The Arizona Cardinals are setting up a miserable 2023-24 NFL season for their fanbase, but perhaps a rebuilding year is what is best for the entire organization. After staying stuck in mediocrity for the better part of head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s tenure, it all fell apart for Arizona last season. The Cardinals finished with a dismal 4-13 year, losing franchise quarterback Kyler Murray to a season-ending injury in the process. As the team moves on from Kingsbury and ushers in the Jonathan Gannon era, it is fair to expect them to be among the league’s worst next season. These 3 Cardinals betting predictions fit the narrative that it will be a long year in the desert.
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Cardinals Futures & Betting Predictions For 2023 NFL Season
1. DeAndre Hopkins Will Be Cut or Traded
Star receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been on the trading block for the offseason, but no deal seems close to being finalized. For starters, the $19 Million price tag on Hopkins makes it difficult for suitors to make the financial commitment and there is no reason for the Cardinals to rush to make a move. If the Cardinals wait until June 1, the salary will be split between the 2023 & 24 season. There is also no money guaranteed, meaning they can rid themselves of the Hopkins contract if they opt to release the receiver before Week 1. Arizona is risking that money becoming guaranteed if Hopkins were to suffer a preseason injury, but they will likely make a decision before he ramps up his workload. There is no denying Hopkins remains a valuable weapon when on the field, but given the Cardinals’ rebuild, there is really no reason for him to be on the roster and eating cap space next season.
2. Revolving Door Under Center
With Kyler Murray still recovering from a torn ACL, the Cardinals are expected to begin the season with journeyman gunslinger Colt McCoy under center. The former Texas Longhorns star has been a viable backup QB throughout his career but has struggled with injury whenever he is asked to play for an extended period of time. We all when McCoy famously came out of the 2009 BCS Championship Game with a shoulder injury, and those injury issues have followed throughout his NFL career. McCoy missed time with concussions last year and has suffered from injuries in three of the past four NFL seasons.
It will be a tough ask for the Cardinals to get 17 games out of McCoy at this stage of his career. And with the team likely remaining in the cellar of the NFC West, there will be no reason to rush back Murray. The Cardinals quarterback room also consists of Clayton Tune and David Blough, both of whom may very well see game action during the season.
3. Wins Are Going to Be hard to come By
Add up all the obstacles the Cardinals are facing and the 2023-24 Cardinals season is shaping up to be a bust. But the front office has braced for this scenario and has the expectation of this being a bridge year, hoping that brighter days are going to come when Murray comes back for a full season under center. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Cardinals (+200) are the betting favorites to finish the season with the fewest wins in the NFL. Their over/under win total is currently set at 4.5 (with the over juiced to -130).
Expect the Cardinals to come in underneath their already-low expectations next season, making the fewest wins future and the under 4.5 wins (+110 at DraftKings) solid bets to lock in before the start of the season.
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