2020 Arizona Cardinals Outlook
Arizona Cardinals
Coaching Staff
Arizona brought in Kliff Kingsbury as the head coach in 2019, which led to a 5-10-1 record. Their offense scored 361 points (16th) while ranking 21st in yards allowed. They scored 136 more points than in 2018 (225).
Over the last six seasons, Kingsbury was the head coach for Texas Tech. His teams went 35-40 while never having a winning season in conference play. He is a former NFL and CFL player. His forte comes on the offensive side of the ball. The Cardinals want to throw the ball, and the addition of DeAndre Hopkins does raise the bar while also setting up the structure for their wide receivers.
The Cardinals didn't bring in an offensive coordinator, which leaves the role of play calling to their head coach. Kingsbury helped Patrick Mahomes reach an elite level while also working with Case Keenum, Johnny Manziel, and Baker Mayfield.
Vance Joseph returns as the defensive coordinator after losing the Broncos head coaching job in 2018. Joseph went 11-21 in two seasons with Denver. In 2016, Vance held the defensive coordinator job for the Dolphins. He has 15 seasons of experience in the NFL.
Arizona allowed the most yards in the NFL, which was their third straight year of regression (2nd, 6th, and 20th). They finished 28th in points allowed (442).
Free Agency
Their offensive line lost T Jordan Mills and C A.Q. Shipley with both players offering no value last year.
Arizona added LB De'Vondre Campbell, ED Devon Kennard, and DI Jordan Phillips.
Campbell started 48 games over the past three seasons, which led to 315 tackles, 5.5 sacks, nine defended passes and two Ints. Despite a productive year in stats in 2019, he fell short of expectations in run support.
Kennard has been an asset in run support over the past five seasons. In his two seasons for the Lions, his game improved in the pass rush and his playing time.
Phillips signed a $30 million contract with the Cardinals after setting career-highs in tackles (31) and sacks (9.5). In his five years in the NFL, he's never been an edge in run support.
The defense moved on from DE Cassius Marsh, DT Zach Kerr, DI Rodney Gunter, DE Brooks Reed, DT Caraun Reid, LB Joe Walker, DT Clinton McDonald, S Josh Shaw, and CB Brandon Williams.
Their offense parted ways with WR Pharoh Cooper, TE Charles Clay, and WR Damiere Byrd.
Draft
Arizona addressed their shortfalls on defense by drafting LB Isaiah Simmons (1st), DT Leki Fotu (4th), DT Rashard Lawrence (4th), and LB Evan Weaver (6th).
Simmons brings elite speed (4.39 forty) in the linebacking position. His game plays well in coverage, with the ability to attack the quarterback. He has room for growth in his play and frame while needing improvement in his anticipation and fight in tight quarters in run blocking.
Fotu has the foundation skill set to defend the run with a limited upside in the pass rush. He relies on plus power and strength. His first step isn't ideal, but Fotu creates space with his hands and surprising athletic ability for his size (6'5" and 330 lbs.). Lawrence is a second player added to upgrade the Cardinals' run defense. His first step has a disrupter feel while lacking the speed to reach the quarterback on many plays. He succeeds with hard work and fight with a history of injuries in his college career.
Weaver lacks impact speed (4.76 forty) for his size (6'2" and 237 lbs.). His vision and quickness offset his shortfalls, leading to him being in the right position to make many plays. He plays with patience, followed by an attacking style and a high motor. Weaver won't be a difference-maker in the pass rush with some questions in pass coverage.
In the third round, the Cardinals invested in T Josh Jones. His game needs plenty of work in his technique to fine-tune his skill set in pass protection. Jones should develop into a starter with his run blocking expected to play well early in his career.
With their final selection in the seventh round, Arizona took a flier on RB Eno Benjamin. He doesn't have an edge in speed (4.57 forty yards dash) or strength (12 reps in the bench press). Benjamin does show more power than expected. His running style appears to be ragged in tight quarters, which leads to some flat-footed motions trying to create misses with the net results being minimal extra yards. At the next level, this approach will lead to some hard hits and possible fumbles.
I sense a hot and cold type player with his best value coming in the passing game early in his career. Benjamin may be challenged early in his career in pass protection.
Offensive Line
The Cardinals jumped to 10th in rushing yards (1,990) with 18 TDs and 16 runs over 20 yards. They averaged only 5.0 yards per carry with 24.8 attempts per game.
Arizona improved to 23rd in passing yards (3,797) with 20 TDs and 12 Ints. They gained 6.9 yards per pass attempt with only 49 completions over 20 yards. Their offensive line allowed 50 sacks and 69 QB hits.
LT D.J. Humphries
Last year Humphries played 16 games for the first time in his five-year NFL career. He allowed minimal sacks and some pressure to the quarterback, which led to the best showing of his career in pass protection. Despite an improvement in the Cardinals' run game in 2019, Humphries struggled. Over the previous three seasons, he played well as a run blocker. Arizona drafted him in the first round in 2015.
LG Justin Pugh
Pugh played great in pass protection in almost every game last year, which came after two down seasons. Over his first four years in the NFL for the Giants, he offered an edge in all areas. Pugh saw a regression in his run blocking over the past three years. He is also a former first-round pick (2013).
C Mason Cole
Cole saw minimal playing time in 2019 while playing some snaps at every position on the offensive line. The previous season after getting drafted in the third round, he made 16 starts at center while struggling in pass protection.
