The NFL is in the midst of holding their annual spring meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. The LaFleur brothers getting some time together in the name of work. Other league business getting done. So too is a mailbag. Don't forget to send a question for a future mailbag with at least a first name and last initial.
From Randy W:
"So to hear Mike LaFleur tell it, Jacoby Brissett is a better fit for this team than Kyler was? I guess he has the right to make that call, I want to see how this goes. Murray could do a lot of good things."
Again, and it seems like it comes up every week, there are a couple of things here but the most important part is that the Cardinals and Kyler needed a fresh start from each other. LaFleur said that this week and it has been reality for a while. Yes, I think LaFleur thinks that Brissett fits his offense. He didn't necessarily say Kyler was not, but if you dial it back to one of his first interviews, Matthew Stafford is the type of QB that he thinks best flourishes in what he wants to do. I seems like Brissett would fit that description more than Murray.
From Grant Calcutta:
"Enjoyed your article on Ty Simpson. I agree. I don't believe in 'rising' (or falling) players. If football isn't being played, how can one change their evaluation? (Excluding medical and personality issues). That said, what is your assessment of Ty's ascension of the draft board as it pertains to the Cardinals strategic options? Having a second QB in the top three is valuable trade ammo. But is also just so happens the Cardinals themselves are in the market for a QB. Decisions decisions!"
I agree the more QBs at the top of the draft makes a high pick that much more valuable. I also don't see Simpson crawling into that stratosphere. *If* Simpson really were that guy I'd think they would take him at 3. (If he were there, if he really were that guy, why wouldn't the Jets grab him?) I am not sure exactly how the Simpson saga plays out on draft day, but it feels like the Cardinals won't be a part of the story. Will be something to watch, however.
From Mike T:
"Hello Darren. It's the silly season but also time to consider the best draft option. Offense or defense, which side of the ball would we benefit the most? If we draft Jeremiyah Love then we get the potential for TDs and a threat to score every time he touches the ball. That's a big plus that you don't get with a pass rusher. So I cast my vote to draft Love at 3. Do you think drafting Love is a real possibility?"
Honestly, I don't see it. You are right a pass rusher doesn't give you a threat to score every play. But Love doesn't give you a threat to stop the other team from scoring a TD every play. I think they signed Allgeier for a reason, and they have bigger needs on the offensive line and pass rusher. More importantly I think it's much harder to find those players than it is to find a running back that works. I know not everyone agrees with that sentiment and that's fine, but that's my thought.
From Ken S:
"Roy Lopez is back after one year with Lions. The Lions utilized Roy in a broader approach then Cardinals did two years ago. The Cardinals used him primarily as nose guard. Will they allow him to pass rush and come in from defensive tackle like the Lions utilized him? I see him as a huge asset on defense this year if they use him to his abilities."
I am not sure how that will play out; I am sure that would've been part of the discussions for Roy and the Cardinals when they spoke about him returning. That said, it is still Nick Rallis' defense. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Lopez play a similar role to what he did in 2024. Detroit operated with a 4-3 base, the Cardinals are a 3-4. I am not sure Lopez playing an "end" up front when there are guys like Walter Nolen III and Darius Robinson available is going to be the play, but it also depends on health at the position and the opponent.
I do think bringing back Lopez is a quietly excellent move for depth and for the locker room. The Cardinals missed him last season.
From Pascal Pierre:
"Hi Darren. Thank you as always for your insights. I have two questions for you this week. We hear and read every year that a draft is loaded or that the draft is weak. Are there really some drafts that produce more or less quality professionals or is it a media thing where talent is more evident to spot by analysts? Also, what is your favourite moment of the offseason? Combine, draft, free agency, 53-man roster building?"
Vacation? Am I allowed to say vacation? Because that's a really nice moment of the offseason.
But if I am *not* allowed to say vacation, I suppose I would go with the first night of the draft. The hype is there for the first round, you can focus on writing about one guy (or maybe two) and it's usually an injection of optimism. The whole draft is a lot of work and realistically, most aren't going to have an immediate impact. But the first round can be special.
As for the draft being great or not, there is always a subjective nature to this. But take QB for instance. It's not hard to see the lack of consistent QB options in the draft this year if you watched college football. I'd trust the general scuttlebutt from analysts -- especially those who clearly talk to people in the game -- about a certain position being stronger or weaker. It doesn't mean that it will prove out true in the NFL long run, but for instance, when you have so many teams leaning into grabbing more 2027 draft picks, there is probably something to it.
From David McCommack:
"Hello Darren, thanks for taking time to read this. My question and comment last week was cut short in your response, totally understandable. I'm hoping you can revisit it. With most holes in the lineup at least somewhat addressed, I would like your thoughts on addressing the edge rush as a more impactful hole to fill. Specifically with Bailey or Bain?"
I think that's a fair way to view where they might be heading into the draft. They could still use a dynamic edge guy. They could use a front-line offensive tackle and/or guard. No way to know how they have Bailey or Bain graded, or how it might compare to, say, Mauigoa. I will not be shocked if any of those three names are called when the Cardinals are on the clock Thursday night. At 3, I still think it has more to do with who you see being the bigger star/excellent player rather than need (although need makes a difference; I know there are people who are gonna say "Love is the one who will be the bigger star!")
From Donovan M:
"I realize it's probably too early to be asking this, but have you heard if the Cardinals are planning to set up a construction camera at the new facility site? Thanks!"
That is not something I have heard (or even expect), but I will pass along the idea.
From Dean H:
"Let's wind it back and talk about our beloved Cardinal, Kurt Warner, when he was a Ram in the 2002 Super Bowl against the Patriots. Here is a technical question for football master Darren! If a player is attempting to get out of bounds to stop the clock but their knee or forearm lands in-bounds, should the clock keep running? I'm talking about J.R. Redmond's catch and his 'attempt' to get out of bounds at the 33-second mark in the fourth quarter. This was at the time before high-def video reviews and the call was made at the discretion of the referees. In your opinion, did Redmond get out of bounds? Or should Kurt have had another shot at winning the game, had it gone to overtime? What is the rule for this by current NFL standards? Thanks for all you do."
Dean. Buddy. Can you get any more random here. My opinion on Redmond getting out of bounds? My youngest son was literally days old when that game happened and now, as a tax accountant he is in the process of buying his first home so, no, I'm not going to remember that play for a game I wasn't overly invested in. I'm on the move-on-from-Santonio-Holmes train as it is, so (former Cardinal!) J.R. Redmond seven years earlier? Time to live in the now. (Props to tangentially bringing the Rams into the Cardinals world because of Kurt. That was Pat Tillman's final season as a sidebar Cardinals note.)
As for the rule, yes, if you are down before going out of bounds, the clock runs. In this case, I'm not sure what really happened, other than Brady was always gonna Brady.
