Arizona Cardinals Offseason Needs And Projections

Coming off of a 11-5 season and a playoff berth with three different staring quarterbacks, the Arizona Cardinals have a lot to be happy about. However, there still is some needs that they need to address to help the Cardinals further their position as possible Super Bowl contenders.

Let’s take a look.

Tight End: Rob Housler is the odd man out

Housler has been a major disappointment, even though he had the potential to become a solid receiver as a tight end with a lot of speed. He’s had a ton of dropped passes, along with failing to hang tough and hold on to balls in which he is hit on the play. Housler also is not a very good blocker.

Four years later, Arizona knows what it has with Housler. He’s had a lot of opportunities to show improvement, but he hasn’t done so.

Darren Fells is a gifted 6-foot-7, 281 pound tight end who is a good end zone threat with his size and has contributed to the running game a lot for the Cardinals. He would be a solid guy to keep around for another year if he can win back his job at training camp.

Chances are, John Carlson will return as a starter and the team can wait and see how Troy Niklas develops and handles his injury problems as he enters his second season.

Defensive End: Re-sign Tommy Kelly, Darnell Dockett released

Dockett, coming off a torn ACL last training camp and turning 34-years old in the month of May, may be leaving if he does not agree to a pay cut. 2014 draftees Ed Stinson and Kareem Martin will be Dockett’s replacements eventually.

Kelly will most likely be re-signed after a solid 2014 campaign as a very good run stopper.

Ted Ginn gone

Last season was a disappointing campaign for Ginn as he had a number of fair catches when he had plenty of room to return punts, which may determine his fate. The emergence of receiver John Brown is also a good season to get rid of Ginn.

As for a new punt returner in that scenario, cornerback Patrick Peterson and Brown would be good candidates to return punts.

Quarterback: Ryan Lindley gone, Third-string quarterback a question mark

Lindley’s failure to perform at a sustainable level sealed his fate. Drew Stanton will still be the backup and starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who tore his ACL against the Rams during November, has hoped that he would be ready in time for minicamp.

Linebacker: Add another pass rusher in the draft

Arizona failed to get much of a pass rush when outside linebacker John Abraham was placed on the injured reserve. Sam Acho, who excels in the run, is a free agent. Alex Okafor had eight sacks in his second season last year. Marcus Benard will most likely be cut if Arizona re-signs Acho.

Inside linebacker Daryl Washington will be back at some point during the season from a season-long suspension in 2014, and Larry Foote might join the Cardinals coaching staff if he retires.

Defensive back: If Antonio Cromartie is gone, competition is between Jerraud Powers and Justin Bethel

Cromartie, a free agent corner with 31 career interceptions, might not be back, leaving the door for young special-teams star Bethel and Powers to replace him at corner.

Offensive line: Paul Fanaika, Ted Larsen, or Earl Watford will be odd man out

Jonathan Cooper should be ready to start at left guard, leaving the right guard spot open for competition. Fanaika, Larsen and Watford are all candidates to start and earn the other backup spot. Whoever is not the backup or the starter at right guard will be cut.

Larsen, who can also back up Lyle Sendlein at center, is very versatile from a depth perspective.

Running back: Andre Ellington back, Stepfan Taylor and Kerwynn Williams part of training camp competition

Taylor and Williams both had their moments last season. Ellington, the starter, should excel with more time to recover from his injuries.

Overall, with a young group of running backs and better play from the interior linemen with the return of Cooper, I like the promise of the run game next year.

Overall

The return from injuries and suspensions to valuable contributors such as Palmer, Cooper, Ellington and Washington will only help the Cardinals. This is the same team that started 9-1, beat the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions.

I see Arizona as a good story line next year if Larry Fitzgerald can come back for one last shot to win a Super Bowl in a Cardinals uniform.