And so we head into the offseason. Thank goodness we have the mailbag to keep it all afloat. Free agency and the draft will be something, although there won't be a ton of answers for a few weeks now. With it being 2025 and a new year and the end of a season, this is a good chance for a mailbag reset too. I know people want to give opinions and we can work that in, but remember this isn't a message board. It's a mailbag looking for questions -- so if we can refrain from a long novel about what you think about the team and end it with something along the lines of "Your thoughts?" I'd appreciate it.
Anyway, on to this week's queries.
From Robert K:
"What was the last day on Monday all about? Can you give us a look inside of the last day to report this year? Meetings, film and goodbyes?"
I can give you a sense, although I'm obviously not in the the majority of the day. The players come in to take exit physicals, turn in their Surfaces (which are what works as playbooks these days), clean out lockers for what they want to take home, take home some jerseys and/or helmets if they so choose, have a brief all-team meeting with Jonathan Gannon, and then a handful of them meet with coaches (that last thing is a process that takes a couple of days to get through the whole roster.) And yes, there are goodbyes. A chunk of these guys will be back at least in the offseason. But some won't. That's the business.
From Michael T:
"Hello Darren. Well the long fight is over and we lost. Next year will be brand new with greater expectations with a new team. This team was fun as a fan to watch and root for during the season and to speculate as to which position they should add. In my view, the Cards should do something bold an unexpected that could give them the edge for the coming season. Draft the running back Ashton Jeanty, which would indeed being bold. My question is, what bold choice would you do to catapult the team for the next season?"
That's a fascinating question. I know everyone hates that I don't know draft stuff yet, but I don't know draft stuff yet -- although I will predict that Jeanty in particular will be off the board before No. 16. That's my guess. That's the problem with picking 16 and the draft. I don't know if I could have a bold prediction, unless it was a trade scenario. I suppose if I have to really go bold -- and this is just talking off the top of my head and not knowing what specific names might be available -- it would be for a Chandler Jones-type trade for either a high-profile edge (like Jones) or a high-profile speed receiver. Now, those come with caveats. The positions are different, and I don't want a receiver that is going to cost the moon (the edge might be a different story.) But as I sit in the office as the offseason starts, that is what pops to mind.
* -- full disclaimer, I have no idea if this is something Monti Ossenfort would ever consider.
From Darrell From Pinetop:
"What a way to end the season, glad they got the win (Dubs > Dobbs). In your opinion, what are the biggest needs in the offseason to build on before the 2025 season starts? I feel like the pash rush is probably one of the biggest as well as some O-line reinforcement. I like where MHJ is heading and am hoping he makes that Year 2 leap (it would also be nice to buy his jersey in his second year)."
I can't help you with the jersey thing. Not sure when that will be resolved. I agree that the Cardinals will look closely at both edge rusher and O-line (as well as D-line.) I don't think that's any big secret. Monti Ossenfort is a trenches kind of guy.
From Dale Tom:
"How is Matt Prater doing? Will he recover 100 percent? I know Chad Ryland is cheaper but do you think they give Prater a new contract?"
Prater is doing OK. If the season had been a little longer, I think he would've been ready to go, so yes, he'll be at 100 percent. As for a new deal, I'm not sure what will happen. Ryland is under contract for 2025 and just had a fantastic season in place of Prater. I don't know if it would be a question of cheaper as much as younger. Prater continues to prove he is still a top-level kicker but at some point, Father Time will win out. It'll be interesting to see if they bring back Prater to compete with Ryland. That is possible.
From Larry L.:
"Darren said we can talk draft so DRAFT TALK COMMENCE I think edge is probably universally the target in the first round and there are some good options. Abdul Carter, Nic Scouton (my favorite), and James Pearce Jr. are all in the running. A guy I want to put on the radar is Notre Dame CB Ben Morrison. Between Ben, Garrett Williams, and Max Melton we could secure a truly elite young CB room for years to come. Not to mention having elite CBs means you can get-by with lesser pass rush talent. It's people helping people, Darren."
If you really want to help me, you would send in a question, Larry. I'm gonna give you a pass because my warning from the intro wasn't posted until (obviously) after you sent this in, but again, we need questions here, not analysis. (Although at least you didn't even bother with a "Thoughts?" at the end. So there is that.)
From Sebas Quiros:
"Hey Darren. Waited to ask this question until the end of the season. What should we make of Drew Petzing? His offense can be so good and yet it has been inconsistent and frustrating. I'm 99 percent sure he'll be back for next season, but will he be on the hot seat? Also, as a more fun kind of question, do you see a world where we trade for Tyreek Hill? He's that speedy guy the Cardinals need."
- No, I don't see a hot seat. The head coach believes in him strongly.
- Yes, the Cardinals could use a speed receiver. But one that costs that much? More importantly, while I don't know Hill, I don't see a guy who is willing to go public with his disenchantment as a guy Gannon would favor in his locker room.
From Kenneth Moroney:
"Do you feel the Cardinals will re-sign Greg Dortch? He has great hands and could also be used as an RB. His cost is so low and those making seven to eight times his salary don't play as hard or have his love for Arizona."
