Kyler Murray's Confidence Boosts Hopes for Arizona Cardinals' 2024 NFL Season Revival

The Arizona Cardinals are gearing up for the 2024 NFL season after a challenging couple of years with 4-13 records in both 2022 and 2023. The last season was particularly notable as it marked the first year of Jonathan Gannon as head coach. However, a deeper analysis of certain metrics suggests that there could be more to the Cardinals than their win-loss records indicate.

Kyler Murray's Comeback and Victories Over Playoff Teams

One of the crucial factors to consider is the impact of Kyler Murray, the team's face of the franchise quarterback. He has been absent for a significant portion of the last two seasons, missing 15 out of a possible 34 games due to a torn ACL suffered during the latter part of the 2022 campaign. However, entering the 2024 season, he is healthier than he has been in years.

During the past two seasons, the Arizona Cardinals boasted the NFL's best strength of victory at .588, which reflects the combined record of all the teams they defeated during their regular season schedule. Notably, they secured wins over three playoff teams - the Dallas Cowboys (12-5), Philadelphia Eagles (11-6), and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7). These victories over playoff teams exceeded even the accomplishments of the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the high-flying Miami Dolphins in 2023.

Optimism Amidst Skepticism

Despite these underlying metrics, the Arizona Cardinals currently hold the worst odds to win the NFC West in 2024, with Caesars Sportsbook offering +1500 odds. This places them well behind the Seattle Seahawks (+750), Los Angeles Rams (+350), and the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers (-225).

Kyler Murray addressed the skepticism during a sit-down with NFL On CBS analyst Tiki Barber, stating, "Yeah, I mean, let them sleep. Our job is to wake them up and allow them to realize what's going on out here. I think, with the addition of (2024 first-round pick) Marv[in Harrison Jr.], obviously, he's a natural God-gifted ability to play the position of wide receiver. Mike Wilson, Greg Dortch, Trey McBride]. Man, James [Conner] and all the running backs that we have, our O-line, I think a lot of people started to see that last year, we play hard. We play the right way, and you just keep adding weapons to that, and another year into the system with [offensive coordinator] Drew [Petzing] calling the plays, continuity growing. I think the sky is the limit for this offense, for sure."

Murray's Impressive Track Record

Over his five seasons in the league, Kyler Murray has garnered accolades including 2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and two Pro Bowl selections in three healthy seasons from 2019-2021. Unfortunately, his 2022 and 2023 campaigns were marred by a torn ACL and a subsequent late return from the significant knee injury. As he enters the 2024 season at the age of 27, Murray believes that he has yet to reach his full potential, especially as he has a fresh and promising supporting cast this time around.

The Young and Talented Supporting Cast

Under 25 years of age, aside from Conner (29) and Dortch (26), the Cardinals boast an even younger supporting cast: Harrison (22), Wilson (24), McBride (24), and 2024 third-round running back Trey Benson (21).

A Bright Future with New Talent

The 2024 first-round pick Marv[in Harrison Jr.] joins the team as a wide receiver with exceptional natural talent. Kyler Murray expressed his excitement about Harrison, stating, "I'm super excited for Marvin. There's certain guys, and I'm sure you've been around a lot of them, they step in day one, and they're not rookies. They don't feel like rookies. They're pro-ready guys. The mental that they have, the makeup, the way they carry themselves off the field, in the building, he's catching jugs before or after practice. And a lot of guys do that, but it's different. Just sitting down talking to them, I've loved being able to integrate him into the offense. Not only offense, but just being around the guys, man, it's a beautiful thing and I'm excited. I'm excited for them."

The Long-Term Vision

What sets this situation apart is that unlike previous receivers with whom Murray partnered, such as Fitzgerald, Green, and Hopkins, who were nearing the end of their careers, Murray has the opportunity to grow with Harrison, a young and promising talent.

In addition to the standout Marvin Harrison Jr., the Cardinals also witnessed the emergence of Trey McBride as a valuable asset, particularly after Murray returned from his ACL injury in Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons. McBride, the 2022 second-round pick, had an impressive performance that day, catching eight of his nine targets from Murray for 131 receiving yards. He continued to excel, ending the season with 53 catches, the second-most among all NFL tight ends from Week 10-18, for 538 receiving yards, the third-most among NFL tight ends from Weeks 10-18, in the eight games with Murray in 2023.