Arizona Cardinals

The No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft could be destined to go to the highest bidder.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Arizona Cardinals have zero interest in a quarterback and would be "open to trading back" instead of being locked in on making a selection with the pick. Russini also reported that the possibility of four quarterbacks going with the top four picks is realistic.

Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels have been viewed as the top quarterbacks available in the draft while others like J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. could potentially be next in line.

The Cardinals notably traded down in the 2023 NFL Draft, dealing the No. 3 pick to the Houston Texans for the No. 12 pick in that draft and numerous other assets, including the No. 27 pick in the 2024 draft.

While the team is not in the market for a new signal caller, some intriguing names at other positions also loom at the top of the draft. Those include wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr, offensive lineman Joe Alt and wide receiver Malik Nabers.

If the top three picks are used on quarterbacks, Arizona could potentially have free reign to take the team's preferred prospect.

However, recouping some assets while potentially still grabbing one of those players a few picks later could also be intriguing. It also may be what's needed for a team that went 4-13 in 2024 to improve and make a step towards contending in the loaded NFC West.

The 2024 NFL Draft is set to take place April 25-27.

The Arizona Cardinals are set up to land the first non-quarterback in 2024 NFL draft with the No. 4 overall pick, giving them the opportunity to potentially select Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr. to pair with Kyler Murray.

Per ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, the Cardinals came away "impressed" with Harrison when they interviewed him at the NFL scouting combine this week.

Harrison has taken the unusual step of skipping pretty much every event at the NFL scouting combine this weekend. He was in Indianapolis to do one-one-one interviews with teams, but that's about the extent of his activity.

The Buckeyes star receiver did get his measurements taken with the other wideouts on Thursday.

It initially wasn't even clear if Harrison was going to be in Indianapolis at all this week. His plan is to continue training his body for the NFL season, rather than focus attention on training for specific combine drills.

Harrison had a press conference set during the combine on Friday, but an NFL spokesman announced shortly before it was scheduled to start at 8:20 a.m. ET that he would not be available.

Despite not making himself available to the media or taking part in any on-field combine drills, Weinfuss noted multiple sources had no concerns it would impact Harrison's draft stock.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Harrison ranked as the best overall player in the 2024 draft class.

NFL teams have two years of elite-level college tape from Harrison they can evaluate. He caught 144 passes for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns in 25 games over the past two seasons.

The Cardinals can certainly use a No. 1 wide receiver to ease some of the burden on Murray. Second-year tight end Trey McBride led the team with 825 receiving yards last season. Marquise Brown and Michael Wilson were the only other players on the team with at least 500 receiving yards.

After veteran tight end Zach Ertz parted ways with the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 30, he has finally found a new home.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Monday, Ertz will sign with the Detroit Lions. The 33-year-old will start on Detroit's practice squad, but Pelissero noted there are "plans to potentially elevate him for the NFC Championship Game."

Per ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, Ertz's departure from Arizona was a mutual decision by him and the team to give him the chance to finish the season elsewhere. Ertz's friend and former teammate JJ Watt reported that the tight end requested his release because he "plans to sign with a contender and make a run at his [second] Super Bowl ring."

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Ertz won his first Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017. The 11-year veteran spent his first nine-plus seasons in Philadelphia before being traded to Arizona during the 2021 season. He signed a three-year, $31.65 million extension with the Cardinals prior to the 2022 campaign, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury that year.

Ertz has also been hampered by a quad injury this season and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 24. He was eligible to return after four weeks, but the Cardinals didn't open his practice window before waiving him. Before he went down, he appeared in seven games for Arizona and recorded 27 catches for 187 yards and one touchdown.

Adding Ertz gives the Lions a veteran with championship experience who can still be a reliable contributor on offense. His presence should benefit quarterback Jared Goff as Detroit chases a Super Bowl title.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has no doubt that Kyler Murray will be the team's No. 1 quarterback for the 2024 NFL season.

Gannon made the remarks on Arizona Sports' Burns & Gambo show Tuesday (h/t Darren Urban for the Cardinals' website).

When asked if he had any idea on who Arizona's quarterback would be in 2024, Gannon chuckled and replied: "No, there is not."

