MadCards Way Too Early 2025 offseason plan

[TheCardFan]

The thought that Nichols and Jones will be as impactful as needed is possible but fueled by hope more than anything.

For me, I would say track record as well. Seems like Monti has brought in starters like Kyzir, Wilson, and Froholdt that have fit the system and played well.
You can also give him credit for bringing in street free agents that performed (and the coaches of course).
Not a fan of SMB but I suppose he felt he needed a veteran CB in the room.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I just want to thank you for not saying “big John” hallelujah!

I can’t see the team passing on grant…mykell Williams or Walker….one of these would be the pick if I was Monti…last night a gentleman was doing a mock draft and he gave us mykell Williams….walker and grant were off the board…then he gave us a very impressive Missouri offensive tackle….i was so happy!!! Then I realized it was just a mock!!!

 

[Harry]

With the Cardinals 2024 season in the books it's time to start looking at the plans for what the Cardinals will look like next season. Here is my way too early offseason plan for the Cardinals 2025 offseason moves:

#1 Cardinals Staff:

Keep the current coaching staff intact.

#2 Current Cardinals roster and pending FAs:

* Extend Trey McBride. 4 year extension for $70m
* Re-sign OG Will Hernandez. 3 years for $26m
* Re-sign ILB Kyzir White. 3 years for $30m
* Re-sign Edge Brandon Browning. 1 year for $6.5m
* Re-sign DT LJ Collier. 2 years for $6m
* Re-sign WR Greg Dortch. 1 year for $1.5m

#3 Free Agency:

* Sign a solid Edge Rusher
* Sign a #2 WR who can stretch the field
* Sign a NT/DT
* Sign a LG to compete with young guards on roster
* Sign additional depth players who fit the culture

#4 NFL Draft:

* 1st round - Josh Simmons - OT - Ohio St. (Drafted to become the future starter at RT)
* Rest of rounds TBD at this time.

The problems start with #3; those guys aren’t there. Maybe a trade for a couple. So #4 has to shift to defense.

 

[Harry]

Dre Greenlaw from SF would be my target

Won’t get out of SF

 

[Harry]

I’ve looked at some really recent mock drafts & it feels like some draft analysts aren’t as high on this DT class like I thought they would be. After Graham, the next DT I seen drafted were in the mid 20s. Caught me by surprise.

EDGE class is tricky because I expect Abdul & Jalon Walker to go before us. I like Pearce Jr, but I’m not sure if we after another thin-build again. Mykel is just way too raw. Scourton is probably too big.

Grant is above mid 20s though the Cards are close to that where they’re picking

If Jonah’s knee is a long-term issue, I think we gotta start acknowledging OT could be a realistic case for us.

 

[TheCardFan]

Won’t get out of SF

How are they going to pay all these guys plus Purdy?

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[TheCardFan]

As a comparison - here is our 2025 cap numbers for players getting paid $9M or more (vs SF) above.

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[Harry]

in the FWIW category;

various people employed by the team: Wolf, Pasch, KVB have all commented that improving the offensive line should be a priority this offseason ( along with pass rush / d line, etc )

I find it interesting in that this is a group most likely to have gotten that from the staff / FO

There is nothing wrong with prioritizing the Oline. However, free agency offers some good options and a few trade possibilities exist. It’s best to go that way as fixing the defense likely means attacking it through the draft as there are few free agency/trade options. If they can secure Beachum and Barton to back Williams I’d ride with that at tackle for one more season. The guard issue is the priority even if they lock in Hernandez and he is sound. Brown is okay for depth.

 

[kerouac9]

why would you assume these would be an auto upgrade? the defensive line was woeful early in the season while they were on the field and significantly improved once they were injured.

I’ve heard compelling arguments that most teams are playing two hand touch in camp and it takes four games for the lines on both sides of the ball to round into shape.

This year by that time all three of Monti’s priority free agent signings hilariously landed on IR. There isn’t a ton of evidence Nichols and Jones can’t play.

 

[slanidrac16]

I can’t really give a grade for Jones and Nichols. They played a total of 9 games early in the year while the defense was developing.
I can’t say they automatically got better because these two guys got injured.
Living in Chicago there were plenty critical about Nichols leaving the team.

 

[Chopper0080]

I'm looking for an upgrade over Roy Lopez and Khyris Tonga. There has to be a better option out there.

Nichols and Lopez is the upgrade.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Based on the fact they have a track record of success in the NFL vs the three street free agents we had in there (Lopez, Naquan, and Tonga).
Nichols and Jones were brought here and paid big bucks, so they obviously fit the system and profile. Given a year to work in our system with JG coaching them up...that is my expectation that these two guys can play better than street free agents.

