Cardinals Cover 2Baron Browning is back. Welcome Bird Gang. On today's show, Paul Calby's he joins me. The pass rush certainly an area of the Cardinals needed to address this offseason, and they have. Yes, Josh, what is the splash move? The first move though, that came Sunday when the team mcgrid terms with Baron Browning. He has since signed and now joins us. Here on the show, It's Cardinals Cover two, episode eight fifty nine, and it starts now.
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two.
Who to Baker?
What Heart? What rent?
This guy's unbelievable.
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He's a the ten half of five. He's it again, so more hurry magic.
Whow Here's Craig Griolo.
So let me be among the first to wish everyone a happy new year, as we are come to you here on a Wednesday in the middle of March. Yes, it is the official starts of the new league year. Leave it to the National Football League to have a day in the middle of March as a new year or in a new event, as free agency is now quote unquote officially underway.
You know what, with all due respect to the holidays, this is the shopping season, is it not. I mean, tis the season to go shopping now. Unlike the Black Friday deals, where you know you're looking at severe discounts, not exactly the case in free agency. You're not going to find a lot of things on sale, at least not in the first couple of days, that's for sure. Dare I say you might even overpay a little bit. But you know how it works, Craig, if you want quality in this world? Okay, And what's the old saying that my old man used to tell me. The cheap man pays twice. So if you go cheap the first time around, well, guess what, it doesn't work or a break so or it doesn't last very long. You just got have to pay for quality on the second time around. So you know what, better to just go shopping for quality the first time around.
Yeah, you mentioned the Black Friday sales, the Memorial Day weekend.
Sales, the Labor Day sales.
There's no sales in the National Football League when it comes to a discount for teams because I found this interesting and I know you're gonna dissect this and eventually you'll give us your off season.
What is the Rex Rex?
Right?
I mean who wins the off season? That's right? I mean Rex Ryan once upon a time proclaimed himself and the Bills the winners of the off season, and then he had a four win campaign. So it doesn't always correlate winning the off season with winning the regular season, all right. So here's an early.
Team to consider might have won the off season day one of the two day negotiating window, and this is from the league itself. They sent out these emails and of course I read all of them. Day one, the Minnesota Vikings spent in excess of two hundred and sixty million dollars on six different signings or agreed to terms. Well Fries Bira and Murphy junior Jonathan Allen accounted for most of that. But again, as they say, sometimes you get what you pay for. Yet we've seen with the Arizona Cardinals historically sometimes there's a certain player Jordan Phillips that sometimes you do pay in the offseason and it just doesn't materialize in the regular season.
So with the Vikings, Let's see, they got bullied and bloodied their last two games of the year, did they not? Against Detroit and then against the Rams, they really got beat up. They didn't just get beat they got beat up. So I get it. They're gonna spend money on the trenches. They're gonna build from the inside out. They're going with proven, dependable talent, at least in their eyes, that's their estimation. That's why they're paying the big money. But they also have the luxury now of doing that with the rookie quarterback contracts, So they jettison Sam Darnold, and they're like, you know, it's sort of like, you know, new money. Isn't that saying I wish I knew, but new money? Right, You come into new money, maybe inherited or whatever, you get a winfall, you win the lottery, and then you just start spending like crazy. So we'll see if the Minnesota Vikings live to regret that sort of spending spree in what that does to them. We know, for example, a lot of people like to say, ah, the CAP's meaningless. You can always navigate around the cap. Not so fast. Look at the New Orleans Saints have been in cap hell for three years, four years. Honestly, they're a longtime. GM is still in charge in New Orleans, and it's hard to understand why, considering the cap ramifications and how it has hamstrung that franchise. And there's a reason why they're near the top of the draft in the bottom of the standing. So be careful. You might have the room under the cap, doesn't mean you always have to spend.
It or just look closer to home. Within the division. The San Francisco forty nine ers, and how many departures there have been, either by their own choosing, they've been released, they've left for greener pastures, or they've been traded.
What was the number.
Half of the starters twenty two starters from the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. Eleven of the twenty two starters are no longer on the roster, and there could be more depending on what happens here in the next several weeks.
Yeah, when the Cardinals played the last place forty nine ers next year, it's gonna be.
Wait a second, what happened to the last place Seahawks? Well, no, that's that's that's so two years ago. Okay, right now, this last year the Niners finished in the last place, hence the last place counties n I did when I hear last place out of your mouth, Well, I just naturally assumed the Seahawks.
