EDGE Cardinals JJ Watt. Mandatory credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Congratulations, Arizona Cardinals fans. Your team is now a candidate.
Steve Keim showed that he and his team are ready to take the next step towards becoming a candidate, getting a turnaround and hiring JJ Watt. The Watt deal was not small: a two-year deal worth $ 31 million and $ 23 million guaranteed. It is not yet known if Watt is worth the price, the Cardinals fan base should feel good about the position his team is in.
Former first general draft pick Kyler Murray appears to be the quarterback of the franchise that Arizona hasn’t had in a few years. DeAndre Hopkins has been a fan favorite since joining the team in an exchange for David Johnson.
Arizona Cardinals: contenders?
Chandler Jones is a first rate pass broker. Budda Baker and Isaiah Simmons are the main building blocks of defense. Adding Watt to the list adds an entirely different dimension to this team. The Cardinals are here to claim NFC West, and possibly more.
Steve Keim deserves a lot of credit for making a move of this stature, especially after the Los Angeles Rams improved their position as a defender by negotiating with Matthew Stafford. With Russell Wilson potentially out of Seattle, and issues surrounding Jimmy Garappolo’s future with the 49ers, this division could be a two-way race between the Cardinals and Rams before you know it.
Before we get too far ahead, let’s take a look at the other needs that Cardinals need to address in this off-season and in the NFL’s 2021 Draft.