Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

League insider Albert Breer believes the Cardinals will “find a way to get something done early in the summer” regarding a contract extension for Kyler Murray. Currently, the QB is under team control for 2 more seasons. Only 24, Murray will likely get Josh Allen money on his next contract.

Cardinals beat writer Bob McManaman expects the team to “squeeze even more” out of James Conner early next season. Conner signed a new contract this offseason, and Arizona will be without DeAndre Hopkins for the first 6 games. “We’ve got to be better at it,” HC Kliff Kingsbury said. “We didn’t run the ball great late last year when we needed to and when you look at those teams that made a run, they were able to still sustain the run, especially when you lose a top player like that [Hopkins]. So, we’ve got to be able to establish that early.” After losing Chase Edmonds in free agency, Conner’s current backfield competition includes Eno Benjamin and rookie Keaontay Ingram.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith left open the possibility that rookie QB Desmond Ridder gets some starts this season. “As with any position, the best guy is going to play,” Smith said. “With Marcus [Mariota] being the veteran, that’s the way it’ll go for now.” So Mariota will head to training camp atop the depth chart and should be considered the favorite to start Week 1. But it'd certainly make sense for the Falcons to get a good look at Ridder before deciding whether they want to dive back into the QB market in 2023. Ridder was the best player on Atlanta's board when they selected him 74th overall on Friday night. “There was never a time where Arthur Smith and I said we have to come out of this draft with a quarterback,” GM Terry Fontenot said. “He was the best player on the board at that time, and that’s why we took him.”

The Falcons selected QB Desmond Ridder in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. At 6’3, 211 pounds, Ridder’s on the thin side for the QB position. But his lack of special arm talent and inconsistent accuracy likely led to his slide. Still, he enters the pros with 49 career starts and the 3rd most QB wins in FBS history (43). The 22-year-old adds plus mobility, pocket poise and high character. He has a chance to make some 2022 starts, but Marcus Mariota will enter the summer as the clear favorite. Longer term, you have to like Atlanta's current 1-2 punch of Kyle Pitts and Drake London.

The Cardinals grabbed Colorado State TE Trey McBride in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. After a solid sophomore campaign, McBride got only a 4-game junior year, thanks to COVID. He won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top TE last season, though, racking up 90 receptions for 1,121 yards. McBride totaled just 10 TD catches for his career and arrives somewhat limited in size and athleticism, but there’s upside as a short-to-midrange receiver. He’ll head to training camp behind TE Zach Ertz but could push the veteran for playing time throughout the season.

The Cardinals exercised the 5th-year option on QB Kyler Murray's rookie contract. It'll pay him about $30 million in 2023 if the 2 sides don't work out a long-term deal before then. This was a no-brainer move for Arizona, despite the drama with Murray this offseason.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray will not take part in the team's offseason conditioning program starting on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. This, of course, comes amid contract drama between Murray and the Cardinals. But Rapoport notes that "many of the team's veterans" aren't attending, either, and that "this has been communicated as the plan for several weeks." So, at least in a vacuum, this doesn't look like a serious concern. But we'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Cardinals have yet to make a contract offer to QB Kyler Murray. Murray's camp, meanwhile, recently pulled their proposal off the table. Murray is set to make just $5.5 million in 2022. "I do not expect Murray to play on that number, which brings the possibility of a holdout into play if things don't change," Pelissero adds. We'll continue to keep a close eye on this situation. Murray carries some added risk in fantasy drafts until it's resolved.

The Cardinals re-signed WR A.J. Green to a 1-year deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Green enjoyed a small bounce-back in 2021, posting a 54-848-3 line in 16 games. He ranked 57th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and 54th in yards per route run among 90 WRs with 50+ targets last year. Arizona has 156 targets available with the offseason departures of WR Christian Kirk and RB Chase Edmonds. But if WR DeAndre Hopkins has a healthier season and WR Rondale Moore's role expands, Green is unlikely to significantly beat last year's 92 targets. He's an unexciting pick in early fantasy drafts.

