Now that the Arizona Cardinals have picked their draft choices, and for the most part, signed all the available free agents they need, it is time to start putting the right schemes in place, and getting ready for the June Rookie Readiness Program and then July’s training camp.
The roster is ready to be groomed and molded into newly-minted head coach Mike LaFleur’s vision.
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But there are questions. Actually, quite a few. Here are three of the most important
issues.
Did Mike LaFleur decide to ditch James Conner and/or Trey Benson before he was hired?
Think about this for a second.
Before LaFleur accepted the head coaching gig with the Cardinals, he had to have looked at the roster up and down, sideways, slantways, backways, longways, and frontways like a Wonkavator.
And the entire time LaFleur was considering the Cardinals as a possible next stop, the franchise owned the third overall pick in the NFL Draft.
LaFleur was advised on the status of both James Conner and Trey Benson as the team’s starting running backs, and that they expected both back before training camp began.
And yet, Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame became the target instead of a stud defender or a select offensive lineman. This means that LaFleur had in mind to take Love as he was signing his deal to become the next head coach of the Cardinals. He had Conner and Benson in the palm of his hand, and yet salivated for an elite running back to develop into his new offensive scheme.
Who will start at right guard?
This will be the ongoing battle throughout training camp. Three names will be penciled in continuously each week, depending upon production. The good news is that the two who aren’t starting will become quality depth pieces.
Isaiah Adams (6’-4”, 315 pounds)
Adams was selected in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL draft out of Illinois. He was drafted specifically to become the starter at one of the guard spots at some point. That just so happened to be last year, especially after a really good training camp. But Adams had issues early in the season and then struggled. He ended up with five starts but played in 15 games.
His Pro Football Focus grade was a 56.7 at season’s end, which ranked him #56 out of 81 qualified offensive guards. His weakness in run blocking became an issue and needs further development. He also had seven penalties.
Matt Pryor (6’-7”, 332 pounds)
As a new guy brought in during free agency, Pryor has excellent versatility in that he can play both guards, plus either tackle spot. During his tenure in Philadelphia, he played right tackle, right guard, and left tackle. In college, he played 21 games at right guard, so he has plenty of experience at the position.
His Pro Football Focus grade for this past season was a nice 71.6. He had a single penalty, allowed three sacks, and four pressures, and played every offensive line position except for center. Make no mistake, this is a very large man. He has long arms with a massive frame. Being that big, he does need time to navigate his defenders, which is why he is best suited for guard, where he doesn’t have to worry about fast first steps.
Chase Bisontis (6’-5”, 330 pounds)
One of the best guard prospects in this year’s draft, Bisontis was ranked the third-best offensive guard. Excellent pass blocker with good footspeed for such a big man. Heavy hands and will remain active and attentive to his defender.
Effective at pulling with a low center of gravity. His rookie status shouldn’t keep him from proving he is capable of holding down the starting job.
Will the left-side pass rush ever get any type of production?
The Cardinals signed EDGE rusher Josh Sweat away from the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2024 free agency period, and installed him on the rightside. In his one season with Arizona, he had 17 starts with 17 QB hits, 13 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 30 total tackles, 2 batted passes, 7 knockdowns, 9 hurries, and 28 pressures.
In other words, he earned his keep. At just 265 pounds, he is light enough to be quick with 4.53 speed, and stout enough to take on an offensive tackle.
His numbers proved he is an asset with the pass rush. The 12 sacks alone are a testament to his ability to disrupt havoc in an offensive backfield.
But the other side? What the heck is going on there?
The teams spent a valuable first-round draft pick on Darius Robinson, taken with the 27th selection in the 2024 NFL draft. Each team’s first-round picks have to come through and be ultra-productive right off, and for years to come. But Robinson is a blank check.
Robinson had one sack last year. Two QB hits. Five pressures. One knockdown. Are you yawning yet? Horrible, horrible numbers coming off the edge with below-average production.
What is wrong with this guy? The Cardinals could have had cornerbacks Cooper DeJean (Eagles) or Kamari Lassiter (Texans), who have both made the Pro Bowl. Or WR Ladd McConkey (Chargers) and OT Tyler Guyton (Cowboys), who are all starting and are an integral part of their team’s chemistry. Instead, Arizona has this kid who can’t rush the passer and is getting all this money instead for not doing what they hired him for.
Walter Nolen and now Roy Lopez will be manning the center of the defensive line, but there is very little pressure coming from the left side. What’s the answer?
Jonah Williams is listed as Robinson’s backup. He was signed this year in free agency out of the New Orleans Saints. Although he went undrafted in 2020, he has played for five years in the league. But Arizona is his fifth club. He has a career total of 5.5 sacks and 23 pressures.
Is anyone paying attention? There is a gaping hole at left defensive end when the other team drops back to pass. The Cardinals had the opportunity to take one of the elite pass rushers in this year’s draft with either Arvell Reese or Rueben Bain, but opted for the premier running back instead.
Which makes sense. LaFleur is an offensive coach. What the offense does and blooms into represents wholly what LaFleur is as an offensive mind. He needs and wants chess pieces for that side of the ball. So, while it would be great to have either Reese or Bain, LaFleur needs weapons. And he went after this.
How about this idea? Sign free agent DE Joey Bosa. He’s 31 years old and isn’t the ultra-swift pass rusher he once was, but he had 24 pressures last year. And 16 QB hits with 11 knockdowns and 8 hurries. Add in 5 sacks and a league-high five forced fumbles. Bosa isn’t the same Pro Bowl talent he used to be because of injuries, but he was still able to provide a better pass rush than the options the Cardinals currently have. Plus, he is a proven talent.
