The Arizona Cardinals are working on their offseason plans for 2020, hoping to take a big step after a 5-10-1 2019 season. Over the next few days, we will look at each position group and where the Cardinals stand, looking ahead to what could happen in the offseason.
We begin with the quarterback position.
Looking back at 2019
2019 was all about Kyler Murray. Selected first overall in the 2019 draft, he entered the season as the starter and played almost every snap, coming out of only two games.
He set all sorts of team rookie records — passing yards, passing attempts, touchdown passes, wins and more. He set league rookie records. He set a franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He became only the second rookie to pass for at least 3,500 yards and rush for at least 500 more. He had the eighth-highest single-season total in passing yards in team history. He had one of the lowest interception percentages in team history.
Entering the year with high expectations, he more than met every single one.
Backup Brett Hundley played very well in the preseason and made plays in the second half of the Cardinals’ win over the Seattle Seahawks when Murray left with a hamstring injury.
The roster
Murray is signed through 2022 and the Cardinals have an option for 2023.
Hundley will be an unrestricted free agent.
Drew Anderson, an undrafted rookie who spent time on the practice squad and was promoted to the 53-man roster in Week 17, is signed through 2021.
Offseason questions
The biggest question is about Murray — can he take the next big step in his development? Patrick Mahomes was a legitimate star in Year 2. Can Murray do the same?
The second question is simply this — who will be the backup?
Offseason needs
The Cardinals have only one real need. They need a backup quarterback. Whether that is re-signing Hundley, who appears to fit the offense well, or targeting another like Case Keenum or developing Anderson behind Murray, it is the main offseason question for the position.
That is it.
Hundley could become the newest version of Drew Stanton, who backed up Carson Palmer for five seasons. Maybe the Cardinals sign him to a multi-year deal.
They might do the same for a guy like Keenum, who played for Kliff Kingsbury in college.
They also will bring in a young quarterback to compete with Anderson. Whether they draft a guy on Day 3, sign an undrafted rookie or bring in someone like CFL quarterback Chris Streveler, who worked out for the team recently.
Quarterback is one position where there aren’t major questions.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 256
Ep. 255
