As if there would be any question – after the wheeling and dealing Monti Ossenfort pulled off in his first Cardinals draft, going from pick No. 3 to 12 to 6 and adding all kinds of draft capital along the way – potential trades will always be an option for the general manager.
Ossenfort isn't going to trade just to trade. But ruling it out would be a mistake.
"There will be a big neon sign that says 'Open' – I don't like the blinking one, it kind of messes with my eyes, but we're always going to be listening," Ossenfort said. "We'll always have the conversation.
"We may not get to the point where it makes sense, whether that is (at) 4 or anywhere we are picking, but we're always going to have a conversation. If it makes sense and it's attractive to building our team it is certainly something we will consider no matter where we are in the draft."
The quarterbacks, as usual, are driving any trade winds. Add in the fact the three teams ahead of the Cardinals in the first round – the Bears, Commanders and Patriots – all need a QB, and the speculation is going to land with the Cardinals at No. 4.
That is assuming a team would be willing to come to 4 for what could ostensibly be the fourth-best available quarterback.
The popular speculation right now is around the Minnesota Vikings, who are also looking for a QB and recently made a deal so that they now own the No. 11 and No. 23 picks in the first round. Given the QB needs of the top three teams in the draft, the Cardinals are a logical connection.
Not that it means a deal makes sense to the Cardinals – still one of Ossenfort's appropriate tenets to a trade. Moving from 4 to 11 would be a significant decision, as was dropping from 3 to 12 last year.
Of course, last year the Cardinals ended up moving up from 12 back to 6 – because the trade conversations never stop for Monti "Haul."
There is a chance the Giants at 6, for instance, might be willing to swap for a young QB. A two-spot drop would be more palatable in terms of potential picks. The return would necessarily be smaller. If the Vikings were in a spot to give up both first-round picks and a 2025 first – a steep price – that could be difficult to turn down.
And again, that is assuming the Cardinals don't value more who they could pick there, whether it be wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. or someone else.
"Those phone calls are starting to pick up a little bit," Ossenfort said. "I would say they will probably continue into next week when we go to Florida for the Owner's Meetings, and I think most teams are in a similar spot to us. They are starting to finalize their boards, and the pro day piece is kind of the final piece for evaluations. I would imagine those conversations will continue to pick up but honestly, they probably won't get serious until the week of the draft."
The Cardinals already have 11 picks in the upcoming draft, including six in the first 90. Not only are they good if they just stand pat, Ossenfort also has the ammunition to move up from their second first-round pick at 27 if they want to target a certain player.
And while deals can happen beyond the first round – something Ossenfort has already proven as well – the spotlight, until the Cardinals make their pick on that Thursday night, will be what might happen at No. 4.
"There is a considerable amount of (trade parameters) that is laid out beforehand, but there is only so far it can go," Ossenfort said. "Every mock draft out there has it all figured out what is going to happen but quite honestly, I don't believe much of any of them.
"There is a lot of unknown, and really there will be until we are on the clock."
KNIGHT RELEASED
The Cardinals released safety Qwuantrezz Knight on Thursday. He appeared in six games this season.
Images of the Arizona Cardinals treating their female staff members to a photoshoot experience to celebrate Women's History Month
Nicole Bidwill during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Monday, Mar 18, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Senior Vice President of Marketing Lisa Manning during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Monday, Mar 18, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Team Photographer Caitlyn Epes during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Administrator of Payroll and Benefits Rajni Chand during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Administrative Assistant Marie Miller during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Senior Accountant Tish Clay and Senior Manager of AlumnI Benefits Melissa Anderson during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Manager of Ticket Operations MacKenzie Sanford during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Manager of HRIS and Benefits Kristin Hale during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Manager of Membership Services Annabelle Kubinski, Account Executives of Group Sales Jessica Puk and Ashanti Grayer during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Reporter/Producer Dani Sureck during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Manager of Membership Services Brandi Dean during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Manager of Premium Hospitality Service Ashley Dodd during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Athletic Training Intern Mariah Roman during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Assistant Controller Emilee Reese during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Coordinator of Nutrition Services Mollie Nemmers during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Systems Developer Heather Goldade during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Director of Stadium Operations Lacey Probst and Coordinator of Stadium Operations Kali Urbina during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
IT Intern Marissa Simental during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Athletic Training Intern Mariah Roman and Team Photographer Caitlyn Epes during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Director of Partnership Activation Elizabeth Yeast during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Assistant to the Owner Brittany Neuheisel and Vice President of Executive Operations Melissa Gaspard during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Coordinator of Ticket Sales and Service Gina Pagliuco during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Coordinator of Ticket Sales and Service Gina Pagliuco and Account Managers of Premium Hospitality Service Ashley Dodd and Cassidy Hammel during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Sales Development Representative Grace Gribble during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Coordinator of Partnership Activation Katelyn Stys during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Director of Cardinals Cheerleaders Angela Baker during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Monday, Mar 18, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Sales Development Representative Abby Phillips during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Director of Business Solutions and Special Projects Grace Napolitano during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Director of Stadium Operations Lacey Probst during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Lead Team Chef Tara Weston during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Senior Director of People Operations Tina Givens during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Monday, Mar 18, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Manager of Membership Services Whitney Dosty during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Manager of Partnership Activation Taylor Basinger during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Manager of Membership Services Annabelle Kubinski during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Manager of Membership Services Adelina Rodriguez during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Payroll and Benefits Manager Carol Benjamin during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Manager of Content Production Graysen Choy during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Producer/Editor of Marketing and Game Entertainment Sam Hough during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Team Clinician Dr. Sophia Murphy during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Manager of Premium Hospitality Service Cassidy Hammel during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Business Development Account Executive Leslie Castro during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Senior Accountant Tish Clay during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Nutrition Assistant Alexandra Grossano during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Email Marketing Analyst Aleasiah Howard during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Monday, Mar 18, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Administrative Assistant Estelle Moreno during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Business Development Account Executive Ashlyn Gergins during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Monday, Mar 18, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Senior Manager of Performance Nutrition Taylor Mogel-Simpson during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Director of Membership Services Emily Dumas during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Monday, Mar 18, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Executive of Group Sales Jessica Puk during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Account Executive of Group Sales Ashanti Grayer during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Manager of People Operations Tara Terrazas during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Senior Manager of Alumni Benefits Melissa Anderson during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Marketing Intern Natalie Hernandez during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Assistant to the Owner Brittany Neuheisel during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Vice President of Executive Operations Melissa Gaspard during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
Coordinator of People Operations Rebecca Childress during the Women's History Month photoshoot on Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024 in Tempe, AZ.
