As we maneuver through the dead of the offseason (and I finally get some time off), it's a chance to survey the landscape of the Cardinals and make predictions about the season opening starters a couple of months from now — like I did with the defense yesterday.
Today, before I disappear for a bit, here is the offensive version, which, given the return of all the skill players, isn't exactly an exercise in rocket science:
QB — Carson Palmer. As long as he's healthy and productive, the Cardinals will remain a contender.
RB — David Johnson. The Cards hope that vets Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington stay healthy and contribute to Bruce Arians' multi-pronged offense. But make no mistake, David Johnson is the running back in this offense.
WR — Larry Fitzgerald. He's coming of a renaissance season only to be stepping into the will-he-or-won't-he-retire last year of his contract. Still, he remains the soul of this offense.
WR — Michael Floyd. Also going into a contract year. Had a slightly slow start, but his dominance for a long stretch mid-to-late in the year showed how much of an impact he can really make. Yet another of the weapons that will make this team so hard to defend.
WR–Smokey Brown. Arians said Brown slumped late in the year, so the goal now is for Brown to carry through his talents for 16 games. Avoiding a nagging hamstring injury like the one that bothered him for a chunk of last season would be a good starting point.
TE — Darren Fells. Jermaine Gresham will get plenty of playing time, but Fells quietly had a very solid season last year, and Palmer said he's shed 20 pounds and looks even better through the spring.
RT — D.J. Humphries. One of the few offensive question marks. All signs point to the 2015 first-round pick starting this season after learning a hard lesson as an inactive player for all 16 games as a rookie. If the Cardinals sign a veteran right tackle as camp opens, all bets are off.
RG — Evan Mathis. The Cardinals signed the Super Bowl champ to a one-year contract hoping he can not only solidify the line but also serve as a mentor — or at least give veteran help -- to Humphries.
C — A.Q. Shipley. Eventually, the Cardinals want fourth-round pick Evan Boehm to win this job. But can the rookie learn enough to beat out Shipley by September? I'm guessing it takes a little longer than that.
LG — Mike Iupati. Comes to Cardinals, makes the Pro Bowl, the running game piles up almost 2,000 yards. Probably not a coincidence.
LT — Jared Veldheer. The offensive line overhaul with Steve Keim began with the Veldheer signing back in 2014. The Cards wanted a left tackle anchor. They got one.
