The Arizona Cardinals are in their offseason and looking ahead to 2025.
But while we are in the offseason, it is time to look back at the 2024 season and give some recognitions for player performances.
On the podcast, we discussed player awards and superlatives. Now we will put our picks in written form.
We begin with the team’s MVP for 2024.
Who was the Cardinals’ most valuable player? Howard Balzer and I give our picks.
2024 Arizona Cardinals MVP picks
Jess Root: RB James Conner
Conner was the on-field heart and soul of the offense and is arguably the most important player inside the locker room. As Conner did in games, so did the Cardinals, as he played in a career-high 16 games and ran for over 1,000 for the second consecutive season, rushing for a career-high 1,094 yards and gaining a career-high 1,508 yards from scrimmage.
The local chapter of the PFWA honored Conner as co-MVP with Budda Baker, but, for me, Conner’s value on the field was more impactful. When he had big games, the Cardinals won.
Howard Balzer: RB James Conner
The 16 games Conner played were the most games in his career, although he made it through only four snaps in Week 17 after injuring his knee the week before against the Carolina Panthers. He was on his way to a monster game with 111 rushing yards on 12 carries and three receptions for 47 before the injury occurred during the first possession of the third quarter.
Still, Conner was the heart and soul of the offense with 1,094 rushing yards (4.6 average) and eight TDs along with 47 receptions on 55 targets for 414 yards and one score. The Cardinals were 4-2 in the six games in which he rushed for at least 100 yards. His 1,508 yards from scrimmage was 11th-most in the NFL and was 59 yards behind Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, who was seventh.
Conner finished the season at 3,668 rushing yards with the Cardinals, good for fourth-most in club history. He will begin the 2025 season 195 yards behind Jim Otis. With 37 rushing touchdowns, Conner is tied for second-most in club history with Wayne Morris and is nine behind Ottis Anderson.
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