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Even though they just acquired Zach Ertz, the Arizona Cardinals trade rumors 2021 continue to appear everywhere. Apparently, the loss to the depleted Green Bay Packers was a bit of a wake-up call for Kliff Kingsbury.
The Cardinals were a perfect 7-0 when they host Aaron Rodgers‘ Packers for Thursday Night Football. They were 6.5-point home favorites against a team that was missing their top-three receivers — including Davante Adams. Yet, they couldn’t get the job done.
Needless to say, fans and analysts overreacted and claimed that maybe the Cardinals aren’t as good as we thought they were.
And, while that could be a bit of an overstatement, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few areas of improvement, which is why some interesting players headline the Cardinals’ trade targets list.
AZ Cardinals trade rumors 2021: Top targets
Over the past couple of years, the Arizona Cardinals have proven that they won’t hesitate to be aggressive in the trade market. They trust Kyler Murray and have done an outstanding job of surrounding him with talented weapons such as DeAndre Hopkins, Zach Ertz, and A.J. Green.
This team has a win-now mentality and they know that they can’t afford another setback with the Los Angeles Rams breathing down their necks. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 3 Cardinals trade targets that could take this team to a whole new level.
3. Xavien Howard
It’s not a secret that the Miami Dolphins have been one of the biggest disappointments of the season, and some believe that last year’s success was nothing but a fluke.
Also, star cornerback Xavien Howard wants out and it doesn’t seem like they’re too desperate to keep him.
Howard is one of the best defenders in the league. He can thrive both in zone coverage and man-to-man defense. He has great hands and is disciplined, two of the things that the Cardinals’ secondary defense is lacking right now, so trading for him would make a lot of sense. The Dolphins may be desperate to move him even at a discount.
2. Marlon Mack
It’s been a while since the Arizona Cardinals had a true three-down running back out of the backfield. David Johnson‘s constant injuries and Kyler Murray‘s ability to make plays on the ground pretty much made them move on from a strong rushing attack, which could be a mistake come playoff time, especially if Murray gets hurt again.
Chase Edmonds and James Conner have been somewhat efficient in their duties as a running back committee but both lack the explosiveness and tackle-breaking skills Marlon Mack could bring to the table.
The Indianapolis Colts clearly favor Jonathan Taylor over him so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mack on the move.
1. Quinnen Williams
Looking good on the New York Jets is a nearly-impossible task.
Then again, Quinnen Williams looks like the real deal, which is why Joe Douglas could only consider moving him at a very steep price. But if this team is for real, he should be at the top of the Cardinals’ trade targets list. It’s a long shot, but it’s worth it.
Just a couple of years after being the 3rd-overall pick, Williams is still far from his ceiling.
Moreover, he may never fulfil his potential if he continues to play for the worst team in all of football. Quinnen Williams has the potential of being a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate in the right scenery, and with the ever-struggling Jets always looking to gather draft capital, he might as well be available as we approach the trade deadline.