Oh, I'm just I'm looking at the standings and you know, so there's nothing opinionated about that whatsoever. Facts as the kids say, the last place forty nine ers, Man, have they had a blood letting? Are you kidding me? Losing their starting guard, their best interior old lineman and Aaron Banks green Bay gave him four year seventy seven million sixty three in the first three years. You know, they lose Tarvarius Ward, who's an excellent corner, big money with the Colts, Talanoufanga, who was an All Pro safety two years ago. So he goes to the moroncos like Drake Greenlaw, that Niners defense has not been the same last couple of years without Drake Greenlaw just saying, and you know they they lost other guys on that team. So we'll see, we'll see. I mean, Brock Purdy has been at his best when he's had all those weapons, and guess what a lot of those guys have already hit the exit door.
Yeah, Deebo Samuel traded Brandon Ayuk. According to reports, they're listening to offers, so it could be a much different San Francisco forty nine Ers team for the Cardinals.
Maybe the biggest loss for the forty nine Ers was assistant GM Adam Peters. We're tracking that, we're monitoring that. How does GM John Lynch do minus Adam Peters because the year plus into it not so good. Look what Adam Peters is doing with Washington and look at where the Niners have been trending. So I think that's worth monitoring.
Also monitoring as we look at some of those free agent deals that have been signed or agreed to terms also from the league office, six different players signed or agreed to on contracts of seventy five million or more. That includes the Arizona Cardinals, and what Josh Wet. He is one of those six players. Now, we hope to hear from Josh Wett later this week. Right now, though, as promised, how about we hear from Baron Browning. He met the media on Wednesday, then sat down with the two of us, Paul right here in studio.
So before we.
Get into your return, let's flash back to when you arrived mid season, having now a chance to kind of look back first time in your career, moving teams, especially mid season. How difficult was that in retrospect? Uh?
Yeah, it was different, just because, like you said, it was the middle of the season. You know, you're going from one place that you familiar with, you know, you've been there for four years, then going to a whole new place, kind of like going to a new school, tresh to a new school in the middle of the year. You know, new friends you're trying to meet, you know, you're just trying to fit in. So it was definitely just an adjustment, you know.
And then it wasn't very long before you got into a game. I'm always intrigued by that, like how much did they put on your plate? And I mean, how were you able to actually navigate? Because guys spend all year learning to playbook and then you had like one week, right, So what was that like when you actually had to get into a game and you had such a little knowledge of the actual playbook at the time.
You know, kind of when I got heard they just you know, they gave me like a small portion of what they wanted me to focus on. So then I just you know, I studied that every day and leading up to the game and before the game, and yeah.
How much help was Xavin Collins in that locker room. I remember a conversation he had with us that he used the terminology that you were familiar with in Denver Vance. Joseph was here in Arizona prior to the Broncos.
So help.
How did that help with the transition?
I think it helped a lot into you know, theay you know, played in that system and then he's obviously been playing in this current system, so he kind of knew the terminology that I would be able to relate to and kind of breaking down in Even then, like after practice, we would spend time together walking through things and him kind of playing to me, and even if I had questions I would have, you know, I would text some and he would, you know, send me pictures of things. So it was a constant back and for a dialogue we was having throughout the season.
How do you like your fit in this scheme? You know, Nick Roless, Jonathan Gannon, how would you describe it, how you fit into the scheme and maybe what it does to elevate your game?
Yeah, I feel like if I'm just speaking off last year. It's kind of limited just because you know, I kind of got her towards the end of the season, so it's kind of a limited role. But like I said in the previous interview, I'm not too sure how it would expand this season, but I know it's multiple things I can do, you know, far as being able to play off the ball in on the ball. So I'm not sure how they plan on utilizing me to the fullest, but you know, whatever the team asked me to do, I'm gonna do to the best of my ability to help my team win.
We know that they like guys who can not only rush, but set the edge drop a little bit so you don't have to come off the field. Even though they like that rotation, you feel you're that three down linebacker.
Absolutely. I feel like I've shown it in my film, you know, from my rookiere playing inside linebacker, and you know I could haven't running back and man coverage, so I feel like there's nothing I can do.
You know, in weeks ten through eighteen, Next Gen Stats put out some analytics that had you a top fifteen edge guy in the NFL. The second half of last season, right between Brian Burns and Miles Garrett. What sort of upside do you think you still have left in your NFL career?
