PALM BEACH, Fla. — Out here for the annual owners meetings, we still have a mailbag. Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Don't forget to send a question for a future mailbag with at least a first name and last initial.
From Rob Ert:
"With all the hype about Cardinals draft, why aren't the Cardinals an option for the Who of A super receiver? Don't know if he's projected to go earlier? They have loaded up on D-lineman and can spend O-line later, why not if available? Just wondering."
I'd say there are a couple reasons for that, the biggest being, no, no one expects Tetairoa McMillan to still be on the board by the time pick No. 16 comes around. The second is that for what the Cardinals could use, and how Monti Ossenfort and J.G. want to build the team, a wide receiver with their first pick for a second straight season doesn't make a lot of sense. Now, if McMillan happens to fall and is there, I assume the Cardinals will have to give it some thought. But I don't see that happening.
From Ken Moroney:
"Do you know what lowball offer was given to Greg Dortch? Do you know if it was less than the WRs we have signed for 2025? If Dortch was to play special teams would that help his cause. I hate to lose a guy that plays hard with good hands and keep guys like Zay Jones. Thank you sir."
Well Ken, if $3-plus million is a lowball offer, please let someone lowball me. Dortch has been tendered an offer of $3.3M and barring something unforeseen, I expect him to sign that tender at some point. I'm not sure why you think Jones doesn't work hard; he obviously was not as effective as Dortch last season but still it's good to have a vet in the room. And by the way, Jones' deal was for only $1.3M guaranteed according to Over The Cap.
From Joe Cardea:
"The updated numbers have $45.9M available. How would you spend it? How much for rookies? Who would you extend or re-sign? Or sign!"
I see, via Over the Cap, $43.7M of cap space. Kelvin Beachum still has not signed the deal to which he agreed. But generally, unless there is some vet who wants in suddenly for cheap, I think the Cardinals are going to be in a holding pattern until after the draft. You pick players and then see what needs might still be there. (And frankly, some vets will wait to see what teams really need them and might pay a little more.)
The Trey McBride extension should come at some point. The rookie pool will eat up about $3.5M or so. I'm not sure I have a player beyond McBride I'm looking to extend at this point, and again, I expect maybe another vet signing or two, but whether they might make big impacts, that time maybe has passed.
From BDUB Wooten:
"Unless I misheard something, Dave Pasch mentioned I believe on the Big Red Rage that Nick Rallis does not call the plays yet. Is this true? I thought all along JG gave those duties to him?"
You misheard. What he said was when Gannon took the job, he gave the playcalling duties to Rallis despite Rallis never having done it previously. "We've seen it play out that Rallis is as good as anybody" at calling plays, Pasch added.
From Mike G:
"Back in the day you used to do a fan Q&A with Steve Keim, usually at the Combine. Any chance we can get a Monti Q&A? Maybe after the draft when he has more time to spare."
I am not sure that's Monti's favorite thing, but I can run it up the flagpole. No promises.
From Sebas Quiros:
"Hey Darren, how are you doing? Haven't sent a question in a while so I thought I'd hit you with one you tend not to like that much. How thoughtful of me right? Here goes. Who would you draft in the first round if you were Monti? If you haven't gotten around to checking and honing down the players you like, you can maybe tell me your order of priority of positions. Curious to see how you view this year's draft."
Is Travis Hunter an option? I'd really like to draft Travis Hunter. No? OK, then it gets a little more complicated. This isn't picking 3 or 4. It's tough to know -- especially in this draft it seems -- to narrow down who might be there at 16. I'll say this, I'm not ruling anyone out in case someone drops that is just too good of a player to pass on, but I'm thinking trenches -- again, because I think that's how the Cardinals decision-makers think. There are a lot of choices within that. I'd lean offensive line or defensive line. I'd be less likely to seek an EDGE, but again, it depends who is on the board. So who might be there? Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen? Josh Simmons?
From Michael T:
"With Free Agency winding down and the draft ramping up let's explore some possible scenarios.
- Scenario 1- Trade up and draft someone special? (ex: Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, Mason Graham)
- Scenario 2 - Stay at 16 and draft OL or DL prospect?
- Scenario 3 - Trade back collect additional pick then draft best available plus Cam S with extra selection?
Which is the most likely?"
Out of those specific choices? It would be 2, easily. I wouldn't rule out going for "someone special," but I doubt it. Trade back is always a good option with Monti, but if you're going to lock in to the "they take Skattebo with the extra pick" I just don't see it.
From Arty Millson:
"Hi Darren. Since you get to go to all the games are there any road games you're especially looking forward to this year? You've said you've seen every snap of Larry's career live, but has there been any games you've missed since he retired? And also can you estimate roundabouts when we'll play the Raiders in LV next? Really looking forward to making that a road trip. Thanks."
I have to clarify, because alas, I did miss on Fitz game — although through no fault of my own. In the 2020 pandemic season, teams were instructed to trim their traveling party at the end of the season, and I was one of the chosen to miss the New York trip when they played the Giants. (It was the only game I have missed, preseason, regular season, postseason, since the beginning of the 2000 campaign.)
I have been fortunate enough to have been to every road city multiple times in my career so I don't know if this year there are any particular spots I look forward to more than others. As for Vegas, unless there is a preseason game, the Cardinals don't play there again until 2030.
From Juin Gui:
"Fans have a request. Can you go around to the entire Cards media team and ask them who they you want in the draft? That's it. No 'I don't know.' Everybody should have a favorite at this point. And since you asked, I want Kenneth Grant. Guy could be a Haloti Ngata-type iceberg in the middle of your D-line. Anyways, we already know Ron wants Kelvin Banks, but what about everyone else?"
Kind of demanding, aren't you, Juin? OK, here goes (and emphasizing these are personal picks and none of us are trying to tell Monti how do do his job.)
- Paul Calvisi: EDGE James Pierce Jr.
- Craig Grialou: DL Walter Nolen
- Dani Sureck: DL Kenneth Grant
- Zach Gershman: EDGE Mykel Williams
- Darren Urban: Travis Hunter (you asked, I answered.)
