The Arizona Cardinals are expected to be busy right up until Tuesday’s 2:00 pm MST trade deadline, and with a 3-6 record, they’re in position to keep selling. After moving on from Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jacoby Brissett, the rumor mill around Arizona is only getting louder.
That leaves a long list of names worth watching as the clock winds down. Some are obvious trade chips.
Others are more of a “call us with something ridiculous” situation. And a few probably aren’t going anywhere unless a team blows the Cardinals away.
At the top of the board are Josh Sweat, Budda Baker and Max Melton. Sweat is the clearest candidate of the group, with reports that he’s been unhappy since the Cardinals fired Jonathan Gannon last offseason and wants a new deal with future guaranteed money.
Baker is a different kind of case: a franchise fixture who appears open to a move if a contender comes calling. Melton, meanwhile, has been benched in recent weeks after dealing with injuries early in his career, and a fresh start is at least in play.
The next tier includes a handful of veterans and role players who could draw interest without being core pieces. Calais Campbell has remained strong against the run for years, even if he hasn’t quite matched that level as a pass rusher, and his cheap rookie extension makes him a possible move if Sweat stays put.
Dalvin Tomlinson has been a surprise inactive to open the season but has made an impact when active. Baron Browning is viewed as a rotational pass rusher, while Dadrion Taylor-Demerson has unexpectedly fallen out of favor with defensive coordinator Nick Rallis.
There’s also a group of steady contributors the Cardinals would prefer to keep unless the return is hard to ignore. Hjalte Froholdt has developed into an undisputed starter on Arizona’s offensive line since arriving years ago.
Bilal Nichols has been a welcome boost after returning to the desert. L.J.
Collier has been a solid floor-raiser in the trenches. Darius Robinson’s development has taken off this season after two disappointing years, and the Cardinals don’t seem ready to give up on him.
Tyler Allgeier is probably the most movable name here, but with the team’s backfield banged up, Arizona would rather hold onto him.
Then come the players who matter too much to the identity of their units to move unless the offer is outrageous. Jonah Williams was paid handsomely this offseason and has mostly delivered what he can control.
He brings toughness and leadership that set the tone up front, and the Cardinals value that. Mack Wilson Sr. carries similar weight on defense as the green dot and a team captain.
He isn’t an All-Pro, but he’s been extremely solid and helps make the whole unit better.
Two names sit even higher on the untouchable scale. Trey McBride reportedly drew calls from other teams this past week, but Arizona would need a jaw-dropping offer to even consider moving football’s best tight end.
McBride has said he wants to help turn things around, and the Cardinals are keeping him. Walter Nolen is a little less established, but the upside is enormous.
He has flashed when healthy and on the field, and if Arizona dealt him, it would be passing on a player who could become one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen. For now, that’s a price the Cardinals are almost certain not to pay.
In Other News...
Bills Safety Search Just Turned Into A Trade Deadline Drama
The safety market got a little more interesting as the deadline approached, with Jacksonville landing Jessie Bates III from Atlanta and putting a fresh spotlight on the position. For Arizona, that only adds to the attention around Budda Baker, one of the leagues more established defensive backs and a player whose name has started to surface in trade chatter as teams look for help on the back end.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that there is interest in Baker, and the Cardinals now find themselves in the familiar spot of having to weigh present value against future flexibility. Whether Arizona is actually open to moving him is still unclear, and with other teams potentially circling, this is the kind of deadline storyline that can shift quickly if the right offer comes along. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Deadline Crossroads That Could Reshape This Season
With the trade deadline approaching, the Cardinals find themselves at a familiar sort of crossroads: sitting at 3-6, still close enough to matter, but not far enough along to ignore the possibility that a well-timed move could change the shape of the rest of the season. The front office has a few obvious areas to examine, and the names being discussed reflect that reality, from a receiver who can help stretch the field to a veteran edge presence and a tight end who could give the offense another layer.
The bigger question is which direction Arizona wants to lean, because the list of possibilities also includes a quarterback option, a reminder that the deadline can be as much about insurance as it is about ambition. The Cardinals have not played themselves out of the conversation, but they also have not earned the luxury of standing pat if they believe one addition could help stabilize the roster and keep the season from slipping further away. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A QB Depth Problem Behind Carson Beck
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What makes the addition notable is the commitment that comes with it. Under NFL rules, Arizona has to keep Aguilar on the active roster for at least three weeks, so this is more than a temporary shuffle. For a team trying to stay organized at the games most important position, the Cardinals are now carrying a depth decision that will linger for a bit. [Read more 🡒]