The Arizona Cardinals hope for a much improved season in 2021 after falling short of the playoffs last year. They have a relatively talented roster, but the Cardinals play in a tough NFC West division. All four teams look like playoff candidates, so Arizona will have to be at their best to make it to the postseason.
Arizona has been rumored they're shopping around linebacker Jordan Hicks after selecting Zaven Collins with their first pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. He could bring in some nice draft capital, or be a part of a package to acquire a big name in a different position. The Cardinals are close to being a legitimate threat and one big trade could turn the tides.
Even so, there are a couple of underrated trades the front office could make to increase the firepower on the offense. We'll see how it plays out though, as there hasn't been much talk about the Cardinals in the rumor mill recently. Even so, the front office could definitely pull off a move if they feel it's best for the team. With that said, here are three trade candidates for the Cardinals entering training camp.
Xavien Howard is on the trade block and the Maimi Dolphins are likely looking for a haul. This could be a situation where the Cardinals offer Jordan Hicks and draft selections to obtain Howard. It might be a difficult move to pull off, but if the Cardinals can do it they'll be able to hang with anyone in the league.
Arizona's secondary is decent, but it's not the best. Bringing in Howard would give the Cardinals a star cornerback to help balance out the defense. With JJ Watt and Chandler Jones rushing the quarterback and a solid group of young linebackers, the addition of Xavien Howard could make the Cardinals defense one of the best in the league. Keep an eye on Howard, as he should be traded at some point.
Many have written N'Keal Harry off, but he still has the potential to resurrect his career. After being a dud for the New England Patriots, a fresh start might be exactly what he needs. At 6-4, 255 pounds, Harry can be a huge red-zone target for Kyler Murray. The Patriots would have the pleasure of letting go of a receiver that hasn't panned out while the Cardinals acquire a project who still has potential.
Arizona technically doesn't need any more pass-catchers, as DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, and Rondale Moore will likely serve as the top three targets. AJ Green will get his fair share of looks as well, so Harry might not make an impact right away. Instead, Harry would join a team to sit and learn for a year or two and develop into a solid receiver in the future. Learning behind Hopkins and Green could be exactly what Harry needs.
Zach Ertz might still be traded even though he's reporting to the Philadelphia Eagles training camp. The Cardinals haven't been involved in any trade rumors for Ertz, but the front office should consider him as a possibility. Arizona's current tight end group is mediocre, to say the least, and Ertz would serve as a solid possession receiver for Kyler Murray. He'd have the privilege of playing in an Air-Raid offense where Ertz could have a bounce-back year with the Cardinals. Similar to Xavien Howard, keep an eye on the news regarding Zach Ertz, as the Eagles could potentially find a trade partner before the start of the season.
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