It\u2019s no secret that the Arizona Cardinals are one of the longest shots to win the Super Bowl in the coming season. At +10000, only the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins have longer odds. While the Cardinals aren\u2019t a great bet to win it all next season, let\u2019s take a closer look at the team and see what futures might actually offer some value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In: Kyler Murray, J.R. Sweezy, Jordan Hicks, Terrell Suggs, Tramaine Brock, Brooks Reed, Robert Alford, Kliff Kingsbury
Out: Josh Rosen, Mike Iupati, J.J. Nelson, Antoine Bethea, Steve WilksThe Cardinals were the worst team in football season, so it\u2019s not surprise that they made massive changes. It started with the firing of head coach Steve Wilks and bringing in former Texas Tech head coach, Kliff Kingsbury. It\u2019s a risky move as Kingsbury was fired from Texas Tech. However, he is known as a quarterback guru (Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield) and he\u2019s coordinated some good passing games in the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kingsbury\u2019s main offseason decision was to dump Josh Rosen and draft his guy Kyler Murray. The two are now married together and will either succeed or fail together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most important news for Murray (and the Cardinals) is the team has rebuilt this offense around him. Offensive linemen like Sweezy and Marcus Gilbert have joined the fray, and the unit is healthy now. They were decimated by injuries last season. On top of that, the team spent three draft picks (Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson) on wide receivers in the draft. With the signings of Clay and former first-round pick Kevin White, this offense could look completely different, and that\u2019s what the Cardinals are pinning their hopes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cardinals will go over 5.5 wins if\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kingsbury is the offensive genius the Cardinals believe him to be and Murray adapts to the NFL quickly. There are lots of weapons for him to work with. While the defense will struggle, the Cardinals could win shootouts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cardinals will go under 5.5 wins if\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s a big learning curve. Remember, it\u2019s Murray\u2019s AND Kingsbury\u2019s first year in the NFL, which means they\u2019ll need time to adjust. The receivers are young and there aren\u2019t many proven players beyond Larry Fitzgerald. We know the defense won\u2019t be great \u2013 especially with Patrick Peterson suspended the first six games \u2013 but if the offense struggles, this team will again be among the worst in the NFL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re laying a lot of juice here but I can\u2019t see this happening. With the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams in the same division, I don\u2019t see a path to the playoffs for the Cardinals in even the rosiest of scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray is the favorite to win this prop but he makes the most sense. The Cardinals are likely to be playing in many shootouts. He\u2019s expected to be in a pass-happy offense and he\u2019s going to be slinging it around the field. I expect him to pile up the yards \u2013 both on the ground and in the air \u2013 and have the best resume for Rookie of the Year. He\u2019ll have a handful of interceptions and mistakes, but he has the opportunity and is in the right setting to put up big numbers. That should outshine guys like Josh Jacobs and David Montgomery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned, I can\u2019t see the Cardinals finishing ahead of the Rams or Seahawks, but they could challenge the San Francisco 49ers. It\u2019s not as if they\u2019re a proven commodity just yet. And with injuries and the regular random things that happen in the NFL, the Cards could be good enough to finish third in the division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n