Cardinals Cover 2

Ep. 865 - Offensive line. Defensive line. Cornerback. What about wide receiver? With the offseason moves he’s made already, GM Monti Ossenfort can go a number of different directions with the 16th overall pick. And as of now, he has six total picks to work with in the 2025 NFL Draft. So, what positions should be targeted with those selections? Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi have some suggestions,...

Ep. 864 - When you have a franchise quarterback, then you do everything in your power to surround him with talent; and not just on offense but on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals have their franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray, so build around him according to Cynthia Frelund and Marc Ross from the NFL Network. Frelund, an analytics expert, and Ross, a former front office executive, joined b...

Ep. 863 - It started with Josh Sweat. It continued with Dalvin Tomlinson. And let’s not forget about the return of Baron Browning. The Cardinals made the defensive front a priority this offseason. And for good reason, based on last season. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss the investment the team has made at both defensive line and outside linebacker. That dovetails into a conversation about...

Ep. 862 - Yes, Josh Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson are the two big-name free-agent additions. There was a third defensive player who received a multi-year contract from the Cardinals early in free agency and his name is Akeem Davis-Gaither, or ADG. He’s someone who took advantage of an opportunity late last season with the Cincinnati Bengals, and he hopes to do the same here in Arizona. Craig Grialou...

Ep. 861 - The regular season doesn’t start for another six months. That said, GM Monti Ossenfort is big on being able to go into the draft without having to select a position of need; go with the best player available regardless of where they play. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck - after a week off, Dani is back - discuss whether that’s what’s been accomplished after the first week of free agency. A...

Ep. 860 - Don’t let the big smile fool you, Bird Gang. Dalvin Tomlinson is here to be a “disruptive” force on the line of scrimmage as he told both Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi following his introductory press conference on Friday. At 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, the Cardinals new defensive lineman, yes, is a rather imposing figure. Tomlinson joined Craig and Paul in studio to talk about his “whirlw...

Ep. 859 - A mid-season addition a year ago, Baron Browning had a choice to make this offseason. And he chose to remain in Arizona. Why? He explained to both Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi when he joined the two in studio following his re-introductory press conference on Wednesday. Browning looks back at his eight games with the Cardinals in 2024; talks about the challenge of joining a new team in...

Ep. 858 - Teams can sign their own free agents at any time. And that’s exactly what the Cardinals have done with a handful of players. So, while Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman await the official word on the reported signing of pass rusher Josh Sweat, the guys discuss the return of offensive linemen Evan Brown and Kelvin Beachum, outside linebacker Baron Browning plus two key pieces on special tea...

Ep. 857 - Whether it’s defensive end, defensive tackle or edge rusher - all perceived needs, by the way - the Cardinals will be able to find a player who can make an impact right away in this year’s draft. At least that’s the feeling from Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus, their lead NFL Draft analyst, who joined both Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck from the Scouting Combine last week in Indianap...

Ep. 856 - Successful teams are good at the line of scrimmage. That’s no surprise. It’s also not a surprise that many believe the Cardinals will be active in trying to add to their offensive and defensive lines this offseason, and more specifically, during the 2025 NFL Draft. That was the focus of a couple of different conversations Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck had while at the Scouting Combine in...

Ep. 855 - In need of a defensive lineman? Or two? Want to upgrade the talent in the room? Add depth? Well, then you’re in luck because the 2025 NFL Draft is loaded with prospects who can help a team, and maybe even help right away. At least that’s the consensus from ESPN Draft Analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid, who joined both Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck from the Scouting Combine last week in...

Ep. 854 - Twice last season Charles Davis watched the Cardinals play from the network TV booth at State Farm Stadium. He was on the CBS call for a win against the Chicago Bears in Week 9 and a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14. What did he see, what did he like, what does he feel is needed for the Cardinals to take the next step in Year 3 of GM Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon?...

Ep. 853 - More than 300 draft prospects are in Indianapolis this week for the 2025 Scouting Combine. So how does one separate themself within their position group? This week can help, but it always comes back to the film. And what do teams look at when watching the tape? For Dane Brugler of The Athletic, it’s more about their traits than how productive they were; in other words, don’t focus solely...

