The Arizona Cardinals seem to have waited too long to trade quarterback Josh Rosen. While the Cardinals had a handful of suitors for Rosen leading into the draft — with the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins showing interest — Arizona has found itself with fewer trade contenders.
That pre-draft interest may have been when Rosen’s value peaked. The Cardinals began leaking to players and reporters that they were considering defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa. That now looks like a smokescreen in an effort to boost the asking price for Rosen. No deal came together. The Cardinals picked Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, with Rosen quickly becoming a spare part.
On the same night, the Giants and Redskins drafted quarterbacks in the first round. The Dolphins are the only reported team in the mix for Rosen. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are the only team. Other teams could be flying under the radar of the news cycle. But it doesn’t bode well for Arizona: there’s minimal interest in a player who is apparently unhappy and creates a problematic redundancy on the roster.
And don’t kid yourself: it’s problematic to have Rosen and Murray on the same roster. They’re two quarterbacks who have been told, within a year of one another, that they are the face of the franchise. The quarterback meeting room would be a complicated place if they both were in it.
The Cardinals had been asking for a first-round pick, a source told For The Win at the 2019 NFL Combine. That’s not happening. Arizona will have to settle for a second round selection. If the Dolphins are the only interested team, they’d be wise not to bid against themselves. For now, Pro Football Talk is reporting the Cardinals could send Rosen to Miami for the 48th overall pick. But the Dolphins could leave a lowball offer on the table — maybe a third round pick — and wait for Rosen’s situation to fester further. When that dysfunction reaches a tipping point, the Cardinals would rid themselves of Rosen for the sake of bringing the drama to a conclusion.
And there are signs that Rosen’s relationship with the organization is in bad shape. He unfollowed the team on social media. It’s a silly and small gesture, that still speaks volumes. Rosen wants out.
Everything is working against Arizona recouping value for Rosen. And the Cardinals have no one to blame but themselves.
