When the Arizona Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur as their next head coach, they brought in a guy with proven offensive success, having run the same offense at several programs.
While the OC of the Los Angeles Rams last year, their offense was ranked #1. That doesn’t happen by chance. It was LaFleur’s job to take the players supplied and meld a good offensive scheme and place players in position to become successful. LaFleur didn’t call plays, but did all of the other offensive coordinator jobs.
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The running back room is busting at the seams with players – and talent. Most NFL clubs keep three running backs on their final roster. At times, a fourth athlete will be retained if they have become the club’s kickoff or punt return specialist, or have other special teams value, such as a designated gunner.
Currently, the Cardinals’ running back room is as follows: James Conner (age 31), Tyler Allgeier (26), Bam Knight (25), Corey Kiner (24), Trey Benson (23), and Jeremiyah Love (21).
Let’s face it: Kiner and Knight better find a usefulness on special teams. That leaves four players.
Love will most likely become the new starting running back, and Allgeier is a talented runner who was once the Atlanta Falcons’ starter until they drafted Bijon Robinson in the first round. Allgeier was considered one of GM Monti Ossenfort’s big “splashes” in free agency this past March.
Benson is still young, but unproven despite being a third-round draft pick in 2024. He had his opportunity to prove what he can do at the NFL level after Conner went down to injury in Week 3. But Benson only lasted a week until he suffered a meniscus injury in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks that required surgery.
That leaves Conner. Obviously, his age is the first notation. Not that he can’t contribute and produce into his 30s – he can. But he is also coming off a foot injury that eliminated his 2025 season. Don’t get this wrong: most foot injuries heal, and that’s about it. This type of injury isn’t lingering, such as a knee issue or Achilles tear.
The point is coming. One of these will have to leave the desert. And since this is quite evident, the Cardinals should look into getting something in return.
The first question is: Which player?
One aspect of LaFleur’s offense will be the ability to run the ball. He requires it. He loves a running quarterback, needs a competent offensive line, good receiving help from several tight ends, and has to have exceptional running backs.
A new offense
Under former head coach Jonathan Gannon, the quarterback situation never became solved. The offensive play-calling was predictable and not consistent.
After three years under Gannon and OC Drew Petzing’s tutelage, the offense was ranked at the bottom or middle of the pack in most categories this past season. Remember, Gannon was a defensive coach, so his focus seemed to be elsewhere, and the offensive production was a roller coaster as the team collected 14 losses in his final season.
In the three years of Gannon and Petzing’s reign, the running game went from powerhouse to doghouse, while the passing attack improved each season.
2025:
- Total offense: #19
- Passing offense: #7
- Running offense: #31
2024:
- Total offense: #11
- Passing offense: #18
- Running offense: #7
2023:
- Total offense: #19
- Passing offense: #26
- Running offense: #4
LaFleur is a teacher. He wants his players to succeed on the gridiron, but mostly in life. His approach to the game, as well as his ability to teach concepts, invariably gets the best out of his players.
His scheme is tried and true.
It is based upon a heavy pre-snap motion with a wide-zone blocking rushing attack. Jet sweeps, bootlegs, play-action, short passes, simplicity for the quarterback, lack of penalties, several tight end sets, and getting holes for the running back to scoot through. He requires good pass-catching tight ends. He has to have accurate passers. He needs a solid offensive line. And LaFleur must possess running backs who are great athletes.
Let’s make a deal
The Cardinals have too many running backs. This means they possess draft capital.
There are several NFL clubs out there that need a capable running back to combine with their starting backs, such as the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, and New York Jets. A plus is that all of these teams are in another conference.
This new Cardinals offense relies on at least two really good running backs who can be utilized as a runner and a receiver, plus a third guy as a backup. And that is the type of backs that are currently on the roster. But the club can’t keep them all.
Arizona should trade one.
Most likely, Love will be this year’s starting running back. A team doesn’t draft a guy third overall and then not play him. Plus, the running back position is one that a player can produce instantly at the next level in his first season without any long developmental period.
Most likely, Knight and Kiner will end up on the practice squad unless Knight can cement a returner gig. That leaves Conner, Allgeier, and Benson. Which one should Arizona ship off?
Besides Love, a glance at the other five RBs currently on the Cardinals roster:
James Conner (6’-1”, 233 pounds)
Age: 31
Accolades: Pro Bowl (2018, 2021)
40 time: 4.65
League: 9 years, 2017 Round 3 (Steelers)
NFL games/starts: 110/84
Attempts: 1,393
Rushing yards: 6,065
First down conversions: 363
Average yards per carry: 4.4
Rushing TDs: 60
Fumbles: 17
YAC: 2,892
Receptions: 289
Drops: 18
Average yards per catch: 7.8
Receiving yards: 2,255
Receiving TDs: 12
Tyler Allgeier (5’-11”, 220 pounds)
Age: 26
Accolades: NFL All-Rookie Team (2022)
40 time: 4.60
League: 4 years, 2022 Round 5 (Falcons)
NFL games/starts: 67/12
Attempts: 676
Rushing yards: 2,876
First down conversions: 171
Average yards per carry: 4.3
Rushing TDs: 18
Fumbles: 0
YAC: 1,375
Receptions: 61
Drops: 3
Average yards per catch: 8.5
Receiving yards: 516
Receiving TDs: 2
Bam Knight (5’-11”, 210 pounds)
Age: 25
Accolades:
40 time: 4.53
League: 4 years, 2022 undrafted
NFL games/starts: 21/12
Attempts: 170
Rushing yards: 582
First down conversions: 35
Average yards per carry: 3.4
Rushing TDs: 5
Fumbles: 3
YAC: 226
Receptions: 36
Drops: 1
Average yards per catch: 8.5
Receiving yards: 268
Receiving TDs: 1
Corey Kiner (5’-9”, 209 pounds)
Age: 24
Accolades:
40 time: 4.57
League: 1 year, 2025 undrafted
NFL games/starts: 4/0
Attempts: 12
Rushing yards: 58
First down conversions: 4
Average yards per carry: 4.8
Rushing TDs: 0
Fumbles: 0
YAC: 29
Receptions: 2
Drops: 1
Average yards per catch: 7.5
Receiving yards: 15
Receiving TDs: 0
Trey Benson (6’-0”, 220 pounds)
Age: 23
Accolades:
40 time: 4.39
League: 2 years, 2024 Round 3 (Cardinals)
NFL games/starts: 17/2
Attempts: 92
Rushing yards: 451
First down conversions: 20
Average yards per carry: 4.9
Rushing TDs: 1
Fumbles: 1
YAC: 206
Receptions: 19
Drops: 0
Average yards per catch: 6.5
Receiving yards: 123
Receiving TDs: 0
