Loaded Cardinals Mailbag: Coaching Search, Nfl Draft And Cap Space

ARIZONA — The Arizona Cardinals' coaching hunt continues to ramp up, pinch 13 names successful nan operation for nan occupation and perchance much connected nan way.

Naturally, that dominated this mailbag and I wouldn't expect thing other from a instrumentality guidelines eager to spot which guidance things could go.

So, without wasting immoderate much time, let's dive into your questions earlier my supplier gets a telephone and I'm besides interviewing for nan gig.

Mando asks: A coaching alteration usually ends up meaning that they'll switch immoderate of our guys pinch their guys. Who do you deliberation is astir susceptible to ending up being trim and replaced connected nan roster correct now?

Mando, I'm looking straight astatine immoderate names successful that 2024 free supplier class.

Guys specified arsenic Sean Murphy-Bunting ($7.2 million) and Bilal Nichols ($5.8 million) make a batch of consciousness arsenic nan Cardinals look to free up immoderate headdress abstraction this offseason. Those guys mixed would prevention Arizona $13 cardinal successful headdress abstraction alone.

If you're looking for a large sanction to watch, I deliberation James Conner's clip could beryllium coming to an extremity (D.J. Humphries style) aft nan wounded pinch $7.5 cardinal successful headdress savings if he's trim pre-June 1.

Dalvin Tomlinson ($9.4 million), Akeem Davis-Gaither ($5.1 million) and Evan Brown ($4.9 million) could besides unit nan Cardinals into immoderate reliable discussions.

Bryan asks: Because I cognize you emotion math, what's your champion conjecture connected headdress abstraction for free agency?

I'll person you cognize I was truthful bully astatine mathematics successful organization assemblage I took nan aforesaid people aggregate times, convey you.

Without Kyler Murray ramifications (which look intolerable to task now), nan Cardinals person a projected $15.1 cardinal successful effective headdress abstraction for 2026, which fundamentally is headdress abstraction nan squad will person pinch their projected draught people signings already factored in.

As mentioned above, I deliberation Murphy-Bunting and Nichols are gone. I besides deliberation nan Cardinals portion ways pinch Conner, too. That gives them an contiguous $20.5 cardinal summation from 3 players.

I do judge 1 of nan 3 of Tomlinson, Davis-Gaither and Brown will beryllium cut, truthful conservatively we're looking astatine astir an further $25 cardinal added to Arizona's first $15.1 million.

After triple-checking pinch my calculator, that's $40.1 cardinal successful effective headdress space. Teams typically for illustration to transportation astatine slightest $5 cardinal successful headdress abstraction towards nan regular play arsenic emergency costs truthful realistically nan Cardinals will person astir $35 cardinal to walk this offseason, if not more.

Michael asks: If we can’t onshore John Harbaugh astatine HC who would beryllium nan adjacent champion fresh for nan Cardinals' playbook scheme?

Ryan asks: It feels for illustration a tube dream pinch this ownership but really would you deliberation nan ownership could entice Harbaugh to travel to nan desert?

I person bully news and bad news connected this front.

The bully news for Cardinals fans? Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's statement is up, and now that Jonathan Gannon is officially gone, Arizona doesn't person an violative strategy for 2026 presently successful place.

The bad news? That very, very apt isn't going to beryllium Harbaugh. Yes, nan Cardinals reportedly held preliminary talks pinch him, though galore insiders propose Arizona's connected nan extracurricular looking successful for his services.

I'm not judge nan Cardinals tin meet Harbaugh's reported demands, and pinch that (to return a spot from Shark Tank) — he's out.

As for candidates Arizona's interviewed, I'm personally a large instrumentality of Los Angeles Rams violative coordinator Mike LaFleur, who has worked nether nan guidance of some Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan.

For coaches who haven't spoken pinch nan Cardinals yet, I highlighted erstwhile Miami Dolphins caput coach Mike McDaniel arsenic personification I'd for illustration to spot Arizona prosecute with.

Eric asks: Are nan players dissatisfied pinch nan Cards’ beforehand agency and ownership?

Eric, this is simply a bully question.

I deliberation nan Cardinals' locker room understands their domiciled successful really 2025 went. Not each nan blasted falls connected them, but speaking pinch galore of nan guys astatine nan extremity of nan play and astatine exit interviews, they intelligibly understood amended shot simply needs to beryllium executed betwixt nan lines.

On that note, I don't judge nan players are dissatisfied pinch wide head Monti Ossenfort. I deliberation a awesome logic for nan excitement entering 2025 was owed to nan roster he put together — connected paper.

As for ownership, Bidwill's NFLPA study paper grades person been telling. His 2 grades straight from players themselves were an F successful 2024 and a D- successful 2025.

I uncertainty that people rises successful 2026, though Arizona announced they're building a caller installation successful nan adjacent future, truthful that mightiness gain immoderate bully grace pinch players.

Charles asks: Who are we astir apt to prosecute and what's nan timeline connected it?

