Acquiring a skilled defensive lineman or cornerback is one of the key objectives for the Arizona Cardinals in the upcoming offseason. Nevertheless, their main emphasis should be on securing a new leading wide receiver.
Arizona is in need of a primary receiver who can make plays. Among the team’s offseason priorities are securing a top cornerback and a skilled defensive lineman, but their most pressing need is finding a true top receiver. While Kyler Murray appears to be their chosen quarterback for the upcoming season, he will require assistance. The Cardinals had the second-lowest number of receiving yards from wide receivers in the league (1,790), trailing only the Falcons and Jets. Furthermore, Marquise Brown, the team’s current receiver, is approaching the end of his contract. To address this, Arizona can seek out a new receiver for Murray through either the draft or free agency, targeting a young and productive pass-catcher who deserves a substantial salary.
The Cardinals should be pleased with this situation as it presents a positive outlook for them. They have a wide range of options to choose from in terms of wide receivers in both the free agent and draft classes.
Players like Tee Higgins, Mike Evans, and Michael Pittman Jr. are available in the free agent pools. The upcoming 2024 draft class includes talented receivers such as Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze. Amongst all this, the Cardinals are yet to decide what to do with their top receiver from last season, Marquise Brown. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, there is still a possibility that Brown might re-sign with Arizona.
Brown’s strong relationship with Murray could work in his favor if the Cardinals choose to maintain their current QB situation next season. However, Brown’s lack of impressive performance in Arizona, with only 574 yards this season, will likely hinder his chances of signing with the same caliber of free agents as Higgins and Pittman Jr. The question remains whether Brown will want to stay and if the Cardinals will be willing to make compromises to retain him. It is worth considering that Brown is still relatively young, not turning 27 until June.
The Cardinals may consider re-signing their No. 1 receiver, despite his underwhelming production of just 574 yards, and allocate their remaining funds to other areas.
Arizona has the option to trade down in the draft, as there are plenty of receiving options available for general manager Monti Ossenfort. ESPN’s Jordan Reid suggests that the Cardinals could either choose to do that or select Harrison Jr.
Adding more pass-catchers on the outside will be crucial for the Cardinals, according to Josh. With a talented pool of receivers available in this year’s draft, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is a viable option. Known for his exceptional body control and reliable hands, Harrison Jr. is regarded as the top prospect overall. However, the Cardinals’ GM, Monti Ossenfort, may opt to trade back, gain more picks, and address the need for a pass-catcher later in the first round. It is worth noting that this draft class is abundant in talented receivers, allowing for such flexibility.
Ossenfort has previous experience with trading down. In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cardinals made a trade with the Houston Texans, moving from the third overall pick to the twelfth overall pick. As part of the deal, they also obtained a first-round pick for the 2024 draft, which became the twenty-seventh overall pick. However, the Cardinals later traded the twelfth pick to the Detroit Lions to move back into the top ten and selected offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. from Ohio State with the sixth overall pick.
To benefit Murray and please the fans, Arizona must include a wide receiver in their plans for the offseason.