A follow-up then asked if Murray was QB1.

"There is no doubt," Gannon said while chuckling. "'Number 1' is our franchise quarterback."

Since his return from a torn ACL suffered in Dec. 2022, Murray has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns (five interceptions) and 1,537 yards in seven games. He's also rushed for 211 yards and three more scores.

Murray saved his best performance for New Year's Eve, when he completed 25-of-31 passes for three touchdowns and 232 yards in a 35-31 road win over the 11-win Philadelphia Eagles. He did throw a pick-six, but Arizona was able outgain the defending NFC champs 449-275 thanks in part to his efforts.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension in 2022. He has $35,300,000 in guaranteed money coming his way in 2024. Murray is linked to Arizona through 2028, although the team could, in theory, release him later in the contract while taking on dead cap money.

Arizona could also go for a quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft. The Cardinals hold the No. 4 pick right now, and they could use their No. 17 pick (via the Houston Texans) as ammo to move up to go for an elite signal-caller such as USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye or LSU's Jayden Daniels.

But Murray's resurgence from a torn ACL has to bring about positive vibes. The Cardinals started this year 1-8 without him, and one has to wonder whether the team could have been fighting for a playoff spot right now with him aboard all year, or at least in the mix until December.

Ultimately, Gannon has publicly backed Murray as his first year as head coach comes to a close. That certainly holds weight with Gannon joined at the hip with Cardinals general manager Monte Ossenfort, who hired the ex-Eagles defensive coordinator to lead Arizona.

For now, the Cardinals will finish the season on Sunday with a home game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray caught the attention of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby when he wore the NHLer's jersey into Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday ahead of a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I'd love to know the story behind it. I have somewhat of an idea, but it would be cool to hear the story behind it," Crosby told reporters Tuesday.

Walking into Philadelphia wearing Pittsburgh gear isn't exactly common, and it's unclear why Murray decided to sport Crosby's jersey as he has no connection to the Pens star. Maybe he just wanted to troll the city's fans?

If Murray was trying to troll Philly sports fans, he certainly backed it up by leading the Cardinals to a huge 35-31 upset of the Eagles on Sunday.

Murray threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns against one interception and running back James Conner rushed for 128 yards and one score as Arizona outscored Philadelphia 29-10 in the second half to claim the victory after scoring just six points in the first half.

The loss dropped the Eagles to 11-5 on the season and 1-4 in their last five games.

Free agent tight end Zach Ertz appears to have plenty of suitors as the later stages of the NFL season inch closer.

Ertz was waived by the Arizona Cardinals Thursday after requesting his release, and Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Ertz is likely to have a new home within the next few days.

Schefter cited the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles as teams that have expressed interest in the tight end.

The three-time Pro Bowler has made 27 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown thus far in 2023. The Cardinals have struggled to a 2-10 record this season and will not be a factor in the postseason, so Ertz's release could give him an opportunity to provide position depth to a contending team.

The possibility of adding Ertz to a position group that already has Travis Kelce is something that will strike fear in other AFC opponents, so a Chiefs destination is certainly intriguing. The receiving corps for quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been inconsistent in 2023, so adding a veteran like Ertz and shifting the focus to utilizing tight ends could definitely be an attractive option for a team that aims to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

The Buffalo Bills have seen solid play from rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid in Dawson Knox's injury absence, but adding another option for quarterback Josh Allen will be crucial for a team that needs to make a run.

The Ravens are the team with perhaps the greatest need for Ertz after Mark Andrews injury. Andrews has been a favorite option for quarterback Lamar Jackson through the years and his absence is something that should hinder the team going forward. Signing Ertz would provide some relief in this regard and his pedigree and postseason experience could be exactly what the Ravens need to make a push to win the conference.

However, the most intriguing option remains the Philadelphia Eagles. Ertz spent the first nine seasons of his career with Philadelphia, scoring 38 touchdowns and amassing 6,267 yards during his time with the team. He won Super Bowl LII with Philadelphia and would likely fit right in with his former teammates as they prepare to contend for a Super Bowl.

The Arizona Cardinals announced Thursday that they have released veteran tight end Zach Ertz.

CBS Sports' JJ Watt first reported Ertz's exit.

