Arizona Cardinals

Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty said he would be interested in joining the Arizona Cardinals after his Boise State career ends.

"I could get down with Kyler [Murray]," Jeanty said in a livestream on Tuesday night. "We're gonna be the shortest backfield in the NFL, you know what I'm saying?"

The running back also named the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys as franchises he could see himself joining (h/t Fox 40's Madison Williams.)

Jeanty currently leads the FBS with 1,734 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns through nine games.

The running back has recently seen his workload skyrocket. He recorded at least 30 carries in each of Boise State's last four games, and most recently marked a career-high 34 carries while racking up 209 yards and three scores on the ground in a Saturday victory over Nevada.

Jeanty's ability to drive the Broncos rushing offense has helped Boise State climb out to an 8-1 record and a top 15 ranking in the AP poll, and raised the possibility that a running back could win the Heisman Trophy for the first time since Derrick Henry in 2015.

The running back has also sparked early buzz surrounding his potential entry into the 2025 NFL draft, where his stock as a potential first-round prospect has skyrocketed since the start of the college football season. The B/R NFL Scouting Department has him ranked as the 2025 class' RB1 and predicts he will hear his name called on the first day of the draft.

The Cardinals have recently turned their 2024 season around with four straight wins, going from a 2-4 squad and a potential deadline seller to the 6-4 leaders of the NFC West.

That success could impact the value of Arizona's upcoming first-round pick. But with running back demand generally dictated by positional need, and only four selected in the top 10 since 2017, Jeanty could still theoretically end up on the Cards' draft boards this spring.

Arizona currently ranks fourth in the NFL through Week 10 with 1,494 rushing yards, but leading rusher James Conner is set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2025. The Cardinals will need to address the running back position, either by extending Conner or adding talent from somewhere else, this spring.

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler believes there is "a realistic chance" the Arizona Cardinals extend Budda Baker before the safety hits free agency next spring.

"Baker prioritizes winning, so if he believes he can win big in Arizona, staying there is a viable option," Fowler wrote on Wednesday. "The Cardinals have shown encouraging signs in recent weeks."

Baker requested a trade from the Cardinals in April 2023, which led the team to offer him raises for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Cardinals will now have to "pay up" once more if they want to entice Baker to stay, Fowler noted.

A Pro Bowler in each of the last five seasons, Baker holds the NFL lead with 64 solo tackles through Week 10.

Baker's current contract ranks seventh among NFL safeties, per Over the Cap, with an average annual salary of $28.2 million. His base salary of $14.2 million for the 2024 trails only Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for the positional lead.

Baker missed five games last season with a hamstring injury, but still earned a Pro Bowl nod as he finished the season second to only Jalen Thompson for the team lead with 58 total tackles.

This season, Baker became the first Cardinal to record 100 tackles in 10 games.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said after the Cardinals' Week 10 win over the New York Jets, which marked the team's fourth straight victory after a slow 2-4 start to the season, that Baker was "one of the elite players in the world."

"He's explosive, fast, powerful. He can rush, he can play the run, takes the ball away. Really good player," Gannon said.

Baker indicated in July that he wanted to stick around with the Cardinals for a ninth season.

"No matter what, no matter who's there, who's coaching, I'm going to do my job and I'm going to be that person to other guys can look on, as well, and ask questions to, and all that other stuff as well," Baker said before the season (h/t ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.) "So, of course I want to be a Cardinal, but at the end of the day, I understand it's a business."

Baker is currently on pace to surpass his previous career-high total of 147 total tackles set during his second Pro Bowl season in 2019. Although his explosive defense could risk pricing him out of the Cardinals' budget in free agency, his key role in lifting Arizona to the top of the NFC West and giving the team a shot at the postseason led the Cards to stick with him at the trade deadline likely in the hopes of eventually working out an extension.

Despite some up and down moments so far in his rookie season, Marvin Harrison Jr.'s drive to fulfill his sky-high potential has never wavered.

The Arizona Cardinals rookie told ESPN's Josh Weinfuss that he wants "to be great so bad" that it constantly pushes him forward.

"I just want to be successful," Harrison said. "I want to be great so bad. I want to help my team so bad, and I'm just always going to put my best foot forward for the team, and I think that's really just where it comes from: just go out there, have fun."

The reactions to Harrison's first NFL season have been wild to follow. There were concerns about his speed after Week 1 when he had just one catch for four yards against the Buffalo Bills.

Those questions were quickly put to rest the following week when Harrison put up 130 yards and two touchdowns on four catches against the Los Angeles Rams.

That game kicked off a run of three straight games with a touchdown reception for the Ohio State alum, but he has only had more than 70 yards once in his last seven games. It was when he had 111 yards and a touchdown in Arizona's 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 8.

Now the bigger issue seems to be about Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's usage of Harrison.