Ep. 852 - A year ago, the Cardinals picked fourth in the NFL Draft. This year, it’s 16. The good news is that means the Cardinals had a better year than the season before. The bad news is they’ll miss out on some of the top-tier college prospects. Fret not, though, Bird Gang. The Cardinals are still in a good spot to select a quality player, especially if the choice is a defensive player, accordin...

Ep. 851 - Sounds familiar, right? Only one week on the job and the new Cardinals offensive line coach is already sounding like Jonathan Gannon. Why Justin Frye was hired became clear less than three minutes into his introductory press conference on Wednesday. Frye and Gannon share a common vision about the game of football. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss what they heard from Frye, his tho...

Ep. 850 - One month. We are one month away from the start of the free agency signing period. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman examine the names and look at the position groups that may see the most change. (Spoiler alert: The line of scrimmage and defensive front-seven feature the most players who potentially might hit the open market.) Also, the guys discuss some of the news and headlines that may...

Ep. 849 - It’s the one big takeaway from Super Bowl 59: games are won or lost at the line of scrimmage. And, really, that’s nothing new. All 32 teams - not just the Philadelphia Eagles - try to win the line of scrimmage. No, what the Eagles showed is why teams prioritize (or should) the offensive and defensive lines whether that’s in free agency or the draft. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck look at...

Ep. 848 - What can the Cardinals learn when looking at the two Super Bowl participants? Specifically, in terms of the rosters of both the Chiefs and Eagles? Maybe the biggest lesson is this: The best path to success, and really sustained success, is through the draft. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi share the numbers to back up what fans have repeatedly heard from NFL GMs, including Monti Ossenfort...

Ep. 847 - Without Budda and Trey who knows if the NFC would’ve been able to beat the AFC. Okay, maybe that’s overstating things a bit. Still, Budda and Trey each had a hand in not only Sunday’s game but also Thursday’s competitions. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman look back at what was a successful week in Orlando for the two Cardinals teammates. Also, the guys discuss the loss of offensive line c...

Ep. 846 - Everyone knows the big names. The stars. They are the ones who get all the attention. But to be a successful team, it takes more than a couple of all-pros or pro bowlers. So, with that in mind, Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss those Cardinals players, whether on offense or defense, who might’ve flown under the radar, but who certainly deserve to be praised based on their performance...

Ep. 845 - And with the 16th overall pick, the Arizona Cardinals select (fill in the blank). Well, we’ll know soon enough. Officially, in three months. Unofficially, let the speculation begin. In other words, time to mock draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, two of the prominent voices this time of year, released their first mock drafts. Craig Grialou and Darren Urban, who...

Ep. 844 - It’s something Jonathan Gannon says all the time. And based on what we saw during the divisional round of the playoffs, the head coach is right. The ball matters. Specifically, taking the ball away and protecting the ball. Turnover margin is important, and it’s a big reason for the success of the four teams - Commanders, Eagles, Bills, and Chiefs - remaining in the postseason. Craig Gria...

Ep. 843 - Let’s start with the most important question: How is everyone’s German? That’s right. German. There is a chance, based on an announcement from the league earlier on Wednesday, that the Cardinals play a regular season game in Berlin. Again, a chance. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi are both big fans of a potential trip to Germany. They discuss why the Cardinals would be an attractive optio...

Ep. 842 - It’s award season, and well, we didn’t want to feel left out. It’s time for the 2024 Cardinals Awards, as voted by our 13-person panel. Craig Grialou is joined by both Dani Sureck and Zach Gershman to break down the results. Some winners are more obvious than others; Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while not unanimous, did produce the most clear-cut choices...

Ep. 841 - It’s been three days since the regular season ended. So, yeah, the offseason has arrived. And after a brief conversation about Dani Sureck’s cryptic post on social media Wednesday afternoon (really, a tease to some exciting new content), she and Craig Grialou discuss, what else, their biggest takeaways from 2024. More specifically, however, what did they learn from 2024; be it about a pl...