ARIZONA CARDINALS

Report: Cardinals QB Josh Rosen showed up to work early

Apr 8, 2019, 8:35 AM | Updated: 10:14 am

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Oak...

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

You know what they say: Early is on time, and on time is late.

Second-year Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen apparently knows that rule, because NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Rosen, who has been named in trade speculation this offseason, was the first player in the building Monday as offseason workouts began for Arizona.

Maybe this bit of non-news means the Cardinals will let Rosen lead the 2019 Cardinals under first-year coach Kliff Kingsbury. Remember, as of January, Kingsbury took the job thinking 2019 draft prospect Kyler Murray was about to embark on a baseball career — the coach’s main task then was to develop Rosen, last year’s No. 10 overall pick.

Things have obviously changed since.

Now with Murray in the NFL Draft pool, maybe Arizona is making Rosen’s attendance well-known to portray Rosen as a team player and leader. Make him look good and they can trade him while drafting Murray, the Oklahoma quarterback prospect, with the No. 1 pick.

Nobody can really say. Cardinals general manager Steve Keim might not even have come to a firm conclusion about what to do at this point. A mind-boggling offer for either Rosen or the No. 1 pick could always change their mind.

Hate this media-driven story all you’d like, but give Keim and the Cardinals credit for allowing it to create confusion about their plans.

Everyone has assumed Arizona will take Murray in the draft without any evidence the team is set on him. The only thing anyone has to go on is that the Cardinals have met with Murray and, according to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro, will host him this week.

As it stands, they aren’t showing indications of shopping Rosen, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last week.

Arizona has also met with and hosted draft prospects in Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa and Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, making the case that they are in the mix to come off the board at No. 1, too. Will all these potential avenues create a favorable trade offer for the No. 1 pick on draft day?

It doesn’t hurt.

What’s Rosen showing up early to work mean?

Hardly much. Or maybe everything.

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