Being an Arizona Cardinals fan over the last few seasons has been exhausting.
The franchise was the poorest in the NFL in 2018, with two disappointing 5 and 8 victory seasons before a 7-0 start turned into a fall and whimper in the playoffs.
It everything came crashing down against the New England Patriots, and despite Kyler Murray returning and demonstrating his mobility post-ACL rehab, Arizona’s squad, which was already elderly and deficient of skill, has…become less experienced and more depleted of talent.
As a result, these 16-point losses to division rivals have been the rule rather than the exception since Kyle Shanahan’s arrival in the division.
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There are lots of things Cardinals supporters to be excited about for the future right now.
Murray is, at the very least, a quarterback who can win in the NFL, where half of the league is seeking for that guy or running a backup QB due to injuries.
Trey McBride has more than doubled the number of 100-yard receiving games by a tight end in the franchise’s 34-year history.
The offensive line has improved in the run game, James Conner’s contract was a wise decision, and the line is good enough in pass protection that adding more bodies would undoubtedly help.
The defense shows effort, if not quality, and B.J. Ojulari and Garrett Williams appear to be useful components to grow around.
Other than that? It’s difficult.
The Cardinals’ wide receiver corps is missing Hollywood Brown, and Michael Wilson has missed numerous games.
Greg Dortch has done everything he can from the slot, while Rondale Moore is a scatback running back rather than a legitimate receiver.
All of this points to the Cardinals’ most straightforward decision this season: should they release Kyler Murray?
The solution is…complex.
No, they do not need to move on from him, nor should they do so in the absence of a replacement. Even if the Cardinals beat the Bears next week, they will face two playoff contenders the following week, ensuring that Arizona’s miserable season will continue.
And they’re still staring up at their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.
Arizona’s best response is undoubtedly to keep Murray and add talent. And it’s very likely that they will.
However, if they are able to secure the second choice, Cardinals fans will suffer again, but this time in a different way.
Most Cardinals supporters were split in the offseason of 2019 between Josh Rosen and Nick Bosa or picks versus Kyler Murray.
It was difficult. Readers and commentators on Revenge of the Birds may attest to how difficult it was in how many online friendships dissolved or were harmed that offseason.
Going over it again?
Let us hope this isn’t the case. Arizona has a rare opportunity to improve next year by selecting one of the most talented prospects in recent years with the third overall choice, and it would be almost 20 years to the day that they would have selected Larry Fitzgerald with the third pick.
An offseason in which fans and the team argue about whether to trade Murray and pick the best quarterback available is absolutely worth watching—it might not be a good move, but it might also not be a bad choice.
Arizona will almost certainly find a way to trade Murray, but there are so many other needs that a rookie contract would make sense and put Arizona in a position where they could make steps faster than nearly any other team with this staff and general manager.
It’s a “one step back, two steps forward” scenario.
But if Arizona can simply take one step forward in 2024, it might be a breath of fresh air, relief, and a vision for the first time.
Whereas right now, when they lose to the Niners and trail the Panthers by one pick in the race for the first overall choice, the exhaustion and discussion will continue.
For at least another week.
