Mid-Year 2019 Plan and Mock

A Position by Position Plan for 2019 (* a roster that I would love to see):

QB1—-Josh Rosen, UCLA

QB2—-Mike Glennon, North Carolina St.

QB3—-Chad Kanoff, Princeton

• We are going to continue to build the offense around Josh Rosen. This year we will groom Chad Kanoff to become the QB2 in 2020. Mike Glennon gives us one of the better QB2s in the NFL.

RB1—-David Johnson, Northern Iowa

RB2—-Chase Edmonds, Fordham

RB3—-Mike Davis (UFA—-SEA), South Carolina

RB4—-T.J. Logan, North Carolina

• As time goes on, David Johnson will be used more and more in the passing game. That means more carries at RB for Chase Edmonds and Mike Davis (UFA) who form a thunder and lightning combo. Counting on T.J. Logan to be the kickoff returner and a 3rd down receiver.

WR1—-Larry Fitzgerald (UFA—-AZ), Pittsburgh

WR2—-Christian Kirk, Texas A&M

WR3—-Chris Hogan (UFA—-NE), Penn St.

WR4—-Chad Williams, Grambling

WR5—-Trent Sherfield, Vanderbilt

• As we see a dynamic chemistry forming between Fitz and Rosen, there is a possibility that Fitz will re-sign for another year. Christian Kirk brings the speed and RAC electricity. UFA addition Chris “7/11—-always open” Hogan will give the offense a versatile playmaker to go with emerging young talents Chad Williams and Trent Sherfield.

TE1—-Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma

TE2—-Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M

TE3—-Caleb Wilson (R3—-2019 NFL Draft—-6’4” 240, UCLA)

• Rosen is firing up Jermaine Gresham—-look for their chemistry to build the second half of the season. Ricky Seals-Jones continues to grow as a receiver. Rosen’s top TE target at UCLA, Caleb Wilson, is added via the draft and the Cardinals trade up into the 3rd round to take him.

LT1—-D.J. Humphries, Florida

LT2—-Korey Cunningham, Cincinnati

LG1—-Justin Pugh, Pittsburgh

LG2—-Colby Gossett, Appalachian St.

C1—-Mason Cole, Michigan

C2—-A.Q.Shipley, Penn St.

RG1—-Chris Lindstrom (R2—-2019 NFL Draft—-6’3”, 305, Boston College)

RG2—-Ryan Groy (UFA—-BUF), Wisconsin

RT1—-John Wetzel, Boston College

RT2—-Andre Smith, Alabama

• If Ray Brown can turn Daryl Williams into a Pro Bowl tackle, just give Brown more time and patience with D.J. Humphries and John Wetzel. Korey Cunningham is the swing tackle in 2019. Andre Smith agrees to a new one year $1.8M deal. At guard, Justin Pugh slides over to LG, Ryan Groy is signed as a combo G/C and to challenge for the starting RG spot with 2nd round pick Chris Lindstrom of Boston College, who may be the best all-around guard in the draft. Mason Cole heads into his 2nd year as starter in tandem with Josh Rosen and A.Q. Shipley provides quality, veteran depth.

LDT1—-Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi

LDT2—-Rodney Gunter (UFA—-AZ), Delaware

RDT1—-Corey Peters, Kentucky

RDT2—-Olsen Pierre, Miami

• Nkemdiche will prove he is worthy of the 5th year option. Gunter has earned a nice new contract. Peters and Pierre remain a dynamic run stopping/pass rushing tandem.

LDE1—-Markus Golden (UFA—-AZ), Missouri

LDE2—-Benson Mayowa (UFA—-AZ), Idaho

LDE3—-Vontarrius Dora, Louisiana Tech

RDE1—-Chandler Jones, Syracuse

RDE2—-Zach Moore, Concordia—St. Paul

• The Cardinals love their DE depth and rotation with Golden and Jones as the starters and Mayowa (run stuffer) and Moore (edge rusher) as the situational cogs, with Dora being the disrupter.

SOLB1—-Haason Reddick, Temple

SOLB2—-Dennis Gardeck, Sioux Falls

MLB1—-Denzel Perryman (UFA—-LAC), Miami

MLB2—-Josh Bynes, Auburn

WOLB1—-Devin White (R1—-2019 NFL Draft—-LSU)

WOLB2—-Jeremy Cash, Duke

WOLB3—-Zeke Turner, Washington

• The Cardinals make run stuffing MLB Denzel Perryman an offer he cannot refuse. Josh Bynes will be used in the nickel and as a backup to all three spots. Haason Reddick is finding his niche in the 43. Speedy, tough playmaker Devin White is drafted to become the Thomas Davis-type dynamo. Gardeck, Cash and Turner provide good, young depth and ST acumen.

LCB1—-Patrick Peterson, LSU

LCB2—-Deatrich Nichols, South Florida

RCB1—-Steve Nelson (UFA—-KC), Oregon St.

RCB2—-Bene Benwikere (UFA—-AZ), San Jose St.

• The Cardinals dip into free agency this year to acquire playmaker Steve Nelson on a multi-year deal. Nelson is equally good on the perimeter and in the nickel, which means he and Bene Benwikere can mix and match in those roles. Deatrich Nichols will be one of next year’s standouts in the pre-season.

SS1—-Budda Baker, Washington

SS2—-Jonathan Owens, Missouri Western St.

FS1—-Antoine Bethea, Howard

FS2—-Lukas Denis (R3—-2019 NFL Draft—-Boston College)

FS3—-A.J. Howard, Appalachian St.

• The Cardinals love the youth at safety they have in Baker, Turner (hybrid SS/LB), Owens and Howard—-plus they add one of the NCAA’s most prolific ballhawks in Lukas Denis in the 3rd round. Denis will be the nickel FS. It’s possible that they might re-sign Tre’ Boston if Boston’s salary expectations are reasonable.

K—-Matt McCrane, Kansas St.

P—-Andy Lee, Pittsburgh

LS—-Aaron Brewer, San Diego St.

• In the likelihood of Phil Dawson’s free agency or possible retirement, Matt McCrane gets his chance to win the placekicking job, with Lee and Brewer returning as ST standouts.

These were my hopes (trying to be as reasonable about free agency and the draft as possible)—-what would you do?