From all outward appearances, the 2023 season is shaping up to be a miserable one for the Arizona Cardinals.
They lost star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason, and quarterback Kyler Murray will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
The #AZCardinals will keep QB Kyler Murray on the reserve/PUP list to begin the season, as Murray continues to recover from the ACL injury suffered late last season, sources say. He’ll be out at least the first four games, which is not a surprise.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2023
They also released QB Colt McCoy, which means that Joshua Dobbs, whom they recently acquired from the Cleveland Browns, seems to be the favorite to become Arizona’s interim starter.
But new head coach Jonathan Gannon won’t name a starting signal-caller, at least not for now, because he wants to maintain a “competitive advantage,” per Ari Meirov.
#Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon says he won't name a Week 1 starting QB because he wants to maintain a "competitive advantage." pic.twitter.com/m8wJvSkKX0
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 28, 2023
Even if Murray turns out to be a fast healer and is able to return sometime in October, many feel the Cardinals are doomed to finish with the NFL’s worst record, which would give them a shot at drafting star USC QB Caleb Williams next April.
As recently as 2021, they won their first seven games of the season and finished with an 11-6 record, earning them their only playoff spot since the 2015 campaign.
In addition to Hopkins, Christian Kirk, another stud wide receiver who was key to their success in 2021, is no longer with the team.
Arizona also finished 31st in points allowed last season, and after the retirement of future Hall of Famer T.J. Watt, perhaps a reset is what they need in order to ensure they will be competitive sooner than later.
If they do indeed draft Williams, it would call into question Murray’s future with the team and possibly necessitate trading him for some assets.
NEXT: Analyst Notes Cardinals Are Loaded With Picks For 2024 NFL Draft
