Raising Zona
FanSided

Predicting the Arizona Cardinals best of 2019

By Scott Allen

TEMPE, ARIZONA - MAY 29: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals practices alongside head coach Kliff Kingsbury during team OTA's at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on May 29, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MAY 29: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals practices alongside head coach Kliff Kingsbury during team OTA's at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on May 29, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates a sack against the Oakland Raiders in the first half of the NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates a sack against the Oakland Raiders in the first half of the NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Cardinals Defensive Player of the Year

Top candidates: Chandler Jones, Terrell Suggs, Robert Alford, Byron Murphy, Budda Baker

There are a lot of positive storylines coming out of the defense.  Kingsbury added former Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph to his staff to run the defense.

That means the Cardinals will go back to a 3-4 defense and Jones can run after opposing quarterbacks from the middle as a linebacker.  Jones lead the league in sacks in 2017 from that position.

Suggs could be the darkhorse here.  He is returning home to play in the same are he played his college ball in.  He will be out to prove he can still play after 16 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

Alford and Murphy are going to get their shots to show their stuff with Patrick Peterson absent for the first six weeks of the 2019 regular season.  Alford is the assumed starter but Murphy will give him a run for his money.

Baker is getting better and better.  Not only is he doing his part in the defensive secondary but is a hard hitter on special teams.  He had 78 tackles a season ago.

Winner: Jones

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