Arizona Cardinals should be looking for another quarterback during free agency

They may have only won four games in their first season under new management and a practically brand-new coaching staff, but the Arizona Cardinals made enough strides and showed enough determination and grit to expect much more in 2024.

They were in almost every single game and should position themselves to at least be able to double their win total and be in contention for a playoff spot with a productive and efficient maneuvering of the roster this offseason.

In the NFL, that begins with the start of the free agency signing period.

Arizona only has 15 players on the roster set to become unrestricted free agents and six others who are under controllable rights, but changes are coming, nonetheless. There’s also the NFL draft, where General Manager Monti Ossenfort presently has 11 picks at his disposal, including two in the first round and six within the first 90 selections. After that, there will be plenty more tinkering and roster reshuffling before the team reports to training camp at State Farm Stadium in late July.

“Monti has done a fantastic job of the acquisition periods this last year in 2023 and bringing in guys that we see fit to be Cardinals,” coach Jonathan Gannon said after his first season, adding, “Not to say you don’t make mistakes, but we hit on a lot of those guys. That’s what we told the rookies, too, because there’s going to be another group that’s injected into this team that now they kind of have to lead the way.

"It continued with some solid signings throughout the year, Gannon said, noting, “When you do that and continually add those pieces and the coaches improve and the players improve, you’ve got a chance.”

As for free agency, teams can begin negotiating with players and their representatives on March 11 with the signing period beginning in earnest on March 13. Between now and then, we’re providing a daily, position-by-position breakdown of where the Cardinals stand and examine some of their options ahead of next month’s NFL draft.

Monday: Quarterbacks/running backs

Tuesday: Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Who’s under contract (with 2024 salary cap hit for each): Kyler Murray ($51,407,000), Clayton Tune ($1,002,656).

Who’s set to become a free agent: None.

Priority level: High

Evaluation: Murray reignited the Cardinals’ offense over the final eight games of the season following his return from a torn ACL. Even though Arizona only went 3-5 with him down the stretch, it was more than enough for Gannon to proclaim him as the club’s franchise quarterback moving forward — as if signing Murray to his $230.5 million contract extension the year before didn’t already virtually assure that.

Nevertheless, the endorsement from him and others, including offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, finally put some closure on the rampant speculation that the Cardinals might consider moving on from Murray. He’s their QB1, hands down.

But who’s going to be the primary backup?

As a rookie fifth-round pick out of Houston, Tune only got the chance to start one game for Arizona last season and it was regrettable, to say the least. During a 27-0 rout by the Browns in Cleveland in Week 9, he completed just 11 of 20 passes for 54 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions and was sacked seven times.

Arizona finished with just 58 total yards of offense, its lowest single-game output in 50 years.

One start shouldn’t and won’t define Tune, who had a stellar college career, but considering what we witnessed during the 2023 NFL seasons with starting quarterbacks going down with injuries by the dozens it’s worth noting that the Cardinals can’t be caught lacking if something should happen to Murray for any length of time.

Finding a relatively established veteran quarterback as the primary backup feels like a must. Free agency is the way to do that. Look at what backups such as Joe Flacco did for the Browns or Gardner Minshew did for the Colts or Jake Browning did for the Bengals.

The Cardinals will be adding at least one to two more quarterbacks between now and the start of camp and one of them, with all due respect to Tune, should be the clear-cut No. 2 as insurance behind Murray. There are plenty of big names available and some very serviceable ones. Investing some legitimate money in one only makes sense.

Until they dealt him to the Vikings at midseason, it felt as if Josh Dobbs, Arizona’s starter through the first eight games, was almost tailor-made to be a candidate for the backup gig. He might have been too up and down while playing for both clubs, but he could be available again as an impending unrestricted free agent. He’s not alone, however.

Notable free agents that could be available (2023 club in parenthesis): Other names include Kirk Cousins (Vikings), Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers), Tyler Huntley (Ravens), Marcus Mariota (Eagles), Jameis Winston (Saints), Ryan Tannehill (Titans), Jacoby Brissett (Commanders), Tyrod Taylor (Giants), Mason Rudolph (Steelers), Sam Darnold (49ers), Drew Lock (Seahawks), Carson Wentz (Rams).

More NFL: Arizona Republic's Bob McManaman offers his first edition of 2024 NFL Mock Draft

Running backs

Who’s under contract (with 2024 salary cap hit for each): James Conner ($8,430,000), Michael Carter ($1,055,000), Tony Jones ($1,055,000), Emari Demercado ($920,000).

Who’s set to become a free agent: Marlon Mack.

Priority level: Low

Evaluation: Despite missing four games with a knee injury, Conner recorded the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career (1,040) and has his best yards-per-carry (5.0) while leading a resurgent Cardinals’ rushing attack that ranked fourth overall in the league (139.1 per game) and second in average yards per run (5.0).

He’s under contract for only one more season and turns 29 in May. It will be interesting to see if the club approaches him with some type of contract extension this offseason given his worth on the field and in the locker room as a team leader. Adding another year to his deal, at least, seems more than likely.

“My best years are yet to come,” Conner promised.

Behind him, Arizona has a formidable 1-2 punch in Carter, a late-season addition from the Jets, and Demercado, who showed plenty of flashes as an undrafted rookie free agent from TCU. Either is capable of making a push to be the regular No. 2 running back, although Carter probably has the inside track on that role with Demercado serving as more of a third-down option.

Jones provides some serviceable depth, but don’t discount the Cardinals adding another running back via free agency and probably, the upcoming draft as well. They won’t be in the market for any real big names barring major surprising news involving Conner, but there are plenty of top-tier running backs set to hit the market.

Notable free agents that could be available (2023 club in parenthesis): Derrick Henry (Titans), Josh Jacobs (Raiders), Tony Pollard (Cowboys), Saquon Barkley (Giants), Austin Ekeler (Chargers), Gus Edwards (Ravens), D’Andre Swift (Eagles), Cordarrelle Patterson (Falcons), Devin Singletary (Texans), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Chiefs), Ezekiel Elliott (Patriots), Cam Akers (Vikings), JK Dobbins (Ravens), A.J. Dillon (Packers).

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals free-agency: Examining quarterback, running back options