I mean plenty. I mean this past season was only my third year edge rushing. I didn't, you know, switch full time until my second year in the league, So I still been developing. I still been learning. I still been teaching myself new things, and I'm excited, you know, to be here with this staff and see how they can help me elevate my game and with the dish of Joshua, you know, and the other guys in the room.
You know, you had the foot injury early with Denver beginning of the last season. At what point did you finally feel like yourself last year?
I would say probably about around the second Seahawks game. Mm hmm, yeah, well the first Seahawks game was with Denver. H No, I played two here, I played too, right, Yeah, I played the Seahawks too many.
Times last year? Yeah, three total then because it was weeks twelve and fourteen with a car Cardinals. Yeah.
Yeah, I definitely say about that second Seahawks game when we played them here and I was starting to feel back like myself and kind of you know, getting a rhythm and kind of get over the hump of that foot injury.
That kind of makes sense because you look at the snap counts and how they increase towards the latter part of the season and playing better than fifty percent of the snaps. Not only your comfort level, but I think the comfort level that the coaches had in you being out there on the field. How did you feel your role maybe expand from when you first got here to how the season ended.
Yeah, I think too, just you know, over each week, you know, just them adding a little bit more on my plate, getting a little more comfortable in the scheme, you know, getting a little more practice trips each week. You know, my comfort level kept growing in the system.
When the Cardinals signed Josh Sweat, what was your reaction?
You know, I was happy. I mean, you know, you can never have enough edge guys, and I think you know, the ego show that in the Super Bowl. You know, they had a lot of edge guys they can rotate and keep fresh. Soel you know, it just adds value to our room. And you know it helps having a lot of guys who can rest because everybody NERU can just learn from so many different perspectives.
How much do you study other pass rushers in football? Do you watch other guys and study their film? Yeah a lot.
I mean shoot, last off season, I remember when I was with Denver, I went back and watched all Varon Russiers from twenty eleven to like twenty twenty two, and I watched a lot of other guys, you know, top guys like Miles Joshua Tamba. Yeah, I leave from the Chiefs. I went back and watched a lot of guys. So just anyway I can add value to myself and continue to learn.
Where do you see yourself right now? As far as those past rush moves, do you have like a go to or are you still kind of developing your own moves based off what you see that has worked for others and then maybe from what you has worked from yourself.
I think, you know what I worked for me. You know, I definitely like using my spam move, but I want to continue to build off things. You know, I don't want to be a one trick pony. So and I see what worked for guys, and then I try to watch guys who are feeling to me in style. You know, what can I take from that game because somebody might be able to do something, but that might not fit into you know, my stature, my game, and so you know, it's just a constant, you know, tried things in practice and see how it kind of correlates to the game.
Baron Browning is our guest. I always liked to ask edge rushers, Okay, who's on the most wanted list when it comes to quarterbacks? Right A couple of years ago, there was a rookie, my Jay Sanders. He immediately said, Tom Brady, I know against Aaron Rodgers last year, a lot of guys just wanted you know, there you go, four time MVP Hall of Famer. You got what Drake May and Bryce Young last year. Is there anybody on your most wanted list in terms of a quarterback? You know that even in the next couple of years, you'd love to get.
To shoot whatever quarterback ain mobile. The mobile must be the hardest ones at tackle. So whichever, whoever, I just want to stand there and don't move. How let your boy speaking.
Of mobile quarterbacks, I remember Kyler Murray when we asked him about you, mentioned that he remembers watching you in high school and how good you were in high school. What kind of connection is there amongst the Texas guys in that locker room.
I think it's a good connection. I mean I feel like if you've come from Texas, you pretty much know. If you don't know him personally, you just know of who the top guys is coming out of Texas are. So you know, I never knew Coyler personally, but I already knew who he was just because I mean, you know, Allen, there was a powerhouse in Texas and they went to state every year and one I.
Mean, you were the for a defensive Player of the Year in Texas, right, yeah, your senior year. But let's flip the script. I mean, how well known was Kyler Murray. We've had a lot of guys come through here with Texas high school backgrounds. They said Kyler was an absolute rock star. Guys are always watching his highlights on YouTube. Was there some of that for you?
