SI and ESPN address the Cardinals’ offseason needs
Feb 14, 2016, 2:17 PM | Updated: Feb 16, 2016, 9:52 am
Arizona Cardinals players' lockers awaiting cleaning, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinals lost to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship football game to end their season. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
With Super Bowl 50 now behind us, preparations for the 2016 season are underway.
A collection of ESPN NFL writers shared their offseason predictions for each of the 32 football teams. Josh Weinfuss predicts the Arizona Cardinals might be window-shopping for a new quarterback.
Before Cardinals fans start calling for Weinfuss’ head, the NFL Nation reporter says that backup quarterback Drew Stanton could be on the move. And while Carson Palmer put up MVP-type numbers in 2015, the veteran is entering his 12th season.
Carson Palmer is 36 and backup Drew Stanton is an unrestricted free agent who’s preparing to not return. With how complex Arizona’s scheme is, finding a replacement for Palmer soon makes sense.
Sports Illustrated’s Doug Farrar reiterates Weinfuss’ notion that Arizona should be in the market for a quarterback, but says that the Cardinals could also use an edge rusher.
No team blitzed more than the Cardinals last season, and there was a reason for that. Despite (Dwight) Freeney’s time-machine season and the ascent of Markus Golden, this is a defense without a true dominate edge-rusher, and if they had one, this defense would be one of the top units in the league.
The Cardinals are capable of producing pressure with All-Pro Calais Campbell and their blitz schemes, but Denver’s Super Bowl performance against Carolina showed that the Cardinals need multiple pass rushing threats.
According to the Westgate Las Vegas Sportsbook, Arizona has opened at 10-1 odds to win Super Bowl LI.
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