Three important decisions the Cardinals must make before the regular season

The Arizona Cardinals' rebuild continues after a 4-13 campaign with a full season of a healthy Kyler Murray at quarterback. While the signal-caller situation is answered, the Cardinals still have some other big decisions to make before the start of the regular season.

Here are three of the biggest.

1. Extend Budda Baker?

This might be the most pressing question and biggest decision that Arizona has to make in the short-term future. Baker is the Cardinals' best defensive player and one of the most impactful defensive backs in the NFL. He is also entering the final year of his contract and has wanted a new deal for some time now. It reached a point over a year ago that he actually requested a trade without one. Instead of giving him an extension, the Cardinals simply gave him a pay raise for the remainder of his contract.

The Cardinals front office has been quiet on what it is going to do with Baker, but losing him would be a pretty big blow to a rebuilding team that needs as many leaders and good players as it can get.

2. How much playing time does Trey Benson get?

The Cardinals do have a starting running back in James Conner, and he is coming off an outstanding season in 2023 that saw him rush for a career-high 1,040 yards. He is still a good player, but he is also 29-years-old and has a history of missing time with injuries.

That could open the door for rookie Trey Benson, one of the top running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft class, to take some playing time away from Conner. Running back is a young man's position, and Benson is a high enough draft pick and good enough talent that he could be a serious threat to Conner's carries.

3. Who is the No. 2 wide receiver?

The Cardinals' No. 1 wide receiver should be pretty much set in stone, and it is going to be No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. He has already wowed coaches and teammates in the early stages of training camp and offseason activities, and he has a chance to be a franchise-changing player. The Cardinals also have a rising star in tight end Trey McBride. The two of them will be Murray's go-to targets in the passing game.

But they cannot do it alone. The No. 2 spot is likely to come down to Michael Wilson and veteran free-agent signing Zay Jones. Jones caught just 34 passes in nine games for the Jaguars a year ago but is just one year removed from catching 82 balls. Wilson caught 38 passes as a rookie during the 2023 season.