After yet another disappointing end to the Arizona Cardinals’ season, finishing 4th in the NFC West with a 3-14 record, Cardinals fans are primed for the only hope of returning to the postseason—the NFL Draft.
In the offseason, the Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur as their new head coach, who had previously been the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator.
LaFleur came into the organization open-minded and ready to turn the Cardinals’ 3-14 record around.
“Every year is a blank slate,” LaFleur said on the Cardinals newsletter, “I’m not worried about what our record was. The record last year, all that means is we have a higher draft pick. That’s all that really matters at that point.”
Let’s hope he’s right.
With the draft Thursday, April 23—have the Cardinals effectively calculated what they need to end their four-year playoff drought?
After releasing their previous franchise quarterback, Kyler Murray, who was later picked up by the Minnesota Vikings a mere 24 hours later—the Cardinals’ best course of action is acquiring a new, younger, and impressionable rookie QB with their third overall pick.
Although Cardinal fans can hope for the College Football Playoff National Champion QB Fernando Mendoza, that’s unlikely when the Las Vegas Raiders hold the first overall pick and are in dire need of a QB.
The next best thing? Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
Simpson is known for his quick decision-making and exceptional accuracy on short-to-intermediate throws, as well as his ability to read the field and use his feet to expand the play, which would be effective with the Cardinals’ incomplete offensive line.
If the Cardinals ultimately decide to pursue the QB route for their first pick, the rookie would have the opportunity to learn from veteran quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, especially Minshew who has been in the league for seven years with six different teams.
Another option is the running back position.
With injury-prone James Conner’s return to the IR in week three against the San Francisco 49ers, Conner continues to be a liability to the team’s run game and offensive production as a whole.
The Cardinals will eventually need to move on from him.
This draft proves a good time to do exactly that with the 2025 Doak Walker award winner and Heisman candidate—Notre Dame’s RB Jeremiyah Love.
Love is known for this explosive speed, with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine, as well as keen balance and vision. To add to his explosiveness, he’s versatile at the receiver position. Recording 27 receptions for 280 receiving yards.
All of these perks in one player make Love a constant threat every time he touches the ball—something the Cardinals need in the backfield to replace James Conner’s physical, high-volume running.
Last year, they drafted primarily defensive position players; this year, they need to do the opposite.
