The Arizona Cardinals have reached the postseason a single time since selecting quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
It’s safe to assume the Cardinals’ ownership had much greater expectations for an offense commanded by a top selection. With Murray being 27 years old, the bright side is that Arizona’s front office still has some time to build a strong supporting cast around him on both sides of the ball.
As currently constructed, the two-time Pro Bowler will be throwing to a receiving room made up of wide receiver phenom Marvin Harrison Jr., tight end Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, and others. Bringing in one more established weapon could be of great benefit to Murray and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Cardinals Predicted To Sign NFL Legend Keenan Allen
Despite being well past his prime at 33 years old, Keenan Allen was still a productive player for the Chicago Bears in 2024. He recorded 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 appearances. It was, however, his lowest number of receiving yards in a campaign since 2016, which likely explains why he remains a free agent.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently named the Cardinals as the best fit for Allen.
“Allen isn’t as dynamic of a mover at this late stage of his career, but the 33-year-old showed with Chicago that he’s still a crafty route runner who can make himself available to the quarterback,” Bowen wrote. “In Arizona, Allen could carve out a role as a chain-moving option for Kyler Murray.”
The Cardinals are a potential landing spot for veteran free-agent WR Keenan Allen.
“In Arizona, Allen could carve out a role as a chain-moving option for Kyler Murray,” Matt Bowen wrote.
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The Cardinals’ offense slotted at an impressive No. 5 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last season, meaning Allen will not need to perform like his 2017 self to be impactful. Instead, he can simply act as an intermediate threat for Murray while mentoring Harrison.
“Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. are Murray’s top two targets, so Allen would compete with Zay Jones and Michael Wilson for reps. Despite a heel injury keeping him out of two games in 2024, Allen finished with at least 60 receptions for the eighth straight season,” Bowen concluded.
It’s worth noting that Arizona’s defense is the much more prominent cause for concern, and the team’s lack of success in the Murray era can mostly be chalked up to their struggles on that side of the ball. Last season, Arizona placed No. 27 in PFSN’s Defense+ metric.
The 2025 NFL Draft proved that their front office clearly understands this, as they spent their first five draft picks (and six of their seven selections) on defensive players, including DT Walter Nolen III at No. 16 overall and CB Will Johnson at No. 47 overall.
If Allen comes at a rather cheap signing cost, the Cardinals should absolutely look to unite him with Harrison and McBride. However, defensive upgrades must be at the top of Arizona’s priority list for the rest of the summer.