Yahoo Sports' Chris Allen noted prior to Week 8 that nearly half of Harrison's targets at that point in the season had come on "high-variance" throws (go balls, deep post, out routes) with only six targets on crossing routes that allow for a high-probability of yards after the catch.

While Harrison is capable of winning down the field, he was touted as a prospect for being able to run a full route tree and make plays at all three levels.

There's absolutely no reason to be concerned that Harrison won't be great in the NFL. It's just taking time for him and the coaching staff in Arizona to put all of the pieces together that allows him to succeed consistently from week to week.

The 4-4 Arizona Cardinals currently sit in first place in the NFC West and are reportedly looking for potential additions to their defense ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

New York Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari and Tennessee Titans linebacker Arden Key are both among the top prospects for Arizona, as the team is in desperate need of high-performing pass-rushers due to significant injuries at that position.

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Cardinals have discussed both players with the Giants and Titans, respectively.

Linebackers BJ Ojulari, Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols, and Dennis Gardeck are all sidelined for the remainder of the season due to injury, creating a significant need for new additions.

Ojulari has recorded 24 tackles, six sacks and one fumble recovery for the 2-6 Giants, while Key has tallied 17 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble on the 1-6 Titans.

The Cardinals will likely have to play one more game with a depleted defensive line on Sunday against Caleb Williams and the 4-3 Chicago Bears. The NFL trade deadline is set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Some Arizona Cardinals fans might not have loved it when their team used a second-round draft pick on a tight end from Colorado State in 2022 even though Zach Ertz was already on the roster.

They are likely singing a different tune now.

"It's funny, I get drafted, no one knows who I am and every Cardinal fan hates me because, 'Why did we draft a tight end in the second round?' And then three years later they all love me and I'm like the greatest thing," Cardinals tight end Trey McBride said in a Thursday story from ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "It's just funny how it all works."

McBride was a secondary contributor at best for most of his rookie season, although he received more playing time after Ertz suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 10.

He then saw another opportunity when Ertz suffered a quad injury during Week 7 of the 2023 campaign and quickly seized it. McBride established himself as one of the league's best tight ends last year and finished with 81 catches for 825 yards and three touchdowns.

Arizona ended up releasing Ertz, who is now with the Washington Commanders, in November of last year, further solidifying McBride's role as the clear-cut starter moving forward.

The Colorado State product has taken full advantage of that trust and is on pace to put up career-highs in receptions and receiving yards this season. Through seven games, he has 42 catches for 446 yards, although he is yet to get into the end zone.

"He's a beast," quarterback Kyler Murray said. "I can't say enough about Trey.

"I tell y'all every week I think he could be the best in the league. The athleticism, being able to block, he can do it all. He can do it all. He's one of our best guys. We've got to continue to get him the rock."

McBride leads the team in receiving yards and has capitalized on the additional spacing that comes when opposing secondaries double team rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

His presence is a major reason Arizona is tied for first place in the NFC West at 4-4 and riding plenty of momentum heading into Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears following two straight wins.

If he can help lead the Cardinals to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 campaign, those draft-day doubts will be even more a thing of the past.

Arizona Cardinals wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. may have been held to just 166 receiving yards in four games between Week 3 and Week 7, but one NFL insider believes quarterback Kyler Murray never doubted him over the stretch.

"Kyler always trusted him," a Cardinals team source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "The connection happens organically, so nobody is worried if there's a slow week.

"He understands and has been patient. And then we know he can get going and good things happen."

Harrison made a season-high six catches on seven targets to record 111 receiving yards and a touchdown during Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins.

Seven targets is a typical number for Harrison, and Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing told reporters after the game that nothing had changed in the rookie wide receiver's game.

"What kind of excites me about him as a player is that there wasn't anything different," Petzing said about Harrison. "That's the thing. The consistency, really from the moment he's walked in this building, of, trust the process."

But just because the Cardinals gave Harrison a similar number of targets doesn't mean those targets didn't come on a different route tree.

As reported by ESPN's Ben Solak:

The Cardinals finally got clever with Harrison, who ran 40% of his routes from the slot (a single-game high) and was targeted on a crossing pattern for the first time since Week 3. It should not be hard to build a passing game around Harrison, who has only struggled in games in which he has been stuck running vertical routes and comebacks while pinned to the sideline by an unchallenged cornerback.

The Cardinals have allowed 1,127 rushing yards and 1,965 rushing yards, both good for 27th in the NFL, through Week 8. Given their struggles to limit opposing offenses, getting the passing offense clicking with Murray will be key to the 4-4 Cardinals' hopes of clinging on to their narrow lead over the NFC West.

Murray, Harrison and the Cards return home to face the visiting Chicago Bears this weekend. The Cardinals staff could continue improving Murray's passing game by ensuring Harrison has more opportunities to get open at State Farm Stadium on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals earned an extra day off with their October efforts.

