ARIZONA CARDINALS

Another publication says Arizona Cardinals had best offseason in NFC West

May 26, 2016, 4:34 PM | Updated: May 27, 2016, 9:23 am

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, left, and general manager  Steve Keim discuss the upcomi...

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, left, and general manager Steve Keim discuss the upcoming NFL football draft, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

The school year is ending and there are grades being handed out to students all over the state.

In academics, pupils get one set of grades from teachers to mark their progress (or lack thereof). It doesn’t work the same way in football. What teams, players and front offices do on and off the field is picked apart by well, everyone, it seems.

With most NFL teams in the midst of OTAs and mini-camps leading up to the beginning of training camp in July, grades are pouring in from all over the internet on how each franchise did in free agency and the draft.

Pro Football Focus is the latest to make their grades public, and they gave the Arizona Cardinals a ‘B.’

The Cardinals already had a deep NFC-West-winning roster, with their most important pieces returning (Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald, David Johnson, Calais Campbell, Patrick Peterson, and Tyrann Mathieu), but they used their offseason to improve in key areas. The additions of Jones and Nkemdiche, as well as the growth of Golden going into his second year, should make the Cardinals’ pass rush much more effective than their 29th-ranked unit last season.

Arizona’s front office, headed up by general manager Steve Keim, also addressed need on the offensive line, bringing in veteran free agent and two-time Pro Bowler Evan Mathis.

All the skill players from an offense that led the NFL in total yardage are back.

For comparison’s sake, the other teams in the division didn’t fare as well in PFF’s eyes. The Los Angles Rams earned a ‘B-‘, the San Francisco 49ers got a ‘C’ and the Seattle Seahawks got a passing mark of a ‘C-‘.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort talks to reporters...

Tyler Drake

Monti Ossenfort keeping trade options open as Cardinals’ draft board nears completion

The Arizona Cardinals have about 95% of their draft board completed about a week out from the NFL Draft and continue to look at all avenues.

9 hours ago

Monti Ossenfort looks on during the 2023 NFL Draft Combine...

Tyler Drake

Daniel Jeremiah: NFL Draft is Cardinals’ moment to set up franchise for years to come

The 2024 NFL Draft marks a big set-your-franchise-up situation for the Arizona Cardinals, says NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.

14 hours ago

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill speaks at a press conference...

Tyler Drake

Michael Bidwill: Cardinals ‘aligned on getting this thing right’ in 2024

Michael Bidwill believes the Cardinals aren't that far off from really turning things around under Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort.

2 days ago

Marvin Harrison Jr....

Nick Borgia

Marvin Harrison Jr. remains Cardinals top pick in latest ESPN mock

With the 2024 NFL draft just around the corner, ESPN's latest mock draft details what could be in store for the Cardinals' first six picks.

2 days ago

Rome Odunze...

Kevin Zimmerman

Peter Schrager’s NFL mock draft has a surprising Cardinals trade-down with Giants

Peter Schrager believes the New York Giants could trade with the Arizona Cardinals, who move down to the No. 6 pick to select Rome Odunze.

3 days ago

Trey McBride works out...

Tyler Drake

Tweaked process, same message: Cardinals begin strength and conditioning program

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon isn't the biggest believer in picking up where you left off, especially on a year-to-year basis.

3 days ago

Another publication says Arizona Cardinals had best offseason in NFC West