He doesn't have the base to defeat power players, while his best asset is his athletic ability. Cole plays hard on every play with solid vision in his reads. He needs to improve his hands to help combat losing battles after the snap.
RG J.R. Sweezy
Sweezy was a massive liability in all areas in 2018 for the Seahawks, which came after a failed season at Tampa. He's been a liability in the run game over his past three years, but Sweezy did regain his pass blocking skills in 2019.
RT Josh Jones
Jones projects as a starting player in his rookie season after getting drafted in the third round in 2020. His game offers upside once he corrects some of his flaws in pass protection and develops his foundation skill set. Jones should hold his own in run blocking in his rookie season.
Offensive Line Outlook
Sacks remains a problem for this offensive line, and I can't see a significant improvement based on the structure of the right side of the line. Arizona has two assets plus three other question marks, which points to another season with a low overall ranking in run and pass blocking.
Last year they overcame some of their issues in the run game thanks to Kyler Murray averaging 5.8 yards per rush. This offense needs a bigger passing window if the Cardinals want to become a force in the passing game.
QB Kyler Murray, ARI - Stud (low risk)
Despite finishing sixth in QB scoring (21.03 FPPG) in four-point TD leagues, Murray had zero passing TDs in six games and two other contests with one touchdown.
He passed for fewer than 200 yards in six games, with four of those results coming over the final six weeks.
Too often in his rookie season, Murray settled for the safe short completion (6.9 yards per pass attempt).
Murray ran the ball well (93/544/4) while not forcing the issue. From Week 5 to Week 7, he had ten rushes or more in each contest. In his final season at Oklahoma, he rushed for 1001 yards and 12 TDs on 140 carries over 14 games.
He passed for over 300 yards in five games with his best success in Week 6 (340/3) and Week 10 (324/3).
In the offseason, the Cardinals added one of the top WRs in the game (DeAndre Hopkins). His presence helps the coverage for all WRs behind him on the depth chart, plus creates better spacing for Murray to make plays in the deep passing game.
I don't like his offensive line, but he still has a chance at 5,000 combined yards. His initial projections came to 4,653 combined yards with 30 TDs and 12 Ints. Murray tends to be the third or fourth quarterback drafted in June with an ADP of 51.
RB Chase Edmonds, MIA - Fantasy Handcuff
Edmonds had a monster game in Week 7 (150 combined yards with three TDs and two catches), which put him on an upside path to finish the year. Unfortunately, he left the next game early with a hamstring injury that cost him three weeks, followed by an empty role after RB Kenyan Drake seized the starting job. An interesting handcuff with enough upside to push for more touches with success on the field. He'll also face competition for rookie RB Eno Benjamin.
Over his first 29 games in the NFL, Edmonds gained 719 combined yards with seven TDs and 32 catches.
RB Kenyan Drake, LVR - Stud (low risk)
The Dolphins never committed to Drake on early downs, leading to 258 rushes over a 27 game stretch (9.6 carries per game) from 2017 and 2019.
After a midseason deal with Arizona, he flashed explosiveness in three games (28.2, 39.6, and 33.3 fantasy points in PPR league). Over eight games with the Cardinals, Drake gained 814 combined yards with eight TDs and 28 catches while averaging 18.9 touches per game.
With back-to-back seasons on his resume with 50 or more catches, he looks poised to have the best year of his career. Drake looks to be on a path for 1,149 combined yards with 13 TDs and 51 catches while coming off the board as the tenth running back with an ADP of 14.
RB Eno Benjamin, ARI - Dynasty Only
In his sophomore season at Arizona State, Benjamin looked to be an upside option at running back. He gained 1,905 combined yards with 18 TDs and 35 catches on 335 touches. Last year he had a plodding feel on early downs (253/1093/10 – 4.3 yards per rush) while maintaining his value in the passing game (42/347/2). Value based on training camp updates and whether he can make in-roads as the primary backup. Dynasty value with room for growth.
WR Christian Kirk, JAX - Quality Backup
This season Kirk should move to WR2 for the Cardinals, but he still lacks the desired skill set to play outside.
His one impact game (6/138/3) came in Week 10 while offering one other contest of value (6/114). He caught six catches or more in seven of his 13 games.
Kirk missed three games with an ankle issue that seemed to linger all year.
Kirk has 80-catch talent, but he tends to gain short yards per catch (10.4 in 2019). Possession type of skill set with a WR3 ADP (100) in the early draft season. I'll start the bidding at 71 catches for 846 yards and five touchdowns.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, ARI - Stud (low risk)
After an excellent last six seasons (580/7800/52) with the Texans, Houston decided to move in another direction leading to Hopkins being shipped to the Cardinals. Last year he lost some of his big-play ability, which was showcased by a career-low in yards per catch (11.2) and a decline in plays over 20 yards (16).
Over his first 12 games, Hopkins gained fewer than 70 yards in six contests despite a floor of five catches each week. He finished with five games with over 100 yards (8/111/2, 9/106/1, 11/109, 7/102/1, and 6/119) with one other impact outing (6/94/2). Hopkins has a floor of eight targets in 17 of his 18 games played on the year (including the playoffs).
The Cardinals have depth and upside at the wide receiver position, but they lack a pass-catching threat at tight end. Based on 2019 (238/2593/11), Arizona will look toward their wide receivers on many plays.
His resume suggests a high floor with an unknown ceiling in 2020. Hopkins' starting point for me is 95 catches for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns while remaining fluid over the summer. He has an ADP of 15 and is the third wide receiver drafted.