What track record of success? They were (correctly) labeled as below average starters/rotation D-line guys before FA last year, and there is really nothing we saw this year to contradict that.

If you're paying decent money to those guys, they sure as hell better be markedly better than Roy Lopez, who was just like the rest of us watching on the couch two years ago.

 

[MadCardDisease]

The problems start with #3; those guys aren’t there. Maybe a trade for a couple. So #4 has to shift to defense.

Yes I agree and made #3 Free Agency/Trade as the title to be more clear.

 

[Chopper0080]

My biggest hope is that the Cardinals can head to the draft without glaring holes on the roster. That would be a great start.

Because of that, I think it is ok to exit FA with a DL group of Jones, Nichols, Robinson, Stills, Lopez and Collier. That leaves you the option of draft a DT 3rd round or higher and just have to figure out where to get one extra roster spot.

EDGE is the biggest "issue" on the roster. There just isn't much talent, and the FA class looks pretty crappy.

OL is interesting. I do think there will be some answers in FA depending on what the Cardinals want to do. I think you can start the season with Adams as a starter, but you need to have the other G spot and RT figured out to do so.

ILB is scary because I have no idea what they will do. I don't think Monti and Gannon "prioritize" it in the way Keim did. The contracts for White and Wilson along with the invested draft equity seem to support that. (EDIT: I have liked the current approach towards the ILB position. the scary part would be a change to that approach.)

I have no idea about WR. I don't see a bunch of options that fill the need the Cardinals have.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

My biggest hope is that the Cardinals can head to the draft without glaring holes on the roster. That would be a great start.

Because of that, I think it is ok to exit FA with a DL group of Jones, Nichols, Robinson, Stills, Lopez and Collier. That leaves you the option of draft a DT 3rd round or higher and just have to figure out where to get one extra roster spot.

So you think that we have no glaring holes on our D-Line?

 

[slanidrac16]

I thought from the beginning of this regime their plan was to put together versatile and interchangeable front 7.

They were going to go after guys that fit their system and culture not dependent on one player.

Injuries cripple teams that depend on 1 or 2 players. I don’t see us paying 150m to any one player to improve this team. It appears the superstar DT or edge rusher is available anyway.

Can we maybe give credit to this staff and scouts recognizing the fact that this 2025 draft class was very deep in DT’s and edge talent?

We can sign all the players on this roster that we want to retain. Nobody is leaving because we can’t afford them. We can add to the o-line, wr or whatever Monti deems important. We can draft the BPA when our number is called which coincides with DT and Edge.

There is plenty to be pleased with and yet there is a lot of work to do and expectations that, we as fans, deserve.

 

[Krangodnzr]

So you think that we have no glaring holes on our D-Line?

I don't think he's saying that. I think he's saying it's not a massive weakness.

As dire as the DL looked last year, it now looks....mediocre. While you want more than mediocre, you could live with that group if you added a big time edge rusher and another promising prospect to the DL. The DL group is filled with ok NFL players, which wasn't the case at th beginning of last season.

 

[Chopper0080]

So you think that we have no glaring holes on our D-Line?

I do not think we have glaring holes. I do think the roster lacks interior pass rushers. Also feel they have no star player inside.

 

[Chopper0080]

I don't think he's saying that. I think he's saying it's not a massive weakness.

As dire as the DL looked last year, it now looks....mediocre. While you want more than mediocre, you could live with that group if you added a big time edge rusher and another promising prospect to the DL. The DL group is filled with ok NFL players, which wasn't the case at th beginning of last season.

Mediocre is a nice word. I also wonder if you see some improvement on the interior pass rush if teams can't single block outside every snap because there are zero rush threats outside. Three on two is always tough.

 

[Stout]

My biggest hope is that the Cardinals can head to the draft without glaring holes on the roster. That would be a great start.

Because of that, I think it is ok to exit FA with a DL group of Jones, Nichols, Robinson, Stills, Lopez and Collier. That leaves you the option of draft a DT 3rd round or higher and just have to figure out where to get one extra roster spot.

EDGE is the biggest "issue" on the roster. There just isn't much talent, and the FA class looks pretty crappy.

OL is interesting. I do think there will be some answers in FA depending on what the Cardinals want to do. I think you can start the season with Adams as a starter, but you need to have the other G spot and RT figured out to do so.

ILB is scary because I have no idea what they will do. I don't think Monti and Gannon "prioritize" it in the way Keim did. The contracts for White and Wilson along with the invested draft equity seem to support that. (EDIT: I have liked the current approach towards the ILB position. the scary part would be a change to that approach.)

