect time to move off of an aging RB and start fresh.

Cap Savings $7.6M


#3) Cut Dalvin Tomlinson - Designate as Post June 1st cut. I had very high hopes for Tomlinson when the Cardinals signed him. However he was very underwhelming for most of the season. I think there are better places to spend that money.

Cap Savings $14.5M


#4) Cut SMB - The young guys showed enough for me to be comfortable moving off the Veteran SMB.

Cap savings $7.3M


#5) Cut Bilal Nichols - Nichols provided zero return on investment and moving off of his contract is an easy choice.

Cap Savings $5.8M


#6) Cut Evan Brown - Better options at LG

Cap Savings $4.9M


TOTAL CAP SAVINGS: $54.9M



Free Agency Targets:


After the cuts listed above the Cardinals Effective cap space would be:

Cardinals 2026 Effective Cap Space: ~$90M


#1) RB Breece Hall, Jets (3 years, $36M)
With the ML connection, the Cardinals add a young workhorse RB who can replace the aging James Conner.

#2) RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jets (3 years, $42M)
Again ML uses his old Jets connection to improve the Interior OL for the Cardinals.

#3) RT Braden Smith, Colts, (3 years, $40M)
The Cardinals add a strong LT who can help establish a solid running game under ML.

#4) QB Malik Willis, Packers (2 years, $44M)
I'm not sold on Willis as a long term answer at QB, but he is brought in to compete with Jacoby until the Cardinals find their QBOTF. Willis is young, mobile with decent size and a strong arm.

#6) IDL John Franklin-Myers, Broncos (3 years, $30M)
Everything that we had hoped Tomlinson would be.

#7) S Kamren Curl, Rams (2 years, $17M)
If Pleasant ends up the Cardinals DC, he brings in Curl to pair up with Baker, DTD and Crawford.


Way too Early Draft thoughts:

Pick #3: Edge Rusher David Bailey, T. Tech
IMO the best Edge rusher in the draft.

Pick #34: OG Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Athletic IOL who ML could deploy in his motion-heavy running game.

Pick #65: WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Strong Route runner that plays physical. Big reason for the Indiana's offensive success this past year.

Pick #99 (from Kyler Trade): QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Cardinals add a developmental QB for ML to work with while Jacoby and Willis battle for the starting job in 2026.

I agree with “everything” except #99 pick. I’d go Beck or Nussmeier. Both were battling injuries in 2025 and Ifeel they could have been better than their 2025 stats indicated.

 

[Proteus]

How does Sarratt fit in with MHJ and Wilson?

 

[MadCardDisease]

How does Sarratt fit in with MHJ and Wilson?

He is a great route runner with strong hands. Amazing body control especially on back shoulder throws. Very physical and not afraid of going across the middle. I see him as a massive upgrade over Zay Jones.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I agree with “everything” except #99 pick. I’d go Beck or Nussmeier. Both were battling injuries in 2025 and Ifeel they could have been better than their 2025 stats indicated.

I would defer to whoever was available at #99 that ML felt has the most upside in his offense. I'm guessing that a couple of these guys might be gone by #99 overall. Really any of these guys are just a dart throw that you hope you get lucky with. However I definitely want to see the Cardinals come out of this draft with at least one developmental QB. The Cardinals will need to keep taking swings at the QB position until they identify their QB of the future.

 

[Card'em]

In your offseason plan how about signing Michael Wilson and Paris Johnson Junior to new contracts?

 

[MadCardDisease]

In your offseason plan how about signing Michael Wilson and Paris Johnson Junior to new contracts?

I'm not worried about guys who are still under contract at this point. PJJ still has a couple of years left. Maybe I start having initial discussions with MW in the summertime when I'm all done with FA and the draft.

 

[kerouac9]

Who plays left guard under this plan?

Hard to depend on Vera-Tucker when he’s played 27 games over the past four years and zero last year.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Who plays left guard under this plan?

Hard to depend on Vera-Tucker when he’s played 27 games over the past four years and zero last year.

Vera-Tucker would play RG.

Either the rookie Emmanuel Pregnon, Isiah Adams or another low cost FA would play LG.

 

[some dumb guy]

Trade Murray to the Jets and then hijack the Jets RB and RG....
I LIKE IT...LOL

 

[Krangodnzr]

I like it.

 

[Chopper0080]

With the hiring of Mike LaFleur as the new Cardinals HC it's time for this team to move in a new direction. That new direction starts at QB and moving on from Kyler Murray. If MO has one job this offseason it's finding a trade partner so the Cardinals can move off of Kyler.

Roster reset by purging previous regimes players:

#1: Trade Kyler Murray - MO needs to find a trade partner for Kyler. The Jets or Steelers make the most sense as they have the cap room and need a starter at QB. Both teams also have a bunch of extra draft picks to play with.

TRADE: Cardinals trade Murray to the Steelers for the #99 overall pick in the 2026 Draft. The Cardinals sweeten the deal converting $15M of his 2026 salary into a signing bonus. This would drop Kylers 2026 cap hit for the Steelers down to $26M while the Cardinals would be able to add $19.7 million to their cap. The rest of Kylers contract is an easy out after 2026 if the Steelers decide that he isn't the answer.

Cap Savings $19.7M


#2: Cut James Conner - Conner has been the heart of this offense the last couple of seasons but he is going to be 31 this year. Now is the perfect time to move off of an aging RB and start fresh.

Cap Savings $7.6M


#3) Cut Dalvin Tomlinson - Designate as Post June 1st cut. I had very high hopes for Tomlinson when the Cardinals signed him. However he was very underwhelming for most of the season. I think there are better places to spend that money.

Cap Savings $14.5M


#4) Cut SMB - The young guys showed enough for me to be comfortable moving off the Veteran SMB.

