The Cardinals report to training camp Tuesday. Much has changed since the arrival of Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort, but after a year of recalibration, the team is much closer to the vision the two of them have. That doesn't mean, however, there aren't still things to sort out.
HOW BIG OF A SEASON WILL KYLER MURRAY HAVE?
In the first half of 2021, Kyler Murray, deservedly, was in the middle of the NFL MVP conversation. Much happened after that, with the team stumbling to the end of that season, a torn ACL the season after, and then missing half of last year. It's all set up for Murray now. The offensive personnel is good. Murray is one with the coach. The team got him a high-profile receiver. He is clearly connected to his teammates, and he's had an entire offseason of prep after last year's ACL absence. There are so many variables that influence how players or teams play. But this feels like it could be K1's No. 1 year so far.
WHAT IS THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF MARVIN HARRISON JR.?
Sometimes, wide receivers are just good, not great as rookies. Larry Fitzgerald had 780 yards in his first season. Then again, Anquan Boldin had 1,377. Marvin Harrison Jr. was the guy all the Cardinals' fans dreamed of as early as midway through last season (if not before.) Can MHJ have a Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase kind of rookie season? Perhaps. Regardless of what his actual numbers are, however, Harrison is going to play a huge role – and even if that means creating space for Trey McBride and Michael Wilson without eye-popping numbers himself, then he's going to provide what the Cards need.
WHO WILL SLIDE IN NEXT TO NEW LEFT TACKLE PARIS JOHNSON JR.?
The headline of the offensive line is Johnson's switch from the right to left side, and it stands to follow what Jonah Williams will look like as the new right tackle. But it was left guard that ultimately was the spot too often in flux last season and finding who that person will be is crucial. Free-agent Evan Brown has earned raves from multiple teammates (including Johnson) and rookie Isaiah Adams, a third-round pick, was drafted to potentially be that guy. This is the ultimate training camp question: the job will be decided over the next month, whether it is Brown or Adams or a number of other vets on the roster.
WHAT CORNERBACKS WILL GET PLAYING TIME?
Sean Murphy-Bunting is going to play. You don't sign a free agent without knowing that, at least right away. But there are a lot of options for DC Nick Rallis. Does it seem possible that second-round pick Max Melton gets into the lineup sooner rather than later? Yes. And the Cards love 2023 third-round pick Garrett Williams too. But they also spent a third-rounder on Elijah Jones this season, and Kei'Trel Clark and Starling Thomas V each started multiple games as rookies and would like to hang on to defensive snaps. There will be no more intense – and open – battle at a position than this one.
DOES DARIUS ROBINSON EARN A STARTING ROLE?
The hype around Marvin Harrison Jr. is intense and warranted, but Darius Robinson is also a first-round pick and if he can create an interior pass rush every team needs in the NFL these days, he too will make a significant impact. Whether he starts or not may be moot; there is no question Robinson will play plenty. But where he fits with a line that has two important free-agent signings (Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols), a 2023 draft pick who impressed (Dante Stills), and multiple vets vying for time (Roy Lopez, Khyiris Tonga, L.J. Collier) will be a camp analysis.
CAN THE RUNNING BACK ROOM TAKE THE RUSHING GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL?
James Conner had the first 1,000-yard season of his career despite missing four games and averaged five yards a carry. He is a crucial piece to the offense and an emotional leader. But the Cardinals have more. They took home-run hitter Trey Benson in the third round. They liked what they saw from Michael Carter after getting him off waivers last season. That doesn't include what Emari Demercado or DeeJay Dallas might do. OC Drew Petzing's offense showed it could run the ball well already. Throwing Benson in could create an argument for the best in the league.
IS BJ OJULARI THE BREAKOUT PASS RUSHER THE CARDINALS NEED?
The Cardinals did not add a pass rusher in free agency or early in the draft. They have Ojulari, who was a second-round pick last season and ended up with a slow start coming off injuries. His pass-rush rate in limited work showed a player who can get pressures (if not a lot of sacks; Dennis Gardeck and Victor Dimukeje did well at pressure rate too). Whether or not Ojulari starts getting 13 sacks a season isn't the point necessarily; they just need someone dangerous off the edge the other team must account for often.
WILL TIP REIMAN BOOKEND WITH TREY MCBRIDE AT TIGHT END?
Fact One: Trey McBride is an emerging star. Fact Two: Drew Petzing likes using multiple tight ends. Fact Three: There is a need at blocking tight end. That's where Reiman comes in. Reiman went in the third round of the draft thanks to his outstanding blocking skills (and thirst to do it) and it feels like a perfect match to what the Cards want to do. That doesn't mean Elijah Higgins or Travis Vokolek can't be in that mix, but Reiman has a chance to be that guy early.
WHAT DOES THE TANDEM OF KYZIR WHITE AND MACK WILSON SR. PROVIDE?
Sometimes, a player – or players – just seem to make sense with a coaching staff. When Kyzir White arrived a year ago, he was under the radar before quickly emerging as a Gannon prototype. It's hard not to see something similar in Wilson, who arrives even more anonymously (and is ready to prove otherwise.) The duo's collective makeup resonates as right out the Gannon script: team-first, fearless, versatile. How that manifests itself in the Nick Rallis defense is TBD, but provided health, the duo should be the blueprint going forward.
CAN SPLASHY RETURN TO THE GAME OF BUDDA BAKER?
Budda Baker was a Pro Bowler again last season but with opponents wary of letting him get involved, Baker finished without an interception or pass defensed. That's not the Baker way (he still had 87 tackles in only 12 games and five tackles for loss), but with the upgrades elsewhere on defense, Baker could and should have more splash play opportunities. Baker is scheduled to be a free agent after the season, so numbers will play a role in that, but more importantly, upgrading the players around him will alter the opportunities.
