Arizona Cardinals have done impressive job this offseason

The Arizona Cardinals are building a winner in the desert.

After a few brutal campaigns, it appears the Cardinals are bouncing back. As a result, they could be on their way to contention in the NFL’s toughest division, the NFC West.

Finishing up 5-10-1 in 2019 wasn’t headline-worthy, but some of the factors within the season were. The Cardinals seemed to find a genuinely quality pairing in rookie quarterback Kyler Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury. In the case of Murray, he won Offensive Rookie of the Year, showcasing his skills for years to come. Then there’s Kenyan Drake, who played like an elite back after being acquired from the Miami Dolphins in October.

Defensively, Arizona needs significant upgrades in most areas. Although, edge rusher Chandler Jones and cornerback Patrick Peterson continued to thrive last year.

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In the past two weeks, the Cardinals added significant talent on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, general manager Steve Keim pulled one of the great heists in recent memory. The Cardinals sent expensive, broken-down running back David Johnson, a second-round pick and a fourth-round choice to the Houston Texans for three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Somehow, the Cards also received a fourth-round selection in the deal as well.

Defensively, Arizona added defensive tackle Jordan Phillips on a three-year deal, prying him away in free agency from the Buffalo Bills. Phillips had a breakout campaign in 2019, notching 9.5 sacks, the most for any AFC interior defensive lineman.

Read: Dolphins Set Up For Massive Haul in 2020 NFL Draft

Now, the NFL Draft looms. In less than four weeks, the Cardinals will be on the clock with the ninth-overall pick, trying to find another piece. Looking at most draft boards and the Arizona roster, one can expect an offensive tackle to be in heavy consideration. The Cardinals may have their pick of Andrew Thomas, Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton, all thought to be top-10 picks in most NFL circles.

If the Cardinals can keep Murray upright, they’ll have an explosive offense. Kingsbury should be thrilled with his embarrassment of riches, ranging from Murray, Drake and Hopkins to future first-ballot Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald and third-year receiver Christian Kirk.

Arizona still has ample work ahead to catch the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. Meanwhile, passing the Los Angeles Rams and contending for a playoff spot is realistic.

That’s a long, long way to come since last year, when the Arizona Cardinals were picking first and had Josh Rosen as a franchise quarterback.