Three bold offseason moves the Arizona Cardinals must make
By Sion Fawkes
Draft DeVonta Smith
Yes, DeAndre Hopkins is a top-five receiver and his status isn’t going away soon. But Larry Fitzgerald is wisely mum on his own future and neither Christian Kirk nor Andy Isabella are solid WR2 options.
In a perfect world, Fitzgerald returns, the Cardinals draft Smith, and both Kirk and Isabella provide excellent depth as fourth and fifth options.
Worst case scenario: Fitzgerald calls it quits, the Cardinals fail to address the issue in free agency or the draft, and they’re left with two mediocre options as the second and third receivers. Hopkins won’t have the year he had in 2020 because the Cardinals will never shake him free of double coverage.
By drafting Smith, not only does it place another top-caliber receiver on the depth chart, but it can offset a potential Fitzgerald retirement. Smith will command attention the minute he walks onto the field and defensive coordinators will have to choose whether it’s better to key on Hopkins or the newcomer.
Hopkins and Smith would also give the Cardinals the most dangerous wide receiver duo since the days of Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Except you have a young franchise quarterback throwing the ball. Not the quarterback merry-go-round Fitzgerald and Boldin dealt with until Kurt Warner resurrected his career.
Even if it takes a few draft-day trades, general manager Steve Keim must make this happen. Especially if his and Kliff Kingsbury‘s jobs are at stake in a make or break year.