Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill has high praise for Monty Ossenfort, just over a year after Ossenfort first took over as the NFL team's general manager.
“Monty is from New England, where he was Bill Belichick's right-hand man for many years,” Bidwill said. Bickley & Marotta. “(Patriots owner) Robert Kraft said to me, 'If you were going to hire a general manager, Monty would be number one on the list.' So I think we've got something great. I know, and if you look at last year, he had great success in free agency, in the draft, and some of the moves he made throughout the season.
“And if you look at last year, we had great success in free agency, we had great success in the draft, and then some moves that he made throughout the season. And we're just a few weeks away from free agency. I’m very excited about his plans for what will become.”
Since being hired in January 2023, Ossenfort has overhauled the Cardinals' roster, moving on from several players left over from the Steve Keim era. The most notable of these moves was in August when the Cardinals traded 2020 No. 8 pick Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants.
Ossenfort's first NFL Draft as a general manager was highly rated both after the draft and after the season. NFL.com rated Arizona's draft class fifth out of 32 teams in May and 10th after the season.
The Cardinals made one of the biggest moves on draft night, trading the No. 3 pick and the No. 105 pick to the Texans for the No. 12 pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2024 third-rounder. Obtained the right to be named.
Arizona then moved back to No. 6 and traded the No. 12 pick and two second-rounders to the Detroit Lions. The Cardinals were also able to acquire a fifth-round pick. Tackle Paris Johnson Jr., the No. 6 draft pick out of Arizona, started all 17 games at right tackle and put together a solid rookie season.
“What he did last year proved he's a true professional,” Bidwill said. “He handled that absolutely brilliantly, as if he were a 10-year veteran general manager.”
Bidwill was stunned by the moves Ossenfort made on draft night.
“The amount of plates we spun while we were holding the watch was amazing. I had never seen anything like that in my life and never in my life. I’ve seen a lot of deals fail.”
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill evaluates Jonathan Gannon after being ranked No. 1 this year
Despite the Cardinals going 4-13 in head coach Jonathan Gannon's first season, the team's effort improved even further starting in the 2022 season under Kliff Kingsbury.
Three of the Cardinals' four wins came against the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers, all of whom made the playoffs. Arizona was 3-5 down the stretch after Kyler Murray returned from a torn ACL.
Bidwill praised Gannon's ability to be a leader in his first year on the job.
“I think he was already considered one of the better defensive coaches in the National Football League,” Bidwill said. “What he's done in terms of stepping up to be a head coach, I mean, what's important there is leadership. When you look at the way this team is playing… they all believe in him. 53 people. Everyone believes in Coach Gannon's story and plan.
“They agreed. His staff agreed. He went with a younger staff.” That was a question mark a year ago. … They’ve done a really great job and we all agree that JG has led us and I’m very impressed with him as well. ”
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