This article is part of our Team Previews series.
Arizona Cardinals 
In coach Kliff Kingsbury's second season, the Cardinals started 6-3, only to stumble to 8-8 and lose a tiebreaker with the Bears for a playoff spot. GM Steve Keim seems to be banking on an influx of newcomers helping push Arizona over the top and into the postseason for the first time since 2015.
Offseason Moves
Key Acquisitions
- A.J. Green – WR (from Bengals)
The 10-year pro gives the offense another veteran presence.
- James Conner – RB (from Steelers)
Working with Chase Edmonds, Conner can contribute on all three downs.
- Rondale Moore – WR (Rd. 2, No. 49 – Purdue)
Could be an electrifying gadget player as a rookie with his 4.29 40.
- J.J. Watt – DE (from Texans)
Had his pick of teams post-Houston, choosing the up-and-coming Cards.
- Zaven Collins – LB (Rd. 1, No. 16 – Tulsa)
The 6-5, 259-pounder provides even more punch to a strong LB corps.
Key Losses
- Larry Fitzgerald – WR (FA)
Expected to announce his retirement after 17 years in the desert.
- Kenyan Drake – RB (to Raiders)
Departure leaves the team with an Edmonds-Conner running back duo.
- Patrick Peterson – CB (to Vikings)
Despite devolving coverage skills, had 61 tackles, three picks in 2020.
A Look Under the Hood
Head Coach: Kliff Kingsbury (Year 3)
Offensive Coordinator: None - Air Raid/Spread
Defensive Coordinator: Vance Joseph (Year 3) - 3-4 scheme
2021 Vegas Projected Wins: 8 (T-19th)
2020 Record: 8-8
2020 Points Scored: 410 (13th)
2020 Points Allowed: 367 (12th)
2020 Point Differential: +43 (13th)
2020 Run-Play Rate: 44.2 percent (8th)
2020 Offensive Snaps: 1,083 (4th)
2020 PFF O-Line Ranking: No. 12
Projected 2021 Depth Chart
QB: Kyler Murray / Colt McCoy
RB: Chase Edmonds / James Conner
WR1: DeAndre Hopkins
WR2: A.J. Green / KeeSean Johnson
WR3: Christian Kirk / Rondale Moore / Andy Isabella
TE: Maxx Williams / Darrell Daniels
O-Line: LT D.J. Humphries / LG Justin Pugh / C Rodney Hudson / RG Justin Murray / RT Kelvin Beachum (RotoWire Rank: No. 17)
Kicker: Matt Prater
Top Storylines
Can the Cardinals Get Over the Hump?
For better or worse, signal-caller Kyler Murray and coach Kliff Kingsbury drive the narrative around the Cardinals' success, or lack thereof. Through two seasons together, they've notched a 13-18-1 record and elevated the offense from 21st in 2019 (341.7 yards per game) to sixth last year (384.6). Still, when they had two opportunities to close out the season with nine wins and a playoff berth, the team was doubled up, 38-19, against two NFC West foes, the 49ers and Rams, and didn't play meaningful football beyond Week 17.
Fortunately for the pair, GM Steve Keim continued to use all mechanisms at his disposal to restock the roster. While franchise cornerstones Larry Fitzgerald and Patrick Peterson are gone, Arizona signed former Pro Bowlers A.J. Green, James Conner, J.J. Watt, Malcolm Butler and Matt Prater, and selected imposing linebacker Zaven Collins and dynamic wide receiver Rondale Moore early in this year's draft.
A more well-rounded cast should serve Murray and Kingsbury well, especially a front seven that finished 2020 in a tie with the Buccaneers for fourth-most sacks (48) in the league. To take the next step to perennial contender, the Cardinals must navigate a difficult division and top-heavy conference, but they're positioned to boast the balance necessary to make the leap.
Will the Air Raid Finally Show Up?
When Arizona hired Kliff Kingsbury in January 2019, there was a belief the air raid offense would surface in the NFL, but it hasn't come to pass yet. Personnel limitations likely forced his hand, with the unit logging pass-play percentages of 60.4 (2019) and 55.8 (2020) so far during his tenure, which is well below the 65 to 75 percent expected from the system.
Based on their offseason moves, however, the Cardinals now may have the weapons to run four-wide sets this year. Granted, Larry Fitzgerald won't be around, but the team cushioned the blow with the additions of A.J. Green and Rondale Moore, bumping uninspiring 2019 draftees KeeSean Johnson and Andy Isabella down the depth chart. There's a distinct possibility that the offense features DeAndre Hopkins and Green as outside receivers, with Christian Kirk and Moore working on the inside and one of Chase Edmonds or James Conner at running back on a vast majority of snaps.
Leading it all is 2019 first overall pick Kyler Murray. To date, he's prospered on the ground, ranking second among quarterbacks in rushing yards (1,363) and touchdowns (15). However, of the 28 QBs with 30-plus TD passes since he entered the league, his 46:24 TD:INT (1.92) is 20th. If Kingsbury can get Murray running on all cylinders, this group could be one of the NFL's most productive.
