It is Christmas Day and that means giving and receiving gifts. For Arizona Cardinals fans, what Christmas wishes do we have for the team?
A win over the Rams
The Cardinals take on the Rams on the road in the season finale. They have not beaten the Rams since 2016. They were embarrassed by them a few weeks ago. It would be wonderful to end the season with six wins, a three-game winning streak and wins over the Seahawks and Rams to end the year.
A healthy Kyler Murray
Murray enters Week 17 with a minor hamstring pull. While many want to see him play in the finale, it is more important that he finish the year healthy. That way, he doesn’t spend the offseason rehabbing and he can work on getting better and taking the next step in 2020.
Kenyan Drake on a reasonable contract
It is quite clear that the team believes in Drake. His numbers the last two weeks and the fact he has had three huge games in the seven weeks he has played have led GM Steve Keim to publicly say the team wants him back. Of course, he is likely going to command a decent contract. Fans want him back but don’t want to pay him David Johnson money. We can expect him to get a contract that is between $5-7 million per year.
A reasonable trade for David Johnson
If Drake is going to be re-signed, that means there isn’t really any room for Johnson, who is due more than $10 million in 2020. The problem is cutting him is salary cap death. So they have to find a way to deal him. They need to find a way to get something in return and not have to throw in a draft pick to move him. A trade is reasonable to deal with on the salary cap and would actually save them some money and make Drake the clear No. 1 and give Chase Edmonds more playing time.
Another year of Larry Fitzgerald
We know his career will end at some point. We just don’t want it to be now. We want him to come back, play at a high level and hopefully get back to the postseason one more time before he calls it quits.
Resolution about Patrick Peterson’s future
It has been a rough season and a half for the fans with Peterson, who asked to be traded, apologized, got suspended, got upset at the team about something, played poorly, played well and now seems to be all good again. This coming offseason, we want to see the Cardinals either trade him while he has value or extend his contract so we know he will be around. If the latter is what happens, then his play to be what it has been the last two weeks.
A good offseason
We don’t want to see another offseason of mistakes, whether it be arrests, suspensions or unhappiness. They have cap space and a franchise quarterback. We want big moves that are smart so the Cardinals can be competitive in 2020.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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