Bo asks: What are nan likelihood nan Cardinals are nan past opening to get a coach?

I'll reply nan timeline questions first.

I'm not rather judge connected nan Cardinals being nan very past opening to beryllium filled this clip astir — astir notably because they didn't moreover person a wide head hired astatine this constituent past clip — but nan reality is apical openings will beryllium filled first, and Arizona simply isn't that astatine this constituent successful time.

Ossenfort himself said it would beryllium an extended process, truthful that fto america cognize disconnected nan jump nan Cardinals were going to return immoderate time.

On that note, for group freaking out: Only nan Giants person reportedly recovered their adjacent caput man. Eight different teams don't look to beryllium ace adjacent to pursuing suit, including nan Cardinals.

As for who they're astir apt to hire, connection connected nan societal media streets is Vance Joseph is going to get an extensive look. I simply can't get connected committee pinch that.

I deliberation Klint Kubiak is simply a beardown sanction to watch if they (inevitably) don't onshore Robert Saleh, but this genuinely does consciousness for illustration anybody's conjecture astatine this stage.

Sundevil9314 asks: What would beryllium nan absolute worst position - purely based connected request - for nan Cardinals to draught astatine 3?

Quarterback.

With Dante Moore going backmost to school, a apical backmost action is disconnected nan array for nan Cardinals and each different willing teams.

Fernando Mendoza seems to beryllium stamped arsenic nan number 1 wide prime while No. 2 is officially up for grabs pinch Moore staying successful nan assemblage ranks.

Whether QB2 is Ty Simpson aliases QB3 is personification other pinch Arizona connected nan clock, that genuinely seems to beryllium measurement excessively precocious for immoderate backmost successful this people to go.

The Cardinals taking a backmost astatine three, particularly now, conscionable for nan liking of doing truthful would beryllium malpractice. They're amended disconnected keeping Kyler Murray if that's still nan plan.

Ed asks: What’s your last missive people for nan Cardinals play based connected grounds and efforts?

Contrary to immoderate online opinions, I don't deliberation nan Cardinals gave up connected nan season. I simply deliberation they were conscionable out-schemed and out-played much times than not, particularly down nan 2nd half of nan schedule.

Based connected record? F. It was playoff contention aliases bust for myself entering this twelvemonth fixed really nan 2024 squad hardly missed nan postseason and only seemed to beryllium upgraded complete nan past offseason.

Based connected effort? I'd still springiness a C. Nothing heroic to yet prevention results but besides still passed nan oculus test.

Overall grade: D.

Ryan asks: How apt do you spot nan Cardinals making a bold move to waste and acquisition up and get nan kid from Indy?

I'll effort to make this short and saccharine since we're already almost 1,300 words into this, but Ryan I'd beryllium highly shocked if nan Raiders are consenting to move disconnected that pick.

Fernando Mendoza looks for illustration he checks each nan boxes of an NFL quarterback, from limb talent to mobility to intelligence to character. The Raiders, overmuch for illustration nan Cardinals, desperately request a imagination for nan future.

They've sewage their ticket. And while Ossenfort should beryllium hounding nan Raiders' telephone lines each nan measurement until they're connected nan clock, it doesn't consciousness for illustration Las Vegas will return a bet pinch moving disconnected nan pick.

Monsterdemo asks: Out of Vance Joseph, Arthur Smith, and Mike McCarthy, who would you hire?

Monster (assuming your begetter goes by Mr. Demo), this is simply a coagulated but easy mobility successful my mind.

I'm going McCarthy.

McCarthy has immense caput coaching acquisition pinch Super Bowl pedigree and has extended acquisition connected nan violative broadside of nan ball, wherever it's nary concealed nan Cardinals request immoderate help.

Not that he's immoderate knight successful sparkling armor, but compared to Joseph (who we've seen earlier successful nan desert) and Smith (who is known for stagnant offenses) this reply feels beautiful clear to me.

Bryan asks: With Dante Moore going backmost to schoolhouse who would you return astatine 3rd wide if nan NFL Draft was today?

To beryllium rather honorable I deliberation nan Cardinals are again bully candidates to waste and acquisition down, but if they instrumentality and pick, there's immoderate value talent disposable astatine their disposal.

Caleb Downs would beryllium very enticing. So would Rueben Bain Jr. aliases Spencer Fano/Francis Mauigoa, though it would consciousness early to return immoderate of those names.

I'm not successful nan campy of taking a wide receiver. And rather honestly if you spot a mock draught plugging a wideout to nan Cardinals successful nan first round, don't subordinate pinch that personification anymore.

That besides goes for a moving back. And I'm looking straight astatine Todd McShay and Mel Kiper erstwhile I opportunity that.

The Cardinals request a protect playmaker. A versatile shot subordinate who tin play successful nan beforehand 7 arsenic either an off-ball linebacker aliases separator rusher, deliberation Micah Parsons but your mom tells you "we person Micah Parsons astatine home."

Get fresh to study Arvell Reese, buddy.

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