While the kids are out trick or treating, the NFL will be doing the same. October 31 is the trade deadline where fans could see some big names move. The Cardinals have options all over the roster. From quarterback Kyler Murray to Budda Baker, Marquise Brown to Zach Ertz, the time is now for a rebuilding team to burn it all down. So, here is a look at who the Cardinals will trade and why? Look around the league and do the math.
Who The Arizona Cardinals Will Trade, and Why
1 – Safety, Budda Baker
Baker is an attractive chip in the pocket of GM Monti Ossenfort. Baker has long been a “soft target” for the Philadelphia Eagles, who are looking for a Super Bowl return. Other teams who could have serious interest are the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions.
It’s still too early to know which teams are legit contenders & which are truly bad, but teams are beginning to get an idea of where they stand
Players who are on “bad” teams that the #Eagles should try & trade for:
Brian Burns
Budda Baker
Jerry Jeudy
Pat Surtain II
Mike Evans— Sidelines – Eagles
(@SSN_Eagles) September 27, 2023
2 – Wide Receiver, Marquise Brown
Brown is not a long-term factor for the Cardinals, and he should have plenty of trade value. As the youth movement rolls on in Arizona, there is greater wisdom in letting those pass-catchers play. Michael Wilson and Rondale Moore have shown to have the requisite NFL chops.
2023 NFL trade rumors: Marquise Brown among five potential WR targets for Chiefs ahead of deadline
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Follow @NFLonCBSSports For Next Update #nflstreams— NFL on CBS Sports
“Hollywood” Brown is an attractive acquisition for a team eying a championship run. The San Francisco 49ers are an interesting suitor. Yes, they have a lot of talent at that position, but it’s a long season and someone like Brown is a great insurance policy. The Lions are a serious team with playoff aspirations. Maybe Green Bay? One other team to watch where he could land is the Kansas City Chiefs.
3 – Tight End, Zach Ertz
Ertz is a big target for any NFL quarterback. His salary is also a big target for any NFL team. That said, the Cardinals are rebuilding, and Ertz could bring some decent return; a sixth or seventh-round pick in 2024 and a fifth in 2025.
Most “in-the-know” analysts say Ertz will likely stay in Arizona until he is cut to begin the 2024 league year. He would bring in the area of $5 million in dead cap space. If he’s cut, and it is a big IF, his $8.8 million base will have to be either absorbed by the Cardinals or his next team. But anything could be on the table for a team in need of a tight end making a run or close to it.
Teams of interest for his services are the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Miami Dolphins, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
4 – Quarterback, Kyler Murray
This is not an easy topic among Cardinals fans. Kyler Murray inspires tremendous loyalty and equal amounts of “cord-cutting”, as nobody really knows what will happen with the former first-overall pick. First and foremost, he is a monster trump card in the back pocket of Monti Ossenfort. His return could be the kind that brings a windfall of picks. Seeing as the Cardinals already have two first-round picks in 2024, any additional draft capital acquired in a trade could be used to eventually get elite prospects like Caleb Williams or Marvin Harrison Jr.
It is worth noting that Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon have no “ties” to Murray. In the NFL, as in any professional sports league, loyalty is tied directly to winning, something Murray has not done much of.
For his part, Murray could be pining for a fresh start with a new zip code. Currently, there are some teams looking for a new signal caller. Kirk Cousins is likely in his final year in Minnesota, and the same could be true of Russell Wilson in Denver. The Broncos are heading towards a significant shakeup, as Sean Payton is not happy with his team. Quarterback issues exist in New England, with the New York Jets, and the Atlanta Falcons. Las Vegas, Green Bay, and arguably Chicago also have a need.
Would you want the Patriots to go after Kyler Murray? pic.twitter.com/f5hOkjfnsr
— Matt Couture (@MattCouture5) October 12, 2023
With all these teams potentially open to a change with their signal caller, the Cardinals have one of the most valuable trade commodities in the league. October 31 is when the trigger could and will be pulled on some well-known names in Arizona. Could Murray be one of them? He could, and he absolutely should be.
Main Photo: Joe Camporeale – USA Today Sports
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