Cardinals mailbag: Outside of Marvin Harrison Jr., which player has the most to prove?

The Arizona Cardinals’ season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers is right around the corner. But before the team jumps on the plane, it’s time to dive into the Cardinals mailbag!

Missed out on getting your questions in? Head over to the submission page on Arizona Sports and let me know what’s on your brain!

There’s going to be a lot more to talk about as the season gets going, but for now, let’s get after this week’s batch of questions:

Cardinals Week 1 mailbag

Armando from Tucson: What player do you think has the most to prove this season other than Marvin Harrison Jr.?

TD: I’m sticking with the 2024 NFL Draft class and going with another first-rounder in Darius Robinson.

Say what you will about Arizona’s defensive line rotation and how much guys interchange there, but seeing him backing up Dante Stills on the Week 1 depth chart is not what you want to see out of a Day 1 pick.

Robinson looked like he was on his way to a much-improved Year 3 as a training camp standout, but regressed once the preseason hit.

He is in serious danger of not seeing his fifth-year option picked up — a decision that must be made next offseason — if he can’t turn things around and start making a tangible impact.

Danny from Scottsdale: The Cardinals obviously have a difficult schedule on paper. Say they surprise and start 3-2. How much, if at all, does that change the organization’s plans this season if they win too much early to really have a shot at a top 3 pick?

TD: Even if they don’t start out 3-2, I think the Cardinals win more than what the sportsbooks are saying (3.5 games).

Just going off last year, where three-win teams made up the first four picks, that would most likely put them out of the top three picks anyway.

Unless rookie signal caller Carson Beck can prove he is going to be the guy long term — which is the best-case scenario and would allow Arizona to target other positions of need — I think the Cardinals come away with a first-round quarterback.

How next year’s draft class is shaping up, there are going to be options beyond the first three picks. There’s always the chance of moving up in the draft order via trade, too.

As for who is making those front office decisions for Arizona, that’s the big question.

Brian from Scottsdale: How big of a concern is it that, assuming the Cardinals have the season most predict they will and use a top pick on a franchise QB, that the picks opt to not sign with Arizona? In this era, it seems very plausible!

TD: Given Arch Manning’s name is near or at the top of the draft conversation, it’s not crazy to look back on his uncle Eli Manning forcing a trade to New York after being taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the San Diego Chargers in 2004.

Never say never, especially with the NIL chaos in college football, but I don’t think that is something the Cardinals (or fans) should be worried about.

One big reason? Head coach Mike LaFleur.

On top of flexing his offensive knowledge early on, the way he goes about his business through relationship building and the details should have quarterback prospects interested in working with him. And that’s before mentioning the elite coaching tree he’s a part of.

If his offense lives up to expectations in his first year on the job, that’s only going to solidify that thinking.

Mike from Phoenix: I saw that Jeremiyah Love has his own comic book — Jeremonstar!

TD: He does! It’s a cool blend of anime and football, while also shedding some light on who Love is and his interests.

During his New Balance event in Phoenix this year, he had a massive mural of Jeremonstar that people could help fill in.

 

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