Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray is likely going to land his next WR1 in a few hours, and he clearly cannot wait.

The Arizona Cardinals quarterback took to social media Thursday and said vibes were "immaculate" ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

Murray also said on Thursday that he knows who he wants the team to draft while adding he has "full faith" in the organization:

Arizona has widely been linked to Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in the predraft process. Matt Miller of ESPN reported Harrison has been given "assurance" he will be the pick at No. 4 if he's available.

Cardinals fans have overwhelmingly clamored for Harrison to be the selection.

"Our fans are very important to us," general manager Monti Ossenfort told reporters. "What I can promise and what I'll always promise is we will do what's best for the team. What's best for the team this year and also long-term. Everybody has got an opinion. Everybody has favorites. That goes with the territory."

Arizona has been seen as a team that could potentially trade back if the right offer comes along as well. Teams targeting quarterback Michigan J.J. McCarthy might hand Ossenfort a Godfather offer to move up to No. 4, putting him in a similar position to a year ago.

At that time, Ossenfort agreed to move back from No. 3 to No. 12 before moving back up in the draft to No. 6 and selecting tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

A similarly complicated move would likely net Murray a WR1 in this year's draft—even if it's not necessarily Harrison. LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze are seen as bonafide WR1 prospects in this class as well and could be available later in the top 10.

NFL draft rumors have surrounded the Arizona Cardinals, who hold the No. 4 overall pick. However, any potential move won't be made until Thursday night, when Arizona is on the clock, MMQB's Albert Breer said on The Rich Eisen Show (1:20 mark).

"I would start with Arizona at No. 4. They've had four teams interested in that pick, and I know that [general manager Monti Ossenfort] has told those teams: 'I am not trading the pick until I am on the clock.'

Breer made clear earlier in the segment that he believed the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots would "stay pat" and take quarterbacks in the first three spots, presumably Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. He then believes a team will trade up to select Michigan signal-caller J.J. McCarthy.

Eisen asked when the first potential trade-up spot would be, to which Breer replied No. 4.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports previously reported the Cardinals possess two offers "in hand" from teams wanting to move to No. 4.

It's not hard to figure out potentially interested teams.

The New York Giants at No. 6, the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11, the Denver Broncos at No. 12 and the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13 could very well be in the mix.

All four have been heavily rumored in trade talk.

Jordan Raanan of ESPN reported Tuesday that the Giants are "at least looking to trade up," with an eye on Maye.

ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin reported that the Vikings are trying to actively move up and wanted a top-five pick in hand before Thursday began.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos have looked into a trade-up into the top 10 (and a trade down) as well.

"The team I feel most comfortable won't be picking where they currently sit are the Denver Broncos. Have heard from multiple teams in the top 10 the Broncos have inquired about a trade-up. Have also heard from teams picking after 12 the Broncos have discussed an appetite for trading down. It's obvious Denver desires a quarterback if it can get up to get one. And if not, it wants to accumulate draft capital and get more players."

Then the Raiders reportedly looked into trading with the Washington Commanders for the No. 2 pick, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Ossenfort isn't afraid to wheel and deal.

Last year, Arizona dealt No. 3 and No. 105 overall to the Houston Texans for No. 12 and No. 33 as well as 2024 first- and third-rounders.

Then the Cardinals moved back up to No. 6 with the Detroit Lions, giving them No. 12, No. 34 and No. 168 for No. 6 and No. 81.

From all vantage points, it seems like Ossenfort and the Cardinals could be making moves yet again. But it appears that the action will wait until Thursday evening, per the Breer report.

The Arizona Cardinals will not lack for suitors if they want to trade the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported the Cardinals already have two offers "in hand" from teams looking to trade up on Thursday.

Jones' report does not name the teams that have given Arizona offers. The Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos and New York Giants are among the teams picking in the top half of the first round that could look to move up for a quarterback.

Michigan's J.J. McCarthy would be the most logical target, as most projections have USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye likely coming off the board with the first three picks.

The Cardinals are not in the market for a quarterback with Kyler Murray on the roster, so they're likely weighing the benefits of picking the first non-quarterback or trading back. Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be the most natural fit at No. 4, but Arizona could move back and still get a WR1.

LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze are also considered potential stars at receiver and may be available at later picks.