I never watched his highlights, but like obviously seen highlights of Allen winning on TV. You know they were in sixth A classification. I was for it. So, like you said, you know, the top guys in Texas already know, Like I would quit like the fame Kyla had in Texas High school to like, you know, Jonathan Gray. Everybody knew who Jonathan Gray was coming out of Texas High school football. So it's on that same level, I would say for Colin.
So then how does a Texas kid wind up at Ohio State?
Just for me, you know, out of the schools I was considering, you know, I was I felt like Ohio State kind of had the edge of everybody for what they kind of did for their players after football. When I kind of went to high State, coach me was pretty big and having what we call real life Wednesday. So we'd also have different CEOs come in, different you know, companies, different speakers come in and just teach us about stuff outside of football, you know, the proper way to dress, you know, how to you know, present yourself on the job interview. We would have like networking events and job fairs.
So so, okay, so you're the veteran in that locker room. Then amongst the Ohio State guys, is there some respects and you make in Paris and Marvin doing some chores or whatever, do they respect the elder buck eye in that room?
I think it's a mutual respect. Just so anybody who came through a High State because it's a hard place. So you know, when you see other High State guys when the league, it's like you made it through. So it's a salute for sure, But I don't believe in all that haze and stuff.
Really, what was that like when you were a freshman at Ohio State and all the talent. I mean, it's such a factory, so many guys are going to be highly drafted again this year. I got a measure coming out of high school. You're the Texas for a State Player of the Year. But that first full pad, full contact practice at Ohio State must have been a little bit different. Dare I say a little bit intimidating for a young guy.
Yeah, I feel like, you know, you think you know what working hard is until you go to a place like a High State and then they just break you all the way down. I remember my first week there. High State was just coming off of getting blown out by Clemson and a Fiesta bow thirty one to zero, so that the winter workouts was super hard that year, and I remember my first week just being like, man, I don't know, this was me. It was tough, for sure, but you know, I made it through it, and I came out on the other side much stronger as a not only as a player, but most importantly as a person, as a man.
We're speaking to you here on Wednesday, the official starts of the new league year.
You agreed to.
Terms on Sunday, prior to the start of free agency. Why not wait an extra day, a couple of days to see what maybe the value was, or what other teams valued across the league.
I just think, you know, having a communication with my agent and have you know AZ traded for me. They oanted me here, and like I said, you know, I didn't feel like I have my best season last year, just having more of one of my carillos dealing with injury. So I think the fact that they, you know, believe in what I can still do as a player in my upside, you know, I think it was just only right for me to stay here, and like I said, I believe in my teammates and what we're building here.
You've played for some big names Urban Meyer. You cited right Sean Payton, but you also talked about JG and Nick Rowlss to the media. What is it about those two guys that you found attractive and re signing with the Cardinals.
I think, more anything, just the energy, the way they show up to work every day. You know, it makes you as a player excited to be here and work with them and continue to grow. So I've been in places where you know you can't wait just to get out of the building. So you know, that's that's a difference making I think in building a winning coature.
What about that outside linebacker room now we mentioned Paul mentioned Josh Swt added to that room. You've got Savin in there, Bi, Joe Jilari coming off an injury, Xavior Thomas, who the Cardinals I think are high on, even though as a young player. But now having more guys in that room to kind of disrupt offenses.
The more the better, right, So yeah, you can have like I said, you can't have enough edge guys, you know, and this league is becoming a league where you know, you try to have as many as you can to rotate and keep guys first. So and too, I think it helps them scheming wise. You know, you can't just scheme up one side. You know, you have to respect, you know, whoever's on both sides. And I think it allows to have more one opportunities. So that's that's what really excites me.
Here's my question, okay, because I like to live vicariously through the players in that locker room. Right, so boom, you sign a deal, right, Okay? Do you treat yourself to reward yourself? I know I'd go out and buy some super sports car, That's what I do. I mean, do you treat yourself a little bit when for an occasion like this, I haven't.
Really did nothing, for real, I've just been chilling, just living the same way. Anything that came to my mind is just you know, paying off my parents' house and I'm cool for real.
So that is that the plan? Or you have done that?
No, that's what I'm finna do here in the next few days.
Okay, that beats anything you've got playing there.
No, that's true. Maybe a little fishing.
Maybe a little fishing you got, Yeah, and that's that's don't cost me no money at all.
Really some good mental health right there.
