ARIZONA — The path forward for the Arizona Cardinals in 2024 is quite clear.
With training camp just days away, quarterback Kyler Murray is under the spotlight. Since his last appearance at camp in full health, much has changed, and many believe the Cardinals are in a stronger position now due to their past challenges.
Improvements were made on both sides of the ball, but for the Cardinals to excel, Kyler Murray must lead the charge.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero emphasized this point on The Rich Eisen Show before training camp. After discussing each NFC West team’s “non-negotiable” for 2024, Pelissero highlighted that Arizona needs Murray to perform at the high level everyone in Tempe knows he’s capable of:
“This is ambitious. It’s something that’s come up several times in interviews with Trey McBride and other Cardinals players like Paris Johnson. They don’t think it’s far-fetched to consider Kyler Murray as a dark horse MVP candidate. They believe it’s within him,” Pelissero said.
“Remember, last year he was coming off a serious injury and wasn’t ready at the start. He lost valuable time adjusting to Drew Petzing’s offense. Now, with a healthy offseason, everyone has praised Kyler’s preparation, which has been a point of criticism in the past. They added Marvin Harrison. Kyler is still in his athletic prime and can make plays like Lamar [Jackson]. It’s about harnessing that potential.
“I’m not saying he has to win the MVP. There are many great quarterbacks in the NFL. But for the Cardinals to be relevant and a playoff contender, Kyler Murray needs to be part of that conversation.
“Drew Petzing is also highly praised. He was on the Vikings’ staff for a long time and was the quarterbacks coach in Cleveland. Now in his second year in Arizona, he’s more experienced as a play-caller. One of the players, I think it was Kyler, called him a genius. With a fully healthy and prepared Kyler Murray and the best receiver in the draft, we’ll see what the Drew Petzing offense is truly about.
“Nick Caserio made the trade with Arizona to ensure he got [CJ] Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. last year. Ossenfort has provided the resources to be aggressive. Many might rank the Cardinals fourth in the NFC West on paper, but with Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr., they’re making significant progress. Let’s see how they start in 2024.”