Just over a week before the draft, and exactly one week until the Cardinals' extra minicamp of the offseason. We are about to get as football as we can get considering it is April. And one more time, RIP to Coach Mac. Here's this week's mailbag. Don't forget to send a question for a future mailbag with at least a first name and last initial.

From Ray Martin:

"I think the Cardinals should draft Jeremiyah Love. I believe he fills a need. Our top running back is 30 and returning from an injury. Tyler Allgeier (a good FA signing) is power back. Neither are real threats to break a long run to the house. Love is a RB that can make a game changing play on any run or pass. My 'draft the best player' story comes from an interview with great college basketball coach Bobby Knight. The Portland GM asked Bobby who they should draft Sam Bowie or Michael Jordan. He said Jordan. The GM said we need a center. Bobby said then play him a center. End of my draft rant. What do you think are the reasons that the RB position is considered devalued?"

You are likely correct on what Love can bring to the table. If it is smart to go with that at No. 3 overall is -- and I understand anyone on the "draft Love" train doesn't think this is a debate to be had -- remains a debate. To be clear, no football player, not even a top QB, is going to be as impactful as a guy like MJ was in the NBA. Fewer players in a game, more control can be had by one guy, etc. A great running back is awesome, but.

I don't know if running backs are "devalued," but the way they are seen these days is much different than the running back heydays of the 70s and 80s and even the early 90s. Teams have to be able to pass more often these days. Go look at a video of a broadcast from, say, 1979. The game looks nothing like what you saw in 2025. Riding one running back puts a lot at risk if he is injured; especially when that position takes so much punishment. Love may turn into Derrick Henry. Or Bijan Robinson. But again, what do you pass up in taking him, and more importantly, how much more is he giving you as opposed to, say Allgeier and Conner and/or Benson? Or even a back you get in the fourth or fifth round? You always have to weigh opportunity cost.

From Drew Dayne:

"Hi Darren. I like this time of year because you relent and allow draft discussion (despite the fact draft talk in November is the best). Topic of the day: Arvell Reese. Certainly he has the hype and if we draft him I will be 100 percent supportive. With that said, I am terrified by position-less players. Did we learn nothing by Simmons? I've always said: if you need a pass rusher, take the pass rusher, not the linebacker who CAN pass rush. Micah Parsons has ruined common sense. If you need a guard, take a guard, not the tackle who can play guard. What are your feelings on Reese?"

I am with many when it comes to the Reese question. It is difficult to see after spending first-round picks on Haason Reddick and Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins and then have to figure out Reese's best spot. That's been tough. The Parsons comp has absolutely impacted thoughts on Reese. The thing is, that doesn't mean they are incorrect. Like any draft pick, there is risk here. If you want an off-ball linebacker, Sonny Styles may be the call. But again, do you want an off-ball linebacker at 3? When you have more "pure" pass rushers like Bailey and Bain possible, it's tough to see the Reese thing. But we will see how it plays out.

From Cameron L:

"There are rumors that WR Brian Thomas Jr is up for grabs on the trade market. That leads me to my question about Marvin Harrison's availability. I'm not commenting on his performance thus far in his career, I'm just pointing out that we have two bonafide No. 1 receivers already, Mike Wilson and Trey McBride, and we must now consider the value of, arguably, our third WR. If you can get a late first-round pick, you must consider it."

I'm going to disagree here. If you were to move on from Harrison, you're going to be looking for a wide receiver to fill that role. All I have heard for all these years is that the Cardinals needed to beef up the receiving corps. Now that they have Wilson-McBride-MHJ, people are talking about breaking it up. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. More weapons are good. I still believe Harrison's ceiling is such that giving Mike LaFleur a chance to work with him is worth more than moving on already.

From Art P:

"What do you envision as Teryl Austin's role going into the season?"

Austin, the one-time defensive backs coach for the Super Bowl-bound Cardinals, is back as a senior defensive assistant. I like the idea of DC Nick Rallis having someone to lean on if needed (remember, JG was that mind before) and Austin has stints as defensive coordinator for three teams. I expect him to be a sounding board for Rallis, much like Nathaniel Hackett can be one on offense for LaFleur, as well as one for any of the younger defensive coaches.

From Kenneth Schroeder:

"I remember sending a question during the season and it was asking the lines of asking you as a fan and an employee of the AZ Cardinals, etc., etc. You replied saying you weren't necessarily a fan of the team. Why be a writer/journalist for a team/organization that you aren't a fan of? Maybe I misread your reply, but thought I'd ask for clarity. Thanks."

I'll get to my particular perspective in a bit, but this is a teaching moment here. I earned a degree in journalism, and I know that profession has taken a lot of hits over the past few years, sports and otherwise (including if you google Sedona resort and NFL right now.) But a journalist is supposed to examine a story with as much as an unbiased eye as possible. So if you are covering the team from outside the organization, you can't be a "fan."

I understand the dynamics change when you are working within the organization. But we have a lot of people working for the content team that are from other NFL cities. Doesn't mean they are rooting for other teams or rooting against the Cardinals, but it also doesn't mean they are a "fan." This is a job, just like whatever job you might have. It's important to do the job well. All of us will benefit on a couple of levels when the team is doing well -- not the least of which that everybody in the building is in a better mood -- but again, that's different than the fanbase.

For me, it's important to take out as much of the emotion as I can when doing this, and for a simple reason: it can make for rough mental health otherwise. I get the fans that live and die with the wins and losses. When you work in the middle of it, living and dying like that isn't sustainable.

Not sure if that answers the question, but it's what I've got.