I would be surprised if they didn't find a way to keep Dortch, who is a restricted free agent. That doesn't mean he'd be guaranteed a spot in 2025, but they do like him and he does produce when given the chance.
From Richard Wakefield:
"I sure hope that we give Marvin a lot of opportunities so he has a shot at 1,000 yards. Wouldn't that shut up a lot of people?"
Richard, I know you sent this in before the finale, and obviously they weren't force-feeding MHJ (he needed 178 yard to reach 1,000, so ...) But big picture, Harrison had a solid rookie season. Not great, but certainly not poor. Eight touchdowns isn't nothing. He clearly improved as the season went, and that's the most important thing, and I expect a dramatic jump next year.
From Greg Parks:
"Hi Darren! Question coming pre-San Fran, but honestly it doesn't matter the outcome this is going to be a lingering question all offseason may as well face it. QB. There are rumblings, rumors, and talks about veterans out there. What are your thoughts on Russell Wilson specifically? And IF (big if) there were a veteran QB option out there that you prefer, who is it?"
My thoughts are that Wilson is a starting QB for a playoff team so who knows what his future is? This will be a better question when we get to March and see who is out there. Jonathan Gannon said "I feel good where Clayton (Tune) is" in his development, and that's to be expected. But Gannon isn't going to shut the door on anything and when it comes to a vet QB backup, "we're always going to do what's best for the team." And if they get a guy, I do think he's a backup. Feels like Gannon made that pretty clear.
From Juan de la Peña:
"Hi Darren! I've read you say on repeated occasions that Monti sticks to his process in his decisions. As we enter Year 3 of the Monti era, it's playoff-or-bust time? I understand every process has one goal, to win it all. When do you think Monti is projecting that?"
I would think Monti would have already liked to have it happen. What I don't think is that there is a GM that points to a season and says, "This is the year we have to win a Super Bowl." His whole job is to put the franchise in such a place that that is a possibility every year, not that they win it necessarily. To many things out of a team's control. That said, yes, you'd think the postseason in 2025 would be important to reach.
From Mike Fierro:
"WILL THE CARDS PICK UP CAMERON SKATTEBO!!!!!!???????"
I DON'T KNOW, MIKE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS INVOLVED HERE. THEY JUST SPENT A THIRD-ROUND PICK ON TREY BENSON. AND I THINK SKATTEBO IS GOING TO BE DRAFTED BEFORE THE CARDINALS WOULD CONSIDER GETTING A BACK, IF THEY DRAFT ONE AT ALL. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE, INCLUDING KENNY DILLINGHAM, WHO HOPE HE'S A CARDINAL. ALSO, PLEASE STOP YELLING AT ME.
From Clayton Mead:
"What's the sitch with CB Elijah Jones? I know he was injured and hasn't played much, but I will not allow him to be forgotten and slip into obscurity. He's a third-round pick, which is a substantial investment. Obviously a major talent which is why they drafted him so high. I don't know if you've even had the chance to interview him but what can we expect from him this offseason and 2025?"
The "sitch" is that Jones didn't play at all. He got hurt in the preseason, was designated later in the season to come off IR, but had some sort of setback that left him in a boot and prevented any games as a rookie. So he will have some catching up to do, but yes, he was a third-round pick and when people wonder about if the Cardinals will draft a corner, I'd say unless it's really early, they have Jones coming in as an addition already so they might not make another pickup there.
From Matthew Stroh:
"First please please don't stop Wise Guy Trivia or at least play another kind of game. I love the weekly game. Do you remember back when Kyler Murray got his extension everybody said he was overpriced? Now look at his price compared everybody else. I forgot to guy's name the last running back who scored a touchdown I'm hoping he doesn't get in trouble If you had to pick one big-name free agent to sign who would you pick? Why?"
Lotta things you're throwing at me here, Matthew.
- The Wise Guy is going to be in-season and around tentpole events like the draft in the offseason. But we will come up with some other stuff for the offseason to keep everyone entertained.
- Yes, Kyler Murray's contract pays him what a solid QB is going to get paid. That was always going to be the case.
- Tony Jones Jr. wasn't going to get in trouble. There was no downside to scoring on that play.
- I'm going to refrain until we get a lot closer to March. Inevitably, between franchise tags and extensions, many "big names" are taken off the board before we even get that far.
From Jose Guerdo:
"Vindication! I've been saying it's a mistake playing Christian Jones at left tackle. He is a true right tackle and a darn good one. Guy finally gets his start at his natural position and he dominates! As much as we all love Beachum, CJ is undoubtedly the RT of the future. Another Monti W. Do you also anticipate Jones gets the RT job in 2025?"
It's probably in play, but a) Jonah Williams played pretty well when healthy and b) Jackson Barton beat Jones out when Barton was healthy. And that doesn't include if Beachum in the mix. This isn't to denigrate Jones, but he acknowledged he still needs to improve in multiple areas to get playing time. They would love for Jones to get so good he became the long-term RT. But he has to win it.
From David LePage:
"Does anyone else think Aidan Hutchinson and Trey McBride are doppelgangers?"
*raises hand*