The Cardinals' best strategy may be the one they followed a year ago when they moved back from No. 3 to No. 12 in a trade with the Houston Texans and then moved from No. 12 to No. 6 in a deal with the Detroit Lions. The ping-ponging across the draft allowed the Cardinals to pick up their top target, offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., while also adding draft assets.

As next week's 2024 NFL draft approaches, there is buzz that the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers could look to trade down from the Nos. 4 and 5 overall picks, respectively.

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday on SportsCenter that both the Cards and Bolts have interest in trading down, although it is possible only L.A. pulls the trigger on a deal:

"Chargers and Cardinals are trying to sell high; high interest rate. Most teams I've talked to expect one of these two teams to trade back and it might be more momentum with the Chargers right now because they have a lot of needs trying to re-establish an identity under [new head coach] Jim Harbaugh. So, they're looking to potentially move out. I've talked to teams who say they very much want to move out, maybe get an offensive lineman or a wide receiver later in the top 10-12 somewhere.

"The Cardinals still a threat there as well, but they could stay put. Some teams I've talked to believe they might just stay and take [Ohio State's] Marvin Harrison [Jr.], who's considered widely the best wide receiver in the draft. But you've got [LSU's] Malik Nabers, you've got [Washington's] Rome Odunze, all could go top 10, and both of these teams could end up with a wide receiver by the end of it."

Assuming quarterbacks go with the first three picks in the draft as is widely expected, the Nos. 4 and 5 picks could become coveted for teams looking to move up in order to select either one of the top wideouts in the draft or the best remaining quarterback, which figures to be Michigan's J.J. McCarthy or North Carolina's Drake Maye.

With Arizona committed to quarterback Kyler Murray moving forward, it has no need for a quarterback at fourth overall, although it could do Murray a huge favor by selecting a wideout.

The Cardinals lost Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and their top returning wide receiver is Michael Wilson, who had just 565 yards last season.

Because of that, it is difficult to envision the Cards passing on the opportunity to add an elite weapon for Murray in the form of Harrison at fourth overall.

While Arizona could conceivably trade down and still end up with one of Nabers or Odunze, the most quarterback-needy teams are picking outside the top 10 in the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, and trading down that far would very likely cause the Cardinals to miss out on all of the top three wideouts.

Because of that, a trade down seemingly makes more sense for the Chargers, who are reshaping their roster in the wake of hiring Harbaugh away from the University of Michigan to be their new head coach.

Los Angeles has already made a ton of changes on offense, trading wide receiver Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears, releasing wide receiver Mike Williams and allowing running back Austin Ekeler to sign with the Washington Commanders in free agency.

Should the Chargers stay at No. 5, their top options would likely be an offensive tackle to bookend left tackle Rashawn Slater, or wide receiver to serve as quarterback Justin Herbert's new No. 1 target.

Since the Chargers already used a first-round pick on a wideout in Quentin Johnston last year, it is possible they would rather invest their early draft assets elsewhere.

It may be difficult to turn down taking Nabers or top-rated offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5, but if the Chargers trade down into the 11-to-13 range, there is still a solid chance they could land one of the draft's best tackles, such as Washington's Troy Fautanu or Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu.

Perhaps most importantly, the Chargers would bring in additional draft capital, which would allow them to bolster a roster that had to be torn down to some degree this offseason due to salary cap issues.

Ahead of next week's NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals are viewed as a team that is open to trade offers, but they also will have the chance to add a game-changing talent if they stay put.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, NFL Network's Peter Schrager reported that the Cardinals are expected to select Ohio State star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 pick if they don't trade down.

"If the Cardinals sit pretty at four, Harrison, I'm told, is the pick, but they could move out," Schrager said.

Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said last month during the annual league meetings that he is open for business with the No. 4 pick.

"I think we'll always have the conversation, we may not get to a point where a deal makes sense, whether it's at [No.] 4 or anywhere we're picking, but we're always going to have the conversation and if it makes sense, if it's attractive to building our team, then it's something that we'll certainly consider no matter where we're at in the draft," he said.