I have no idea about WR. I don't see a bunch of options that fill the need the Cardinals have.

I think that would still leave us with a glaring hole at DT. I have absolutely no confidence that any of those guys become Big Johns next year.

Yes, I'm bringing it back. It's the offseason and time for FA and draft talk

 

[MadCardDisease]

I have no idea about WR. I don't see a bunch of options that fill the need the Cardinals have.

I think more options at WR will become available as the new league year approaches. Teams are going to have to make decisions on big contracts that are coming due for several Vets.

Davante Adams (cap hit of $38M in 2025)

Deebo Samuel (1 year left on his contract. 2025 cap hit $16M. Contract Voids in 2026 and the cap hit is $33M)

Tyler Lockett (cap hit of $30M in 2025 if option is exercised. Hawks save $17M by cutting him)

Cooper Kupp (cap hit of $30M in 2025, $27M in 2026.)

Calvin Ridley (cap hit of $28M in 2025. New GM might want to move on from this contract.)

Christian Kirk (cap hit of $24M in 2025 with $5M due in 2026 Void year. $10M in savings if cut)

Gabe Davis (Lots of money due past 2025 season. New Jags coach may want to trade?)


If Tyler lockett gets cut I wouldn't mind his veteran presence at a reasonable price as a one year stopgap. K9 mentioned possibly trading for Gabe Davis with a 5th round pick as another option which I would be on board for. Maybe even a homecoming for Kirk on the cheap?

 

[Chopper0080]

Updated cap space for AZ is 73 mil.

 

[Chopper0080]

I think that would still leave us with a glaring hole at DT. I have absolutely no confidence that any of those guys become Big Johns next year.

Yes, I'm bringing it back. It's the offseason and time for FA and draft talk

I don't see lacking a pro bowl player as a gaping hole. We have a pretty average DL group IMO. I want better, but that doesn't mean it is bad.

 

[slanidrac16]

I think more options at WR will become available as the new league year approaches. Teams are going to have to make decisions on big contracts that are coming due for several Vets.

Davante Adams (cap hit of $38M in 2025)
No. Front runner who would not fit this culture.

Deebo Samuel (1 year left on his contract. 2025 cap hit $16M. Contract Voids in 2026 and the cap hit is $33M)
No. Often injured me player.

Tyler Lockett (cap hit of $30M in 2025 if option is exercised. Hawks save $17M by cutting him)
Hmm. Interesting but he has had injury problems.

Cooper Kupp (cap hit of $30M in 2025, $27M in 2026.)
Wow. This would be a very interesting acquisition. I would be happy if he is totally healthy.

Calvin Ridley (cap hit of $28M in 2025. New GM might want to move on from this contract.)
I have reservations about this guy. He is not the player he was projected to be.

Christian Kirk (cap hit of $24M in 2025 with $5M due in 2026 Void year. $10M in savings if cut)
No.
Gabe Davis (Lots of money due past 2025 season. New Jags coach may want to trade?)
Absolutely no. Too many drops. If the Bills let him walk away that should tell you something. I’m certainly not giving up picks for him.

If Tyler lockett gets cut I wouldn't mind his veteran presence at a reasonable price as a one year stopgap. K9 mentioned possibly trading for Gabe Davis with a 5th round pick as another option which I would be on board for. Maybe even a homecoming for Kirk on the cheap.

 

[Chopper0080]

I think more options at WR will become available as the new league year approaches. Teams are going to have to make decisions on big contracts that are coming due for several Vets.

Davante Adams (cap hit of $38M in 2025)

Deebo Samuel (1 year left on his contract. 2025 cap hit $16M. Contract Voids in 2026 and the cap hit is $33M)

Tyler Lockett (cap hit of $30M in 2025 if option is exercised. Hawks save $17M by cutting him)

Cooper Kupp (cap hit of $30M in 2025, $27M in 2026.)

Calvin Ridley (cap hit of $28M in 2025. New GM might want to move on from this contract.)

Christian Kirk (cap hit of $24M in 2025 with $5M due in 2026 Void year. $10M in savings if cut)

Gabe Davis (Lots of money due past 2025 season. New Jags coach may want to trade?)


If Tyler lockett gets cut I wouldn't mind his veteran presence at a reasonable price as a one year stopgap. K9 mentioned possibly trading for Gabe Davis with a 5th round pick as another option which I would be on board for. Maybe even a homecoming for Kirk on the cheap?

To clarify...there are FA WR options...but I don't believe many come with the requisite skillset this offense needs. Alec Pierce is a great example of the type of WR this offense needs to add. He has clear out, vertical speed. Can move around a little. Has good enough size to run block.

That's not any of those players (imo).