Cardinals offseason checklist: Extending rising star should be major priority

With the new league year kicking off March 12, NFL teams are already deep into planning for the offseason.

Here are five moves the Arizona Cardinals should make in the coming months.

1. Prioritize EDGE rushers in the draft

As the Philadelphia Eagles just showed us in the Super Bowl, an elite pass rush can completely change a defense and take over a came. The Cardinals need more of that mentality if they are going to take a big step forward defensively and get closer to contending for the NFC West crown. 

While they did record 41 sacks in 2024 (tied for 13th in the league) they are still lacking a true impact EDGE rusher that can take over and change a game. This is a great draft for defensive lineman and the Cardinals have to take advantage of that. 

2. Sign free agent DL Milton Williams

Along with prioritizing EDGE rushers in the draft, they could also stand to improve the middle of their defensive line and should consider making a big splash in free agency. 

Philadelphia’s Milton Williams figures to be not only one of the top interior defensive lineman available, he could be one of the top free agents regardless of position. He will still only be 26 this season, can get to the quarterback from the middle of the defensive line and has a connection with Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon from when he was the Eagles defensive coordinator. 

3. Extend tight end Trey McBride

This should be a no-brainer for Cardinals management.

McBride is entering the final year of his contract with the Cardinals and will be eligible for free agency following the 2025 season. He is not only one of the Cardinals’ best young players, he is a rising star at the tight end position and has dramatically improved every year he has been in the league. He went from 29 catches as a rookie to 81 in Year 2, all the way up to 111 in Year 3. Getting a new deal done with him sooner than later has to be a priority. 

4. Get somebody to complement Marvin Harrison Jr.

It is not that Harrison Jr. had a bad rookie season. Quite the opposite, actually. He was very, very good in catching 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. He flashed the type of ability and potential that made him one of the top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and a rising star in the league. He is clearly their top wide receiver.

But he needs some help to take some of the pressure and attention off of him. McBride is a great option for the Cardinals game in the middle of the field, but he alone is not going to draw coverages away from Harrison. Finding another potential impact player on the outside would not only open things up for Harrison, it would also open the offense up for McBride and the entire unit as a whole. 

5. Start thinking about quarterback

Kyler Murray is their guy for the 2025 season, but it still feels like the Cardinals are dealing with an unknown here.

Is he a franchise guy?

Is he just a guy?

Is he worth the contract they are paying him?

A lot of the questions were being asked going into the 2024 season and they still remain in place going into the 2025 season. It is a big year for Murray because they could start to have a potential out from his contract after this season when it will only be a $20M dead cap hit in 2026 if they cut him, and only a $7.2M dead cap number in 2027. They may not need to do it in the first round, but if they have a quarterback they like on Day 2 or 3 of the draft they should consider it.