Absolutely, Baron, welcome back, appreciate the time here and look forward to seeing what you can do on the field in twenty twenty five. Thank you, So, Paul, we learned something from Baron during that interview and a little bit more after the microphones were turned off. But a big fan of fishing and fly fishing, something that he picked up in Colorado, not in Texas, as he told us, because you can't really find any place to fish in the state of Texas. But it does in speaking with him, this was spur Gang certainly my longest interaction with him since he arrived, very casually in the locker room. But fishing and just how soft spoken and chill he's the vibe he sends out, I could certainly see him quite enjoying a weekend of fishing.
We got to get him one of those bumper stickers fish as right, always love that bumper sticker fish asy because people don't think there's any fishing in Arizona. I mean, you know it's not all Sonoran desert out there. Come on now. So, yeah, he's a guy who really flips the switch, who's a different guy on game day and you know you heard him there talk about Yeah, it took him a long time to feel like himself, to be one hundred percent healthy, to really recover from that foot injury he suffered in September in Denver and it really wasn't until December January. Well guess what that correlated with his production? That really correlated with him being a nuisance, being a headache, And the analytics say as much he was effective, he really puts some good film out there. You know, it's not totally unlike a mac Wilson senior what he did his final year with New England. You know, he puts some really good film out the last four to six weeks of the season, not unlike what a Keem Davis Gathier did for the Bengals, and the Cardinals jumped on that. So if there's any opportunity to buy low sell high in free agency, and it doesn't happen very often, I think my osboard has done a good job of identifying some of those outside linebackers, those edge guys, some of those guys in the front seven who flashed when finally given an opportunity and then you realize, okay, you know what, that's who they really are, and then how much upside is there? And you and you heard Baron Browning just you know, just his reaction, the way he nodded affirmatively, Oh yeah, there's stile lot upside in my game. And you know, talking to some of the coaches last year, Craig and he won't say this, but you know, in Denver, I'm not sure it was the greatest fit. The way they were using him. He wasn't featured as prominently in the rotation. They rewarded a couple of edge guys once he left, so he's considered expendable. And you know, that scheme is different than what Jonathan Gann and Nick Rolis are running. So I do think it's a better fit.
And then you heard him mention that this is just year three of him as an outside linebacker. Now he's was drafted and played inside linebacker, making that move to outside, and it does take a little while, especially playing a new position. Heck, we saw it was Davion Collins moved to the outside and now starting to really figure things out. As far as within this defense, yeah, it's not just go get the quarterback, it's can you can you stop the run? Can you drop into coverage a little bit? Can you be that three down linebacker? To wear you don't come off the football field, so you're not given a tell to the defenses or to the offense. As far as right, this is what we're doing based off the personnel we're showing.
And how many times as Kyle Vannenbosch coached us up and said, look, almost everybody in the NFL has that initial move. You got to have the counter move. You got to have the third move. And that does take time. You know, when they study your film and they're able to shut down your first move, your best move, you better have something that you can go to or else you're gonna get stymied. And so that's been a process for any pass rusher. I think Baron Browning showed some of that and he said, you know what, he had some more elements in his arsenal if you will. In the second half of last season and down the stretch in December and January, man he was getting to quarterback. He was affecting quarterbacks. He was forcing guys to get rid of the ball earlier than they wanted. And that's exactly what Jonathan Gannon's looking for.
Eighteen barons twenty one quarterback pressures with the Cardinals came over his last five games. So again he became more comfortable, maybe a little bit healthier, and then on the field doing a little bit more because the coaches trusted him to be a part of that rotation. I think, again, a full offseason with this coaching staff and now Josh Swett lined up on the other side, I think having Sweat on the field is only going to uplift everyone else as far as getting to that quarterback, because we saw when Chandler Jones and Marcus Golden were bookends, how much better Marcus's game increased because all of a sudden, hey, we got to focus on fifty five on the other side, and then Marcus Golden explodes with a double digit sax season.