Cap savings $7.3M


#5) Cut Bilal Nichols - Nichols provided zero return on investment and moving off of his contract is an easy choice.

Cap Savings $5.8M


#6) Cut Evan Brown - Better options at LG

Cap Savings $4.9M


TOTAL CAP SAVINGS: $59.8M



Free Agency Targets:


After the cuts listed above the Cardinals Effective cap space would be:

Cardinals 2026 Effective Cap Space: ~$90M


#1) RB Breece Hall, Jets (3 years, $36M)
With the ML connection, the Cardinals add a young workhorse RB who can replace the aging James Conner.

#2) RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jets (3 years, $42M)
Again ML uses his old Jets connection to improve the Interior OL for the Cardinals.

#3) RT Braden Smith, Colts, (3 years, $40M)
The Cardinals add a strong RT who can help establish a solid running game under ML.

#4) QB Malik Willis, Packers (2 years, $44M)
I'm not sold on Willis as a long term answer at QB, but he is brought in to compete with Jacoby until the Cardinals find their QBOTF. Willis is young, mobile with decent size and a strong arm.

#6) IDL John Franklin-Myers, Broncos (3 years, $30M)
Everything that we had hoped Tomlinson would be.

#7) S Kamren Curl, Rams (2 years, $17M)
If Pleasant ends up the Cardinals DC, he brings in Curl to pair up with Baker, DTD and Crawford.


Way too Early Draft thoughts:

Pick #3: Edge Rusher David Bailey, T. Tech
IMO the best Edge rusher in the draft.

Pick #34: OG Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Athletic IOL who ML could deploy in his motion-heavy running game.

Pick #65: WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Strong Route runner that plays physical. Big reason for the Indiana's offensive success this past year.

Pick #99 (from Kyler Trade): QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Cardinals add a developmental QB for ML to work with while Jacoby and Willis battle for the starting job in 2026.

Congrats, you now have the worst DL room in the NFL. Like 2023 level bad.

 

[Stout]

Vera-Tucker would play RG.

Either the rookie Emmanuel Pregnon, Isiah Adams or another low cost FA would play LG.

Ah, having not learned out lessons...

 

[Gandhi]

Wonderful plan, MadCard. It would be very exciting if it came true.

My one concern is the signings of Vera-Tucker and Braden Smith. Both are very good players, but they are also often injured. Is it safe to count on them?

Pregnon is awesome, by the way, so that would take some of the pressure away from signing Vera-Tucker.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I like it.

I would be thrilled with this….but no way we get all those players

 

[MadCardDisease]

Wonderful plan, MadCard. It would be very exciting if it came true.

My one concern is the signings of Vera-Tucker and Braden Smith. Both are very good players, but they are also often injured. Is it safe to count on them?

Pregnon is awesome, by the way, so that would take some of the pressure away from signing Vera-Tucker.

There will be some warts with most of the Free Agents that the Cardinals target. Injuries will always be an issue and it's a risk the Cardinals will have to weigh when trying to attract FA to come here. Vera-Tucker had a pre-season triceps tear that caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. He should be full health by OTAs.

Smith had a neck injury /concussion late in the season but if the Colts had made a run in the playoffs they believed that he could be available later in the playoffs. I don't have a problem with him having to take time for mental health issues the year before. He got the help that he needed and returned with the best season of his career in 2026.

The fact is that with a coaching change which will lead to roster turnover and several holes to fill, the Cardinals will have to take some risks in FA to fill those holes in year 1 of the ML regime.

 

[slanidrac16]

Nice post. I’m not sure I agree with Tucker. I don’t see us signing a guard if we are drafting one with the second pick.
With Nolan gone I don’t think we are going to completely rip apart our d-line.
I also think people are over estimating the cost of Willis.
Love Bailey.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I also think people are over estimating the cost of Willis.

Justin Fields got about $20M per year on a 2 year $40M contract last season. So I think that is a good starting point for Willis.

 

[slanidrac16]

Justin Fields got about $20M per year on a 2 year $40M contract last season. So I think that is a good starting point for Willis.

You could be right. It will all depend on the competition to get him. He certainly is going to get more than 10-12.

 

[Chopper0080]

Justin Fields got about $20M per year on a 2 year $40M contract last season. So I think that is a good starting point for Willis.

hasn't worked out very well for the Jets

 

[Cardiac]

hasn't worked out very well for the Jets

Yes, but nothing seems to work well for the Jets.

 

[Harry]

He is a great route runner with strong hands. Amazing body control especially on back shoulder throws. Very physical and not afraid of going across the middle. I see him as a massive upgrade over Zay Jones.

Not fast enough. Just jams up midfield more.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Justin Fields got about $20M per year on a 2 year $40M contract last season. So I think that is a good starting point for Willis.

I thought we wasn’t interested in Willis?

 

[Cardsfanstl]

#2: Cut James Conner - Conner has been the heart of this offense the last couple of seasons but he is going to be 31 this year. Now is the perfect time to move off of an aging RB and start fresh.

Cap Savings $7.6M

Free Agency Targets:

After the cuts listed above the Cardinals Effective cap space would be:

Cardinals 2026 Effective Cap Space: ~$90M


#1) RB Breece Hall, Jets (3 years, $36M)
With the ML connection, the Cardinals add a young workhorse RB who can replace the aging James Conner.

#2) RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jets (3 years, $42M)
Again ML uses his old Jets connection to improve the Interior OL for the Cardinals.

#3) RT Braden Smith, Colts, (3 years, $40M)
The Cardinals add a strong RT who can help establish a solid running game under ML.

If they improve the OLine in FA why not pick up arguably the best RB in the draft which is Jeremiah Love of ND. Keep Conner as a mentor to him for 1 year. I keep going back to the time they passed on Adrian Peterson for Levi Brown