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Should the Arizona Cardinals Draft ‘Generational’ Quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft?

Should the Arizona Cardinals Draft ‘Generational’ Quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft? Caleb Williams is a name to watch for Cardinals fans.
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The Arizona Cardinals could have the chance to draft Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft. After manoeuvring the 2023 NFL Draft brilliantly, Monti Ossenfort and the Cardinals acquired both a fantastic haul of rookies as well as plenty of ammunition for next April.

In the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cardinals traded down with the Houston Texans to acquire pick 12, pick 33, a 2024 first and a 2024 third. They then traded back up with the Detroit Lions to pick six and drafted Paris Johnson Jr. to be their franchise tackle.

Through the trade with the Texans, the Cardinals now hold the Texans’ 2024 first-round pick as well as their own. According to multiple oddsmakers, Arizona and Houston are projected to have the two worst records in the NFL. Given the state of the Cardinals roster coupled with the Texans riding with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, there is a real chance that the Cardinals could have two top-10 picks in the next NFL Draft. Adam Schefter puts it best: “The Arizona Cardinals could control the 2024 draft”.

Many Cardinals fans already believe that the selection of Marvin Harrison Jr. is a foregone conclusion. Harrison is considered one of the best wide receiver prospects in recent history. Consequently, Arizona fans are keen for him to take the mantle from Larry Fitzgerald in the desert.

What many fans have been missing, however, is the possibility that Arizona could select USC’s Williams. Williams is considered a ‘generational’ quarterback prospect. That term gets bandied around a lot, but it applies for the 2022 Heisman winner. Many commentators have bunched him alongside the likes of Trevor Lawrence and Andrew Luck (as prospects).

The Arguments Surrounding Whether the Cardinals Should Draft Caleb Williams

If the Cardinals do not have the first overall pick, this is not even a discussion. They would have to be seriously dissatisfied with Kyler Murray if they are confident enough to trade up to the top pick to select Williams. And, as we saw this year with the Carolina Panthers, trading up to the first pick is costly.

The clear scenario where the Cardinals would grab Williams is if they had the first overall pick. But what about Murray? He would have to absolutely ball out for the Cardinals to trade away the first overall pick. However, if the Cardinals have the top pick, the chances are that Murray severely underperformed, or remains hampered by his knee reconstruction.

Is Williams Better Than Murray? As prospects, it is not very close. Murray was an excellent prospect, well worthy of the first overall pick. However, Williams is on another level. He has drawn comparisons to Patrick Mahomes already, due to his elite playmaking ability and ridiculous poise and accuracy.

It is worth noting that the new regime have been ruthless about churning the roster. While the DeAndre Hopkins and Budda Baker trade talks have cooled, players like Isaiah Simmons do not have long left in Arizona. It would be feasible for Murray to be next. With Williams on a cheap, four-year deal, Ossenfort would have much more liberty to reconstruct his roster.

Despite this, there is also the scenario that Arizona elects not to move on from Murray if he plays very well. Given Ossenfort’s willingness to trade down (and how well he did so in the 2023 NFL Draft), the Cardinals could get one of the biggest ever trade packages for the number one pick. It would likely include three first-round picks and a few young players.

What About Other Quarterbacks?

A lot of people have Williams and Drake Maye neck-and-neck. Both are phenomenal quarterbacks and either would have been the first overall pick in 2023.

Currently, Williams is the better prospect. Like Murray did, Williams is learning under the quarterback whisperer, Lincoln Riley, and former Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury. Williams is generally considered to be more athletic, with far superior playmaking ability. There is, however, a strong case to be made that Maye projects better into the NFL.

The debate between Maye and Williams is certainly a legitimate one. Williams probably has the edge slightly. However, depending on how 2023 goes, Maye could also legitimately be QB1 in 2024.

But are we sleeping on Clayton Tune? It is an absurd proposition. However, Tune is the self-proclaimed best quarterback from the 2023 NFL Draft. The fifth-round pick is full of confidence and attitude and could be the next Brock Purdy, according to Phil Simms.

There is a strong chance that Tune plays this season due to Murray’s rehab. His vast college experience makes him more NFL ready than expected. If Tune has a Purdy-esque season, that could be enough for Murray to get the Trey Lance treatment.

However, a lot would have to happen for this scenario. Purdy was surrounded by swathes of talent, something that Tune does not have. And, while Drew Petzing comes from the Stefanski-Shanahan school of offense, he will not have the same success as Kyle Shanahan quite yet. As such, predicting Tune to step up as the franchise quarterback is unfounded.

What to do with Kyler Murray if Cardinals Draft Caleb Williams or Drake Maye?

Should the Cardinals opt to go for Williams, what happens to Murray? The obvious answer is that he will be traded. It is rumoured that the Cardinals were ready to move on from Murray this off-season, with a deal in place with the Atlanta Falcons. That rumour has been quashed by many insiders but is certainly a sign of the times.

With Murray back healthy next year, his trade value increases vastly. Depending on the timing of the trade, the Cardinals will likely get at least a first-round pick. If they deal Murray before the draft, it will be much more.

But what about Murray’s mega contract? The answer is simple. Murray’s mega contract really is not as mega as people say. With Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson getting absolutely mind-blowing deals, Murray’s has fallen to the background. That will especially be the case once Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert receive their extensions.

Should the Cardinals trade Murray next off-season, they would save $5.6 million in cap but incur $46 million in dead money. It is a lot, but not necessarily debilitating. Given the increasing salary cap, Ossenfort would be able to make it work. It is also the case that Arizona could alleviate some of that by negotiating with trade partners about sharing some of the dead money.

Main Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

 

Curtis Leung

Curtis Leung

Curtis Leung is a UK-based writer covering the Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens for LWOS since 2022. He is interested in the NFL, association football, NBA and field hockey but is keen to learn about other sports too.

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