I mean, think about it on paper, right, Okay, on paper, we're talking about you're going to have your top three defensive lineman back who he didn't get a lot of action out of and production out of a year ago, and Justin Jones, Blall Nichols and Darius Robinson. Who might you add in the draft. We'll see. Then you have Josh Sweat, b Joe Jilari coming back. So now there's Baron Browning. So once again it's the rising tide that lifts all boats in the front seven and along that that defensive line. And again for Baron Browning, I mean, this was a highly sought after guy coming out of Ohio State. He was a third round pick. He was really productive for the Buckeyes, had a ton of talent and not unlike Samon Collins. That's a good comp because I think Manti ocibor, Jonathan Gannon and the new Cardinals front office here, when they saw Zamon Collins coming out of Tulsa, they had him identified as an outside edge guy. Cardinals drafted him, put him inside. So it's interesting how you know, it's all in the eye of the beholder. Same thing with Baron Browning. They saw him and they said, you know what, he might be better suited to the edge, and if he is moved to the edge, and considering how much money these guys now make, look at Miles Garrett forty million a year, the best and the biz. Once again, if you can buy low, sell high, and you can get a guy with upside, and they do believe Baron Browning has that potential. And to your point, I mean, look just from the sideline last year as many times the last four or five games at fifty three was getting into the backfield. Just the eyeball test alone, You're like, wow, okay, yes, the Cardinals have something in Baron Browning a two year.
Deal with a reported fifteen million plus incentives. Again we talk about sales in the National Football League. That might have been one of those rare occurrences where the Cardinals got something and maybe a little bit more bang for their buck, if you will.
And what was his line to the media when they asked, well, why did you sign before you know the market open? Why didn't you a test free agency? And he said, well, you know, when you have a girlfriend who's a ten, you know, why scout around? Why you know, boom, just make the decision right there. What are you waiting for? So that was his analogy. It was good conversation with Baron Browning. Also, again we hope to hear from Josh what later this week. But some other guys one that will be returning wide receiver j Jones. I think this Paul was something that was expected, one of those twenty unrestricted free agents that the Cardinals wanted to bring back. Maybe not so much based off his production, but that veteran presence in the locker room and what he meant to those younger wide receivers. Now, does he want to be more involved, Absolutely, But you noted that the final two games with Jay Jones he had his best production five catches over sixty five yards, So maybe there was something later in the season that he wasn't showing earlier in the season. He missed the first six games, unavailable those first six games, and now all of a sudden he's back with a second season within this offense. There's no doubt. I think when you look back at last year, there were two weapons on offense you didn't get a lot of ROI out of, or at least you felt like you could have received more return on investments Jay Jones. Some of that was self inflicted obviously missing the first six games, and then Greg Dorsch and both those guys flashed in the last two games. So I'm wondering, Okay, if you're the Cardinals' masterminds, you're running this offense, Drew Patsen and company, You're like, well, you know, what what can we do in twenty twenty five to get more out of Zay Jones, Who's a big dude. He has every bit of six to two. I mean, he's a physical type. If you look back at his career, all you have to do is search online. I mean, he's had some huge games for the Raiders. For the Jaguars, he was a high second round pick. He has this skill set, he has the experience. You got to figure out a way to make him more of a factor. You know, in training camp before he had to sit out those first six games. I remember in Indianapolis against the Colts, in those red zone drills, here was a problem for some of the Colts starting cornerbacks. He was catching balls in them. So, all right, what can you do? We know how the price tag for receivers has gone through the roof. So you get him from one year four million plus and you see what you have and then you see if he can continue to get that chemistry going with Kyler Murray, which you say on those last two games, you know there were some key third downs where he was the money guys. Those five catches, I think three of them were key third and longs where he got to the sticks. You know, how many times do you see younger receivers right they make a catch on third down a yard shy of the sticks. That's not Jay Jones. He has that ability and the wherewithal to be able to pick up the first down and he has the size where he can break a tackle. He can break an arm tackle and surge forward and get an extra yard or two to move the sticks. So I just think there's a lot of production that can still be unlocked in Jay Jones.
Eight seasons in the league. He knows what he needs to do, he knows where he needs to be, and again, getting that chemistry with Kyler Murray. Do think it was there and then all of a sudden you're not there for the first six games of the season, and the team kind of moves on without you, and you try to play catch up and it becomes very difficult because at that point, you know, darn near half the season is already behind you. So you get Zay Jones for a full season as your third wide receiver or fourth, depending on what happens. I know, Paul, you're you're kind of angling for that speed guy maybe in the slot, someone to kind of really expand that defense and make things a little bit easier underneath for Trey McBride or a Marvin Harrison junior. I have to wait and see what happens there. You do have Xavier Weaver on the roster, who we saw play briefly at the end of last season. He's got that four three four four speed. Can he catch the ball? I guess that would be the next question because speed is great, but if you can't catch the ball, then it does you no good.
