Fans of the Arizona Cardinals have several specific things to look forward to as the team prepares to embark on the 2021 season.
Those of us who follow the Arizona Cardinals have a tremendous amount of patience. We have to, if you consider the fact that it’s been five long seasons since the team last qualified for the NFL playoffs.
Taking full advantage of the team-friendly contract that quarterback Kyler Murray is still operating under, Steve Keim added a plethora of talent to this year’s roster. In fact, there are plenty of experts who believe that the general manager’s aggressive moves could lead to the Cards’ first postseason appearance since the 2015 campaign.
For that reason and more, there’s some rampant optimism brewing around the Cardinals these days. The following are five specific things that the “Red Sea” can look forward to in 2021.
Watt makes his way to the Arizona desert
Up until the moment that it was announced that Arizona had signed J.J. Watt, very few would’ve believed that the Cards had any chance of landing the five-time Pro Bowler. While the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, and Cleveland Browns were vying for the talented defensive end’s services, Keim quietly lurked in the background with a solid offer in his hand.
Watt’s worth to the organization is almost beyond measure. While some feel that the 32-year-old’s skills are eroding, others believe that Watt still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
The Cardinals have lacked star power on the defensive line since the departure of Calais Campbell back in 2017. That is no longer an issue now that Watt has flocked to the desert.
Murray and Hopkins having a full offseason together
Arizona fans were dancing for joy back in March of 2020 when it was announced that the sensational DeAndre Hopkins was acquired in a trade.
All of the celebrating was tempered a bit, however, by the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world at just about the same time. Much to their credit, the league succeeded in serving up a full and complete schedule, despite the difficult obstacles that had to be overcome.
Even a substantially watered-down offseason could not prevent Kyler Murray and Hopkins from becoming one of the most lethal quarterback-wide receiver tandems in professional football. Despite a limited amount of practice time, Murray and Hopkins still managed to connect 111 times for 1,372 yards and six touchdowns. This year, the duo spent much more time getting on the same page, so Cards fans can only imagine the enormous possibilities that lie ahead for the pair in 2021.
Hudson is the best center that the club has employed in decades
It’s been 43 years since the Cardinals had a center represent the franchise in the Pro Bowl. The great Tom Banks received that honor four consecutive times (1975-78), back when the team made its home in St. Louis.
Rodney Hudson, a three-time Pro Bowler in his own right, was acquired during a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders back in March. While the Watt signing got most of the headlines, many observers feel that landing Hudson was Keim’s finest move of 2021.
The upgrade at the position, now that Hudson is on the roster, is massive. Last season’s offense was severely limited with Mason Cole and Lamont Gaillard (both of whom are now departed) anchoring the Cards’ offensive line. Hudson’s tremendous presence should be felt immediately when the scoring attack takes to the field this coming fall.
Starting inside linebacker duo is young and loaded with potential
The Cardinals used their last two first-round draft selections on the inside linebacker position, taking Isaiah Simmons in 2020 and Zaven Collins this past April. Both have been penciled in as starters for the upcoming campaign, so the future is now for this dynamic pair of youngsters.
Simmons certainly took his lumps as a first-year performer last season, but the 6-foot-4, 238-pounder’s exciting potential is hard to deny. The club also has a significant amount of confidence in Collins, as evidenced by the fact that the rookie was handed the starting job before he even stepped onto a practice field.
If Cards management got it right, the franchise will have two tremendous athletes in the middle of their defense for years to come. Simmons and Collins will begin to show us what they can do when things get rolling next month.
Respected veteran arrives to stabilize kicking situation
When all was said and done last season, the Redbirds came up one victory short of a postseason appearance. Many factors contributed to that heartwrenching failure, with former placekicker Zane Gonzalez certainly qualifying as one of the most obvious culprits.
Gonzalez missed three late-game field goals last season that could’ve resulted in victories. To avoid that nightmare scenario from happening again, Keim went out and got a much more reliable kicker during free agency. Matt Prater, a veteran with 14 NFL campaigns on his resume, was inked to a two-year contract back in March.
The 37-year-old has converted 321 of his 386 field-goal tries during a pro career that began back in 2007. Most importantly, Prater is no stranger to pressure kicks. It feels like the issue that plagued the team in 2020 has been taken care of in impressive fashion by the front office.