The Arizona Cardinals are patiently awaiting the start of the season after showing promising signs of progress last year. While they missed the playoffs, they came close and now look poised to make some noise in an NFC West division that’s wide open.
Second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is hopeful for a breakout season—and the buzz is building around him. He’s added muscle and weight this offseason with the goal of taking his game to the next level. Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald is among those who are optimistic about his potential.
“I saw a guy who made a lot of plays," Fitzgerald said, via the Arizona Republic's Theo Mackie. "He did a really good job. When the ball came to him, he made his plays. He's only gonna continue to get better, so I'm excited to see his Year 2.”
On the defensive side, the Cardinals focused heavily on adding young talent in the draft. In the second round, they selected cornerback Will Johnson despite pre-draft concerns over his injury history.
“The knee was flagged at combine testing, the results of which teams typically get in mid-to-late April. In the hours before Day 2, some teams considering Johnson still had questions. Arizona was fine with the issues, and as a result, Johnson had the team circled as a strong possibility entering the start of the second round,” Jess Root wrote.
In the first round, the Cardinals took defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who has a real chance to earn a starting spot. However, he’ll have to compete with veteran Calais Campbell and second-year player Darius Robinson.
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“All three defensive linemen will participate in this week's OTAs looking to make an impression, but a decision on who will emerge as a starter won't come until training camp in late July and August,” Jeremy Brener wrote.
Regardless of whether he starts right away or not, Nolen is expected to make an immediate impact. It will be an exciting position battle to watch as the Cardinals work to strengthen their defense and climb the NFC West standings.