The Arizona Cardinals have a big offseason this year. However, with many decisions to make in the months to come, a few are bigger than others.
Here are the biggest player decisions the Cardinals must make in 2020.
CB Patrick Peterson
If we are to believe what has been said by Peterson, Michael Bidwill and Steve Keim, he isn’t going anywhere. He will at least remain with the team through 2020, the final year of his contract. However, if they don’t plan on bringing him back, a trade would make sense, and he did request a trade two seasons ago.
Whether the decision is to move on, give him a contract extension or simply let him play out the season, it will set the direction of the franchise moving forward.
David Johnson
Johnson’s role down the stretch suggests Kliff Kingsbury is done with him. His contract suggests he has to be on the team. Cutting him is out of the question. Trading him is the only real answer, but will there be a trade partner and will they get anything for him? More importantly, will they have to attache draft pick in a salary dump?
If they don’t, does that mean they will let Kenyan Drake sign elsewhere, or would they consider moving Johnson to a new position?
Kenyan Drake
Drake’s future to the team seems connected to Johnson’s. If Johnson remains, they can’t pay Drake. If they re-sign Drake, there’s no way they can keep Johnson, too.
But with how he played in the second half of the season and with everything Kliff Kingsbury said about him, it feels like they are set on bringing him back. Are they willing to pay him what it could cost?
D.J. Humphries
Humphries was solid in 2019. He will be a free agent and is expected to get paid well as a young left tackle. He has only finished one season healthy. He doesn’t want to go elsewhere but he also doesn’t want a bargain deal.
Will the Cardinals be able to keep him and will the two sides be able to agree to a contract?
If they won’t pay him, then they have to find a new left tackle, which, as Cardinals fans know all too well, isn’t something the franchise has a good history of doing.
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. 255
Ep. 254
