5 difficult decisions Arizona Cardinals must make this offseason

By Sion Fawkes | Feb 8, 2023

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 8: Pharoh Cooper #15 of the Arizona Cardinals returns a punt during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 38-13. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

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Nov 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) share a smile as they leave the field after defeating the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 49-27. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports /

3 – Stand pat or trade down in the NFL Draft

Clearly, if the Arizona Cardinals stay at the third overall pick, they will land a dynamic player like Will Anderson Jr. But as it stands, they only have five draft picks, so trading down would be huge if they are interested in attaining more draft capital.

The upside? The Cardinals may have some compensatory picks coming their way. And as mentioned earlier, if they trade Hopkins and take the $22.6 million hit in dead cap space, they will accumulate at least one more draft pick.

But if the Redbirds attain fewer compensatory picks and keep Hopkins around, Ossenfort will have yet another decision to make. Stay at the third overall pick and go with the quality over quantity bet, or vice-versa? This is one we probably won’t know until draft day.

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