The Defense Reloaded
The Cardinals defense hasn't been elite for fantasy purposes since 2016, when Calais Campbell last manned the trenches for the team, Chandler Jones was enjoying his first season in the Southwest, and Patrick Peterson still resembled an All-Pro level talent. In four campaigns since then, the unit has finished in the top half of the league in points against just once (2020) and yards allowed on two occasions (2017 and 2020).
Last year, there were a few bright spots, namely a pass rush that generated pressure on 25.9 percent of quarterback dropbacks, which was fourth highest in the NFL. And they accomplished the feat without Jones, an annual double-digit sack artist, beyond Week 5 due to a season-ending biceps injury. While Haason Reddick (12.5 sacks) and Dennis Gardeck (seven sacks on 93 defensive snaps) paced Arizona, 10 other players posted multiple sacks, and six more had one.
Reddick moved on to Carolina this offseason, but Jones is slated to be healthy by Week 1, three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt arrived, and 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Simmons should increase the 33.9-percent snap share from his rookie season. With 100-tackle regular Budda Baker and this year's first-rounder Zaven Collins operating in the middle of the defense, the Cardinals have a chance to fill the stat sheet across the board.
Barometer
⬆️ Rising: RB Chase Edmonds
Arizona didn't retain unrestricted free agent Kenyan Drake and only restocked the backfield with the oft-injured James Conner. Edmonds has a path to compile far more than his career-best 150 touches from a season ago.
⬇️ Falling: WR Andy Isabella
Since the Cardinals picked him in the second round of the 2019 draft, Isabella has done little but flash in 28 games. Even with Larry Fitzgerald moving on, Isabella has too much competition to make inroads in the passing game.
😴 Sleeper: WR Christian Kirk
A.J. Green is swapping in for Fitzgerald in the Cards' receiving corps, but Kirk has the pedigree to emerge as the No. 2 WR in Arizona. Look for the 2018 second-rounder to reach 100 targets for the second time in his career.
🌟 Pivotal Player: DeAndre Hopkins
Acquired by the Cardinals last offseason, Hopkins was one of two players in 2020 to accrue at least 115 catches and 1,400 yards (Stefon Diggs was the other). Hopkins also played all 16 games. In essence, he lived up to the two-year extension he signed this past September and again should do so working with rising quarterback Kyler Murray.
Medical Tent
QB Kyler Murray
Murray rarely has left the field in two campaigns, logging 96.2 and 97.5 percent snap shares in 2019 and 2020, respectively. He was knocked out for his most significant stretch Week 17 of last season, when he missed 28 snaps due to an ankle injury. While he returned to the game, Murray had a visible limp the next day, but coach Kliff Kingsbury stated in an ensuing news conference that the quarterback wouldn't need surgery to address it. During June minicamp, Murray noted his "legs should be a luxury," so it'll be interesting to see where his carry count lands in 2021 after averaging 8.3 per game last fall.
RB James Conner
What's one way to take pressure off Murray? Relying more on the backfield. Conner replaced Kenyan Drake this offseason, joining Chase Edmonds at the top of the depth chart. Shortly before the Cardinals signed Conner in April, it was revealed he underwent toe surgery after last season, and his health remains in question ahead of training camp. When healthy, he produced in four campaigns with the Steelers, going for more than 900 total yards twice and scoring 26 TDs in 50 contests. It remains to be seen how he'll fit in with Edmonds, but the pair will be expected to power Arizona's ground game.
On the other side of the ball, Jones had his least fruitful effort (one sack) in nine years as a pro in 2020, thanks to a biceps injury that required surgery and capped him to five appearances. Prior to last season, he notched double-digit sacks in six of his previous seven campaigns, averaging 13.7 per 16 games during that stretch. After skipping the offseason program – which later was tied to the pass rusher requesting a trade – not only is Jones' health in question, his status with the team is as well.
Job Battle
The Cardinals' situation in the backfield has been alluded to above, but with Kenyan Drake out and James Conner in this offseason, the latter joins incumbent Chase Edmonds to pace the unit. Since Arizona selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, Edmonds has increased his standing slowly but surely, surpassing his yards from scrimmage (719) and snap count (408) from his first two seasons combined in 2020 (850 and 526, respectively). Under coach Kliff Kingsbury, Edmonds also has posted a robust 4.8 yards per carry in 29 games and was fourth on the team in targets last season with 67.
Conner himself has a multi-faceted skill set, with a career mark of 4.3 YPC and 67.5 targets per 16 games over the past three campaigns. His primary problem in Pittsburgh was an inability to stay healthy or be available. Notably, his medical chart includes an MCL sprain, shoulder and ankle injuries, a strained quad and toe surgery. He even spent time on the COVID-19 list last year. Due to Edmonds' experience in the system, he likely has the upper hand on Conner, but both running backs should be regulars in the offense, assuming they avoid bugs, injury or otherwise.
