Football is close -- the Cardinals open the preseason schedule on Saturday with a home game. A mailbag is closer, as in right now. Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Don't forget to send a question for a future mailbag with at least a first name and last initial.
From Frank L:
"I know you say that the Cardinals like Zay Jones. I don't get it, but OK. Marvin gets hurt, Wilson gets hurt. I don't understand why this team won't look at adding a veteran wide receiver. There are guys that make sense, aren't there?"
They signed Nate McCollum, Frank. Doesn't that work? OK, I get it. The wide receiver question has been out there all offseason. My stance hasn't changed since March -- I think the biggest impact for the WR corps was always going to be about Marvin Harrison Jr.'s jump rather than another body. They like all the aspects of Michael Wilson's game. I know Wilson isn't a guy that gets 800 yards (although I think he could), but again, we are essentially talking about the "third" receiver on this team at best because the vast majority of this offense (and it's hope to have the best rushing team in the league) is going to throw passes to MHJ and Trey McBride. If you are a veteran receiver, are you even going to want to sign with a team that a) has those two guys ahead of you and b) wants to run this much.
Now, if there are injuries? That changes the equation. But I feel confident both Harrison and Wilson will be back soon on the field.
From Jake M:
"Wait, the Cardinals are bringing back Will Hernandez? Thank goodness. It's about time."
Whoa there Jake. Hernandez is still a free agent. All that happened was that he had a visit to the team, presumably to get a medical checkup after his major knee injury. Is it possible he comes back? Sure. But until he signs, he isn't signed, if you get what I'm saying. He hasn't done any football work in a while. Even if he signs at this point, he'll have to work back into the swing of things. I also think Isaiah Adams is the guy who will be the starter; I would guess if Hernandez comes back, it would be for depth at this point. We will see what happens.
From Roger Johnson:
"Are there any undrafted free agents making any noise in training camp? Thanks."
I guess it depends on how you define noise. The Cardinals did not have a big undrafted rookie class, with only six. If I had to throw out a couple of names, I'd probably say defensive lineman Elijah Simmons and offensive lineman Josh Fryar. Simmons has a tough battle since the Cardinals have so many quality defensive linemen. Fryar is interesting and can play multiple positions, but again, we're talking about an undrafted guy. He has to climb up the depth chart.
From Marc G:
"I noticed you haven't released your roster projections yet. Can you give us a sneak peak? DL and DB specifically. Camp casualties are a reality of football and there's growing noise surrounding expensive vets and talented (and cheap) youngsters. i.e. JT and Rabbit, Bilal and Elijah, etc."
I usually don't take a crack at the 53 -- and I've never been right anyway -- until after the last preseason game. I know there are some that have brought up Jalen Thompson, but I have never understood that. I know it's the last year of his contract but he's one of their best players. Their current situation with the salary cap gives them plenty of room to not worry about cost. Thompson, Rabbit and Budda Baker are going to play a bunch together this season. J.T. isn't going anyway.
From Matthew Stroh:
"Hey Darren. I don't want to be a jinx. But I believe there's a chance we can be good this year. If the players don't lose a lot of 'SHOES' at the key positions, the Cardinals can be a playoff team. Also, with some of the NFL teams around the league having contract drama, trade drama, QB drama, do you wish you were having all of that to write about or are you glad you don't have all of that to write about?"
Nick Rallis will appreciate you using his euphemism for injuries. As for drama, well, no, I don't really have the desire to write about it. QB drama is different since it's just football -- although when you have QB drama it means you don't have a QB, which is no bueno -- but the rest of it just gets tiring. Doesn't mean it's not news or even important news. But I'd prefer to have drama-free.
From Jerry P:
"I think many fans were disappointed by Marvin Harrison's inability to gain separation in addition to losing battles for contested balls. Especially since he was advertised as a 'generational' talent and a can't-miss plug-and-play pro. My question is do you think the Cards in retrospect overestimated his speed as in college he was wide-open against inferior talent and never ran the 40 for scouts."
No, I think he's just as fast as the Cardinals expected. And while I know there was stuff he left on the table last season -- which he has acknowledged -- he didn't come close to missing and he was a plug-and-play pro. He had better rookie numbers than Larry Fitzgerald. He scored eight touchdowns. I still think he will ascend to the levels predicted, but even if he doesn't, it's disingenuous at this moment to act like he was a bad pick or failed as a rookie.
From Joy:
"Just watched A.Q. Shipley's press conference with the media. I always liked him as a player and now I think I'll really like him calling the games, but Darren, no one can replace Wolfley. I've been listening to you guys saying some very positive things about Rabbit lately. I know he's been emulating Budda but when I watched him last year in preseason games, he really reminded me of the Honey Badger. Do you see that too? Also, please explain what exactly a 'Will' linebacker" is. I know they're inside but that's all I know."
I do think A.Q. is gonna be good. No one is expecting him to replace Wolf. Wolf is one of a kind, and I only hope the fans will judge Shipley as Shipley and not whether he is Wolf. (To be honest, it took Wolf a little time to learn how to be Wolf too.)
I believe Rabbit has a chance to be excellent. I won't be surprised if they decide, depending on free agency, that Rabbit is Thompson's 2026 replacement. (Although they like this three-safety stuff.) I do think it's early to talk about Tyrann and Rabbit in the same breath. Rabbit has promise. But as Calais Campbell said recently, Mathieu was one of those rare guys who was one of the best players on the field from the first day he showed up.
* - Yes, I got caught up in the first part of the question and forgot to answer the second part. Thanks Walker. The Will is indeed the weakside inside linebacker. Most of the time it's the linebacker who is going to stay off-ball the most, dropping into coverage and roaming sideline to sideline. It is what Mack Wilson's role was last season. I anticipate the Cardinals only going with one inside linebacker quite a bit this season, which will be Mack, and going with extra DBs.
From Don P:
"Hey Darren. Question about preseason. Do the opposing head coaches ever get together to work out details of the game? I'm wondering because last year we were really sloppy in our first game. I understand the coaches don't want to risk their starters on some over eager bubble player but I'm wondering if they could get the Raiders to agree to playing starters against starters for X number of plays. I realize each coach is different, just wondering if that ever happens."
No. Preseason games are preseason, but they are still games. Now, when teams have joint practices, that's exactly what happens, which is why teams like having joint workouts (and why many teams have two different ones these days.) Controlled work but still work. Games won't change. I mean, there are still legal wagers being placed on these games. Talking ahead of time? That makes it WWE.
From Ashton G:
"What happened to the Diamondbacks, Darren? :((("
Oh Ashton. It's a tale as old as time itself. Injuries made the bullpen terrible, and the starters never as a group lived up to the bargain. (And some of the most harsh losses one team has ever been a part of.) There's other stuff, but it's just all sad. I had to break it to my wife they traded Suarez, who she loved. (She was so wrapped up in work she was still surprised even though he had been dealt two days previous, so yeah. She is not a connoisseur of sports media.)
Let's just say it's nice that football is finally back this week.
