The Arizona Cardinals haven't had a spectacular season in Kliff Kingsbury's first season as head coach by any means. Despite the downtrodden record, the Cardinals might be a contender in three years.
The Cardinals have undergone a few vital changes over the past two seasons. They've had two different head coaches in Steve Wilks and Kingsbury, with Wilks fired following the 2018 season.
Besides the head coach position, Arizona also shifted the direction they were going in at quarterback, trading Josh Rosen and selecting Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. It's safe to say the Cardinals are pleased with the quarterback they currently have.
Through his first 14 starts in the NFL, Murray has recorded 3,279 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. The first-year starter has also flashed his running ability, as he's garnered 504 yards and four touchdowns with his legs.
Arizona is undoubtedly amid a rebuilding stage and will need time to develop a winning culture. Of course, the most important aspect of building a winning football team is finding a franchise quarterback.
Without a doubt, Murray has shown enough thus far to prove that he can be a reliable quarterback in the NFL. Provided that, the Cardinals have already checked off one of the requirements for becoming a contender.
Due to Arizona having a 4-9-1 record, they will be drafting inside the top 15 for the third consecutive season in 2020. As a result, the Cardinals will have a great chance to add another cornerstone player to their roster for next season.
Ahead of the NFL trade deadline, Arizona chose to make a move to acquire Kenyan Drake from the Miami Dolphins. When the move was made, many questioned why the Cardinals believed that Drake would make a difference in the offense.
But with injuries to David Johnson and Chase Edmonds, Drake was immediately thrust into a starting role. Now, the Cardinals may have found a gem by acquiring Drake via trade.
This past Sunday, Drake rushed for 137 yards and four touchdowns versus the Cleveland Browns. Arizona will have to decide on whether or not to retain Drake during the offseason with his contract expiring.
Along with Drake, Christian Kirk has shown some promise in his second season in the NFL. While missing three games with an injury, the Texas A&M product has hauled in 61 receptions, 649 yards, three touchdowns.
When you have a young quarterback, it is crucial to have weapons around him on offense. The Cardinals are definitely going to have to bolster their defense if they hope to become a playoff team in the near future.
At the least, Kingsbury's offensive system seems to be a success so far. It will be up to the young head coach to build a formidable defense to match his offense to compete in the NFC West.
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