Watt, who was teammates with Ertz in Arizona, reported the three-time Pro Bowler requested to be let go by the team and "plans to sign with a contender and make a run at his second Super Bowl ring."

Perhaps Ertz already has an idea of what his market will look like. Otherwise, it may not be as simple as landing on his feet with a team in the Super Bowl conversation.

Pro Football Talk also noted he'll first need to clear waivers before he can pick his next destination.

The 33-year-old has caught 27 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown this season. Arizona's quarterback situation—Kyler Murray didn't return from his torn ACL until Week 10—undoubtedly had a role in his lackluster production, but his game has also fallen off.

Second-year tight end Trey McBride has played in the same offense, and it hasn't stopped him from posting 48 receptions for 521 yards and one score through 12 appearances.

Assuming he clears waivers, Ertz will presumably take a short-term deal, as his days as a top-end player at his position are over. He likely won't be looking to occupy a major role in the passing game.

Ertz will bring plenty of experience to whatever team he joins, and his history as a red-zone threat could prove useful. Thirty-eight of his 46 career touchdown receptions have come inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

The Philadelphia Eagles, where the 2013 second-round pick began his career, jump out as an obvious landing spot should he clear waivers.

The Eagles already showed with Julio Jones they're willing to take a flier on an aging vet to help the offense, and Dallas Goedert has missed the last two games due to a fractured forearm. Ertz would be a slight upgrade over Jack Stoll as the backup tight end/spot starter depending on Goedert's availability.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner will make his return to Pittsburgh on Sunday against the Steelers, and Black and Gold head coach Mike Tomlin is expecting the veteran to be at the top of his game for the matchup.

"We can't allow James Conner to do what James does," Tomlin told reporters Tuesday. "Know and love and got a lot of respect for James. He is a legitimate tough guy, a big-time competitor. Expecting nothing but his absolute best coming back into Pittsburgh because I know him."

Tomlin added: "Aside from his will and intangible things, man, his skillset. When he gets into the secondary, he's tough to deal with. He's a combative runner. He has a nose for the line to gain and the goal line—he has for his entire career. He's always been a touchdown scorer."

Tomlin and the Steelers selected Conner, a Pennsylvania native, in the third round of the 2017 draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.

The 28-year-old was impressive in four seasons with the Steelers, rushing for 2,302 yards and 22 touchdowns in 50 games, in addition to catching 124 passes for 963 yards and four scores.

Conner earned a Pro Bowl selection during his second season in Pittsburgh in 2018 after rushing for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns in 13 games, in addition to catching 55 passes for 497 yards and one score.

Following the 2020 season, Conner signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals and he agreed to a three-year extension with the franchise in March 2022.

Conner earned his second career Pro Bowl selection during his first season in the desert in 2021 after rushing for 752 yards and 15 touchdowns in 15 games. He also caught 37 passes for 375 yards and three scores.

Through eight games this season, Conner has rushed for 526 yards and two touchdowns and has caught 14 passes for 36 yards.

Despite Arizona's 2-10 record, Conner continues to be a bright spot for the Cardinals and he figures to have a major impact in Sunday's game at Acrisure Stadium.

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jesse Luketa revealed that a few of the team's fans helped drive him to the stadium for Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams after he suffered a flat tire.

He made an attempt to reach out to the supporters to show his appreciation in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Cardinals' next home game is a Week 15 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

Luketa was selected by Arizona in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft. He played in 15 career games prior to Sunday's contest. The backup linebacker has mostly seen action on special teams, although he's lined up at fullback for the Cardinals a handful of times this year.

His versatility on the field and selfless approach off of it have made him a favorite of head coach Jonathan Gannon, who discussed his admiration of the 24-year-old prior to the team's regular-season opener.

"Off the field, I would say he's a team-first guy, and on the field, I would say he's a team-first guy," Gannon said, per Zach Gershman of azcardinals.com. "He puts himself behind the team, which I love about him. That's what's expected, but he truthfully does do that."

Luketa finished Sunday's game with one tackle after arriving in an unorthodox style, mostly operating in his traditional special teams role. He has recorded eight total tackles and one quarterback hit this year.