ESPN’s latest offseason rankings took a sharp turn on the Arizona Cardinals.
Just days after listing the team’s offensive weapons as the sixth best in the NFL, ESPN came back with a far harsher verdict on Tuesday, labeling Arizona’s offseason the worst in the league.
The critique centered first on the quarterback situation. ESPN said the Cardinals “have no plan at the quarterback position,” pointing to the decision to move on from Murray without a clear next step in place.
The outlet also noted that the offseason links to Malik Willis, Jimmy Garappolo and Ty Simpson suggested Jacoby Brissett “was not necessarily plan A… or B… maybe not even C.” According to ESPN, even that backup plan is now “just holding out.”
Arizona’s defense also came under fire, with ESPN arguing that a unit in need of help did not get the kind of upgrade it needed. Instead, the Cardinals went with what fans are hoping will be the best player in the draft in Jeremiyah Love, but that addition still wasn’t enough to change ESPN’s view.
The biggest flashpoint came in the first round, where Arizona selected Love with the No. 3 pick. ESPN called that the easier mistake to avoid, even while emphasizing that Love is “an exceptional running back prospect.”
The problem, in ESPN’s view, was the position itself. Taking a running back that high runs against positional value, the outlet argued, because the spot doesn’t shift the needle enough and produces less surplus value than other premium positions.
ESPN also pointed to the opportunity cost of passing on a player at a position the Cardinals can’t simply replace in free agency, like offensive tackle.
In the end, ESPN’s case was straightforward: Arizona’s handling of Murray was messy, and the decision to use a premium pick on a running back for a roster already short on talent at key spots only made the offseason look worse from the outside.
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Cardinals Rookie Jeremiyah Love Faces Immediate Pressure In Year One
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For Arizona, that makes Love one of the more interesting names to watch in the coming months. He knows the workload conversation is real for any young back, yet he also believes the offense has enough pieces to keep things from falling on one players shoulders. How the Cardinals manage that balance will say plenty about how quickly they want to lean on their rookie. [Read more 🡒]