The Arizona Cardinals are coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons and will look to take a major leap this year.
Last year was a massive rebuilding season in year one of Jonathan Gannon’s tenure as head coach. Franchise quarterback Kyler Murray also missed the first half of the season with a torn ACL. With the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. providing the best weapon in the passing games since Larry Fitzgerald, there is hope for a significant stride forward as a team this year.
Arizona enters this season tied with the 24th-best odds to win it all at +10000 on DraftKings Sportsbook. They hold the 13th-best odds to win the AFC at +5000, are +1300 to win the NFC West, and are +300 to make the playoffs. The Cardinals’ season-long win total is sitting at 6.5 with the over favored at -150 odds.
Kyler Murray Over 3400.5 Passing Yards (-110)
Flashback to the 2019 offseason in which Kyler Murray was coming off a Rookie of the Year Campaign where he threw for 3722 yards and 20 touchdowns. Or, dive back into the 2021 season where Murray was coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance having thrown a career-best completion percentage, 3787 passing yards, and 24 touchdowns.
Once a surefire franchise quarterback with a bright future ahead, the tune surrounding Murray has shifted rather quickly.
Murray is not a perfect quarterback. It is also relevant to note he has not played a full season since 2020.
However, this feels like a crucial season for Kyler Murray. There has been plenty of criticism surrounding the lucrative 5-year $230 million contract extension back in 2022.
In the eight games Murray played in after returning from the ACL tear last year, he looked mostly like himself. The former number-one overall pick threw for 1799 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions. If this were to scale out over an entire season, Murray would have thrown for about 3800 yards.
Murray has cleared this 3400.5 number in the first three seasons of his career including throwing for 3787 yards in just 14 games in the 2021 season. He will not return his reputation to what it once was in just one season. But, expect Murray to produce on the field and take some significant strides toward this.
Most Regular Season Rookie Receiving Yards- Marvin Harrison Jr (+185)
One of the driving forces of optimism for Murray returning to form is the addition of Marvin Harris Jr. The Ohio State product was selected by Arizona with the 4th overall pick in this year’s draft and will provide an immediate impact to the team.
In his final two seasons of college, Harrison Jr. tallied 2474 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. Son of Hall of Fame Colts WR Marvin Harrison, he has been labeled as a can’t-miss prospect for quite some time and his impact is felt on the field.
Harrison Jr. enters as the third favorite for offensive Rookie of the Year at +650 behind Caleb Williams (+135) and Jayden Daniels (+475). He is considered the favorite to lead the rookie class in receiving yards, but there is still value on the board at +185. Malik Nabers (+330), Keon Coleman (+800), Xavier Worthy (+800), Ladd McConkey (+900), and Rome Odunze (+1400) round out the other favorites.
When looking at this type of bet, it must be factored in the combination of talent, opportunity, and quarterback play.
Malik Nabers was drafted just behind Harrison Jr. with the 6th overall pick but will need to overcome the inconsistencies of relying on Daniel Jones. Rome Odunze went off the board with the 9th overall pick and will be paired with number one overall pick Caleb Williams. However, he will have to compete with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen for targets within the Bears offense.
Both Keon Coleman and Xavier Worthy have excellent quarterbacks in Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes but will face a win-now pressure that these other names will not.
Marvin Harrison Jr. sits in a perfect mix of opportunity and talent. Expect Kyler Murray to rely on him often and for Harrison Jr. to begin a quick ascension into the conversation for one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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