However, Harrison is the type of prospect who could be too good to pass up. The former Buckeye was a two-time unanimous All-American and the 2023 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner after posting 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns in his junior season.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department predicted in its latest mock draft that Harrison and Arizona would be a perfect fit, noting that the team already has six draft picks in the top 90 and it is "not going to get another chance to draft a wide receiver of this caliber" if it trades down. Pairing Harrison with star quarterback Kyler Murray is also an exciting option that would set the Cardinals up for success for years to come.

There are other talented prospects available in this year's class, namely LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze. Still, Harrison is in a class of his own, so the Cardinal would be wise to bet on a sure thing.

On the heels of breaking the NFL scouting combine record with the fastest time in the 40-yard dash, Xavier Worthy is meeting with several teams that could be looking for a wide receiver early in the 2024 draft.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Texas wideout is meeting with the Arizona Cardinals today after visiting the Chicago Bears on Monday.

Worthy dazzled at the combine when he clocked an official time of 4.21 seconds in the 40, breaking the previous record of 4.22 seconds set by former Washington wide receiver John Ross in 2017.

The Cardinals and Bears both have picks in the top 10, though it seems unlikely Worthy will be selected that high. Arizona's first selection is at No. 4 overall.

Chicago owns picks at No. 1 and 9. It's assumed Caleb Williams is going to be taken with the first selection to give the franchise a long-term answer at quarterback.

If Worthy is on the radar for both teams, they could look to trade down in the first round to accrue more picks and get him closer to where his value seems to be. The Cardinals, in particular, are a popular trade-down candidate.

The New York Giants (No. 6), Minnesota Vikings (No. 11 and 23), Denver Broncos (No. 12) and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) could all be tempted to move if there is a quarterback they really like still on the board with the fourth pick, assuming the Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots take signal-callers with the first three selections.

Chicago only has four picks in this year's draft, with none until No. 75 overall after the ninth selection. The team has invested heavily in wide receivers over the past year, starting with the acquisition of D.J. Moore from the Carolina Panthers as part of trade for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.

The Bears also added Keenan Allen in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers last month.

Arizona is already loaded with draft capital, including two in the first round and six of the top 90. Its second first-round pick at No. 27 overall could be a spot where it looks at Worthy. The Cardinals could also look to wait until the second round with the 35th pick.

The receiver room in Arizona is desperate for an infusion of talent. Tight end Trey McBride was the team's leading receiver last season with 825 yards. Marquise Brown, who led all Cardinals wideouts with 574 yards, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Worthy ranked as the 50th-best prospect overall in this class. The 20-year-old recorded career-highs in receptions (75) and receiving yards (1,014) last season at Texas.

Former Arizona Cardinals executive Terry McDonough filed a lawsuit against owner Michael Bidwill and several others for defamatory statements made in a press release last year.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported the lawsuit was designed to avoid any claims by the NFL that the situation was settled in arbitration. On Friday, an NFL arbitrator found the Cardinals made "false and malicious statements" in last year's press release and gave McDonough a $3 million judgment.

"Despite what we consider to be a fundamentally unfair arbitration process, Terry McDonough is the first person ever to win against an NFL owner," McDonough's attorney, Mike Caspino, said in a statement Monday. "Why the NFL has not held Michael Bidwill accountable remains a mystery."

The arbitrator dismissed McDonough's claims of unlawful retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy. The Cardinals released a statement saying they were "pleased" with the dismissal of those charges but acknowledged their "initial statement went too far."

McDonough claimed he was retaliated against internally by Bidwill after he pushed back on a scheme to use burner phones to circumvent a five-week suspension being served by then-general manager Steve Keim in 2018.

The NFL arbitrator found the Cardinals did use burner phones to communicate during that time period, but found McDonough's hesitance did not result in his missing job opportunities internally or elsewhere.

In his lawsuit, McDonough names Bidwill, the Cardinals, public relations firm Counterpoint Strategies, executive Jim McCarthy, the law firm of Gallagher & Kennedy and lawyer Donald Peder Johnson. The lawsuit accuses McCarthy, Bidwill and the law firm of seeking to "dig up dirt" on him and ruin his reputation, per Florio.

"During his first meeting with Johnsen and Bidwill. McCarthy stated that it was his objective to find information about Terry McDonough that would support allegations of domestic violence, rampant infidelity, illicit drug use, drunk driving and other unlawful activities," the lawsuit reads.