Arizona's 28-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday capped off a short week following a Monday Night Football win over the Los Angeles Chargers. It also meant the NFC West team went 3-1 during a month that included three road games and the cross-country trip to Miami.

ESPN's Josh Weinfuss reported Tuesday that head coach Jonathan Gannon gave the team two days off after the latest win and said, "see you motherf---ers Wednesday" to the locker room.

The offense looked dangerous in the performance against the Dolphins with quarterback Kyler Murray throwing for 307 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Tight end Trey McBride finished with nine catches for 124 yards, while rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. posted six catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.

James Conner and Michael Wilson also found the end zone.

"We got so many weapons," Murray said. "We gotta get these guys the ball."

Arizona is now 4-4 following its 3-1 stretch and is tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks atop the NFC West. Its next two games before the bye are winnable as well with home matchups against the 4-3 Chicago Bears and 2-6 New York Jets.

While Chicago has a solid record, it is coming off a stunning loss to the Washington Commanders that ended with a Jayden Daniels Hail Mary touchdown on the final play. It will also be traveling across the country to face the Cardinals.

Arizona should be well rested with the extra day off following the win over the Dolphins. If it can continue rolling in the next two games, it will surely enjoy the time off during the Week 11 bye.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray elicited strong praise from teammate Trey McBride following Sunday's 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins.

"The guy's a great leader," the tight end said to The MMQB's Albert Breer. "He's an elite athlete, a guy who's had a lot of success in his life. Heisman winner. The guy's a freak. Just to have him on our team, to know that he can extend plays at any time, he's been great. This year has been awesome. He's bringing everybody around, leading the team the right way. I love the guy. I'm willing to go to war with him every week. He's my quarterback. ... I'm very proud of him."

Murray threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns against Miami and led the Cardinals offense on two scoring drives inside the final 10 minutes of the fourth quarter.

It was a reminder of what Arizona was missing at this same point last year.

The two-time Pro Bowler was sidelined to begin the 2023 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL suffered a season earlier. He began the year on the physically unable to perform list and missed the Cardinals' first nine games.

Murray appeared in eight games last season, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 1,799 yards and 10 touchdowns against five interceptions, in addition to rushing for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

The quarterback hasn't missed a beat thus far in 2024, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 1,638 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions though eight games. He has also rushed for 344 yards and two scores.

At 4-4, the Cardinals are locked in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC West. With Murray healthy and playing this well, the team can realistically dream of a division title.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will be available against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday in Week 7 after clearing the NFL's concussion protocol, head coach Jonathan Gannon announced.

Harrison left early in the Cardinals Week 6 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. He had not recorded any statistics before suffering the injury.

Harrison was a limited participant in Thursday's practice with a non-contact jersey on, but was a full participant on Friday and did not have and restrictions.

Gannon spoke about Harrison's progress and said that Harrison had taken care of his health during the week and that he was a "true pro" about his recovery process.

"He does everything he needs to do," Gannon said, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. "He takes care of himself and maximizes his buckets. He's a true pro. He had a good week."

Harrison was the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and has 17 catches for 279 yards and four touchdowns thus far in the 2024 season. His breakout performance came in Week 2, when he had four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

He has not exceeded 70 receiving yards in a game since that matchup but still leads the team in receiving yards and is growing to be the top option for quarterback Kyler Murray.

Arizona is currently 2-4 and will hope that Harrison's return can provide a spark for the team's offensive production.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was ruled out during the team's clash with the Green Bay Packers on Sunday due to a concussion.

The rookie's head collided with Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie's leg following an incomplete pass in the second quarter. Harrison briefly stood up before collapsing on the field. He was able to return to his feet and walk off with the help of Arizona's medical staff.

Harrison was targeted twice before he exited the contest, finishing with zero catches.

Losing Harrison is a tough blow for a Cardinals offense that already struggled to move the ball through the air when he was available, owning the league's eighth-worst passing attack entering Sunday's action.

After a stellar college career at Ohio State that included a fourth-place finish in 2023 Heisman Trophy voting, Arizona selected the 22-year-old with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Harrison's NFL career didn't get off to a strong start, as he recorded just one catch for four yards in the Cardinals' season-opener. He quickly bounced back, hauling in 16 receptions for 275 yards over his next four appearances.

Harrison has also recorded four touchdowns in five career games, the most among all rookie receivers this season.

He's remained relatively healthy throughout the start of his inaugural campaign. Harrison only appeared on Arizona's injury report ahead of the team's Week 4 loss to the Washington Commanders due to an oblique issue, but he didn't carry a game status heading into the matchup and was able to suit up.

Kyler Murray will likely lean on several players to replace his production including Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch.

Harrison's first opportunity to clear concussion protocol and return will be in Week 7, as the Cardinals host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.