Unless I missed it. Mkole Hardman is still out there. You know, he's a burner. You know he could be a guy, maybe a late signing and free agency for the right price. Otherwise, I do think on the radar day three of this draft, not a high draft pick, but day three it's the sort of classic BA right, if you can find a John Brown out there, some guy runs around around a four to three and he can be that dude to keep a defense honest and run the scene and take the top off and just run a bunch of go routes, bunch of nine routes. I think there would be bene fit in adding that guy. To me, he goes once again, when defenses had success against the Cardinals offense, everybody now it was that shell coverage. It was covered two and so if you can make them get out of that too high safety, look, whether it's by running the ball. You know, the pound game with James Connor and Trey Benson or if you can take the top off with a speed receiver or those chunk throws downfield. And I thought Marvin Harrison Junior did a better job of that in the last two or three games. You know, they had some different routes out up for Marvin Harrison Junior. And that's Marvin himself talking to the media. Then okay, I think that is something that can carry over into twenty twenty five.
So the Cardinals bring back some players, they also have to say goodbye to some players, and this is what free agency is all about. So we want to give our shout out to Kyrie's Tonga, Roy Lopez, a couple of the two defensive linemen. Good guys in that locker room. In the case of Roy, a hometown kid, able to play for the hometown team and now moving on, according to reports, to play with the Detroit Lions. Wish him nothing but the best, because again, you need good guys in that locker room, and both Kyriees and Roy, yes, good guys, but also productive players on that defensive front.
You know, at first, when you see Roy Lopez going to the Honolulu Blue You're like, okay, You're like all right, So initial reactions Yeah, he's a Dan Campbell yep type of guy. You can see. And then and then you know what, that Cardinals defensive front was pretty stout, played pretty pretty good against the Lions in Week three. You know, they only put twenty points on that board. Cardinals lost twenty to thirteen against the Lions in that game, and that Lions offensive line, the best in the biz, did not have their way in that game. And I'm guessing that the Lions coaches made a mental note, Hey, that Roy Lopez guy is going to be a free agent at the end of this year, and if we can make that happen, that'd be a nice addition there to the center of the D line. So props to Roy Lopez for drawing the attention of Brad Holmes, a GM and the head coach Dan Campbell. And I can see that as as a pretty good fit. And I know a lot of fans are like, wait a minute, one year four million plus to A Jones, why not one year four million plus to Roy Lopez. Well, it's totally different pay scales at those position groups. You have to keep that in mind. So and with the Cardinals getting Ball Nichols and Justin Jones, back and we'll see what else. You know, they've they've been in the mix, at least reportedly with some other interior defensive lineman. We'll see what maniocap Fort has in mind.
It's gonna be fun to watch from afar, Roy Lopez and Kyrie's Tonga now with the New England Patriots. But uh yeah, Roy Lopez next two and Aiden Hutchinson just inside that left or right shoulder. I mean, that's that could be fun for Detroit.
Yeah, that NFC North that sits his It suits his style of ball, does it not? You know, I mean getting down into all fours former heavyweight state champion wrestler. You know, the few times that the Cardinals actually were able to stymy the tush push, the key was Roy Lopez because he's on the nose, yep, and he has that ability, the innate ability to get lower than the center and that's where it all starts or stops. And Roy Lopez was really good at that, as good as anybody in the business.
Wish those two nothing but the best. Wish everyone here again, Happy New Year, and Paul again here we are in the middle of March. Any New Year's resolutions that perhaps you want to redo based off what you did January one and fell off after like a week or two.
Something tells me you have a few in mind. You have some some value added editions, some suggestions you're going to make over to Calvic Consulting. Something tells me if I don't have any, you will on my behalf. So it's interesting. I kind of feel I kind of feel a little flimflammed into this one here right off the top. I wasn't expecting New Year's resolutions. So here's what I wish for you. Transportation, I'll just leave it, yes, right, that's right. Well, if not, I might have to carpool, So go where you parked exactly, and I might need a ride after we're all done here today. If you know, you know, save the environment, Craig carpool.
On that note, we will put a lit on this edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hundai, proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our executive producer Joe Mama Hundre, our associate producer Cuddy Fincher for Paul Calvic. I'm Craig rial Lou. We'll talk to you next time here on Cardinals Cover two can always get worse.