The Cardinals' statement last year accused McDonough of domestic violence against his wife and abandonment of his daughter. Those statements were later proved false in arbitration. McDonough's wife and daughter are included in the plaintiffs in the new lawsuit.

The NFL has not punished Bidwill for his actions.

Sitting in the No. 4 spot in the 2024 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals could have their choice of any of the top wide receivers in this year's class.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals are going to host Ohio State standout Marvin Harrison Jr. later this week after bringing in LSU's Malik Nabers for a visit on Tuesday.

The Cardinals are in prime position to either stay in their current spot or potentially trade down if there's a team eager to move up, presumably for a quarterback.

B/R's NFL scouting department had the Cardinals staying at No. 4 to select Harrison in its most recent mock draft posted on Monday.

Harrison is the top-ranked player overall by B/R's NFL scouting department. Derrik Klassen compared him to a thinner version of former Cincinnati Bengals star A.J. Green.

"Harrison is a slam-dunk prospect," Klassen wrote. "He is a twitched-up athlete with polished route-running ability and elite ball skills. It's so easy to see how his game translates right away. Harrison would be an instant No. 1 WR for most offenses."

The gap between Harrison and Nabers doesn't appear to be significant leading up to the draft. The LSU standout is the No. 7 player on B/R's big board, but it might be even closer for teams.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler noted Nabers is ranked ahead of Harrison for "several teams" at this point in the pre-draft process.

Arizona certainly has a need for a No. 1 pass-catcher going into next season. Marquise Brown, who signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, led all Cardinals wide receivers with 574 yards last season.

Trey McBride, the second-year tight end, led all Cardinals players with 825 receiving yards. Adding an explosive playmaker to the outside will help open things up for Kyler Murray and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

Harrison recorded more than 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches in each of his final two seasons at Ohio State. He was a unanimous All-American selection in 2022 and 2023.

Nabers, a unanimous All-American pick in 2023, led LSU with 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

The Cardinals own 11 picks in this year's draft, including two in the first round at No. 4 and 27. They own four additional picks in the top 100, with three in the third round.

The Arizona Cardinals were ordered by an NFL arbitrator to pay $3 million to former front-office executive Terry McDonough for "false and defamatory" statements made about him to the media, per ESPN's Tisha Thompson.

A decision filed in federal court on Monday revealed that Jeffrey Mishkin, the arbitrator appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, ruled that the Cardinals and owner Michael Bidwill defamed McDonough "with malice" by accusing him of spousal abuse and neglect of his disabled adult daughter in a multi-page statement to media organizations. McDonough has denied those allegations.

"Despite what we consider to be a fundamentally unfair arbitration process, Terry McDonough is the first person ever to win against an NFL owner," McDonough's attorney, Mike Caspino, said in a statement about Monday's court filing. "Why the NFL has not held Michael Bidwill accountable remains a mystery."

McDonough's other claims of unlawful retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy were dismissed by Mishkin. He filed the claim against the Cardinals in April 2023 alleging that he was wrongfully demoted after objecting to a scheme that included the use of "burner phones" to communicate with then-general manager Steve Keim, who was suspended by Bidwill at the time following his DUI arrest.

"We are pleased with the arbitrator's decision dismissing all of Terry McDonough's employment claims and finding that there was nothing improper about his dismissal from the team," the team said in a statement. "As for Mr. McDonough's other claim, we respect the arbitrator's determination that our initial statement went too far. We accept responsibility for that statement and are grateful that the arbitration is now resolved."

McDonough, who worked in the Cardinals front office for 10 seasons, originally sought $15 million in lost future earnings, $10 million for emotional distress, $10 million for reputational harm and $60 to $90 million in punitive damages, per the arbitration ruling. He wound up receiving $2.25 million in punitive damages, $600,000 in compensation for emotional distress and $150,000 in compensation for harm to his reputation.

Mishkin found that the team did use burner phones, but he didn't rule in favor of McDonough's assertion that he was prevented from being hired as a general manager in the NFL.

"In publicly attacking Mr. McDonough's personal character by publishing false and defamatory statements entirely unrelated to matters at issue in the arbitration was unjustified in the circumstances and is deserving of punishment," Mishkin stated.

McDonough is also facing an allegation of choking his neighbor during an incident last month. He has a court appearance scheduled for April 11.