The Texans signed RB Marlon Mack to a 1-year deal. Mack tallied 1,999 yards and 17 TDs on 4.5 yards per carry across his 2nd and 3rd NFL seasons. But he tore his Achilles in the 2020 opener and totaled just 28 carries for 101 yards behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines in Indianapolis last year. If somewhere close to 100%, though, Mack might just be the best in a Houston backfield currently sporting only Rex Burkhead, Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale. We'll see if the Texans add more in the draft. Mack just turned 26 last month.

The Falcons on Monday announced the signing of WR Auden Tate. The former 7th-round pick caught 61 passes across 4 seasons with the Bengals. Most of those came in 2019, when Tate posted a 40-575-1 receiving line. He might remain fantasy irrelevant in Atlanta, but the signing is worth noting because the entire Falcons WR depth chart is currently occupied by shrug emojis. Atlanta also announced the re-signing of Qadree Ollison, who figures to battle Damien Williams for the #3 RB spot (barring an upgrade via the NFL Draft).

The Eagles have agreed to a 1-year deal with LB Kyzir White that can be worth up to $5 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. White led Chargers LBs in playing time last year, so his departure leaves opportunity in a corps that has seen former 1st-round LB Kenneth Murray disappoint through 2 seasons. The money he's getting in Philly doesn't guarantee full-time status, but it looks bigger than the $2.2 million, 1-year extension the Eagles gave T.J. Edwards in November. White looks like a good bet for 3-down duty vs. the current depth chart. We wouldn't be surprised to see Philly draft an early-round LB, though.

The Eagles signed former Colts WR Zach Pascal to a 1-year deal. This reunites Pascal with Nick Sirianni, Indy’s OC from 2018-2020. The 27-year-old pass catcher brings some size (6’2, 214) to Philly’s WR corps, but he averaged just 540 yards across 2019-2011. Pascal isn’t someone to chase in early best ball drafts.

The Cardinals are re-signing QB Colt McCoy on a 2-year, $7.5 million deal, with $6 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. McCoy saw 3 starts as Kyler Murray's backup in 2021.

The Cardinals are signing RB James Conner to a 3-year contract worth up to $25.5 million ($13.5 million guaranteed). Conner, who scored 18 times in 2021, heads back to Arizona on the same day that Miami signed Chase Edmonds. Look for Arizona to add a complimentary backfield piece, either in the draft or in free agency. Conner’s currently coming off the board as the RB29 in FFPC drafts, but that number will certainly rise in the coming days.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen describes the "odd vibe" between QB Kyler Murray and the Cardinals as "alarming." Mort hears that Murray is "frustrated" with the organization and believes "he’s been framed as the scapegoat" for the playoff loss to the Rams. Murray, meanwhile, is described as "self-centered, immature and a finger pointer." Stuff like this tends to pass as we get further removed from the end of the season. We'd be surprised if Murray isn't back with the Cardinals in 2022 but will keep you updated on the situation.

Cardinals RB James Conner (ribs) returned to practice on Saturday. HC Kliff Kingsbury said the veteran was “able to do some things” during the session, per ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. (Thanks, coach.) Conner remains a game-time decision for Monday night, but today’s development makes him a small favorite to play against L.A.

Cardinals RB James Conner (ribs) remained out and RB Chase Edmonds (ribs, toe) remained limited on Friday. Both guys will be game-time decisions, according to HC Kliff Kingsbury, but Edmonds looks like the safer bet to play at this point. We'll get Arizona's final injury report on Saturday afternoon.

Cardinals RB James Conner (ribs) did not practice on Thursday. RB Chase Edmonds (ribs, toe) was limited. HC Kliff Kingsbury labeled both guys game-time decisions for Monday night's Wild Card game vs. the Rams, but Edmonds appears to be the healthier of the 2 right now. We'll get another update on the situation on Friday afternoon.

Cardinals RB James Conner suffered a rib injury in the 4th quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Seahawks and is officially questionable to return. Arizona is already without RB Chase Edmonds and also lost RB Jonathan Ward to a knee injury today. RB Eno Benjamin is the last man standing.