Kliff Kingsbury doesn't think Odell Beckham Jr. joining Rams adds pressure to win NFC West
Arizona has been an attractive destination for high profile players and veterans via free agency and trades since 2020 to create the Cardinals' current winning culture at 8-1.
But the glamour and glitz in the world's entertainment capital Los Angeles has drawn a bevy of All-Pro players to join their NFC West rival Rams even more.
That includes wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.,who signed with them as a free agent on Thursday, outside linebacker Von Miller traded from the Denver Broncos on Nov. 1, receiver DeSean Jackson who signed with the Rams in March before he was released on Nov. 2, quarterback Matthew Stafford traded by the Detroit Lions in March, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars in October 2019.
"He is a tremendous talent, there’s no doubt," Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said about Miller on Nov. 1. "They continue to make moves to make a run at it, and you’ve got to respect that. It definitely makes them a better team and ramps up the competition even more in this division."
Led by Stafford and their NFL Top 100's second-best player in defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams (7-2) have higher expectations by NFL pundits to win the NFC West, and potentially Super Bowl LVI located in the Rams' own SoFi Stadium in February.
As the Rams continue to stockpile their roster, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury doesn't feel big names bring the Rams more pressure to possibly reach the Super Bowl. Neither does he believes it mitigates pressure for the Cardinals to be a top playoff seed from their own roster moves such as trading for tight end Zach Ertz in October, signing A.J. Green in May, James Conner in April, and J.J. Watt, and trading for Rodney Hudson in June and DeAndre Hopkins in April 2020.
"I don't think so. Anytime you play a division opponent, you know its gonna be a battle. Those are two huge signings for them, and guys want to be in that city in that market, and we get that," Kingsbury said about Beckham and Miller. "But I think we have a good thing out here, too. So, we'll play them and see how it goes."
Cardinals face the Rams at home on December 13.
Cardinals won their earlier road meeting with the Rams, 37-20, on Oct. 3.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kingsbury talks NFC West rival Rams adding Odell Beckham Jr., Von Miller
