Five Takeaways From Jonathan Gannon At The NFL Spring Meeting

ORLANDO, Fla. – The NFC coaches had their media roundtable/breakfast on Tuesday morning, and Jonathan Gannon spoke for about 30 minutes. The biggest news was his acknowledgment that the Cardinals would again take part in a joint practice in the preseason.

But there were a few other things to highlight as the league finishes up its business, changing rules like the hip-drop tackle and the kickoff, as teams head toward the final few weeks before the draft.

Kyler Murray as QB1 has been settled for a long while, although it isn’t surprisingly still a popular topic when Gannon is among national/non-Arizona media. The coach again talked about how much he loved Murray as a person, teammate, and competitor.

But now into 2024, it’s the offseason with Murray – one that Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing did not get last year when Murray was rehabbing – that sparks Gannon’s excitement. Murray has been at the facility often this offseason, continuing the long-term work on his knee. But when the football starts, that’s a chance at another jump.

“Being in the spring and going through spring, it’s really going to help his development within our system,” Gannon said. “I mean, we changed his stance (to take a snap) and he took to it. He understands the why behind it, and he likes it now. He’s going to bank all those reps in the spring. That’s why I say his best football is ahead of them, which is, is interesting to say, because he’s playing at such a high level. But I really think that he’s going to keep doing that.”

Linebacker Kyzir White and defensive lineman L.J. Collier are expected to be back when offseason work resumes “full tilt” after both suffered torn biceps, although Gannon said the Cardinals will be smart with both veterans on the field. (Defensive lineman Dante Stills is also healthy after a late-season injury.)

But bigger picture, Gannon knows getting White back on the field is crucial. The Cardinals were missing something after he was sidelined.

“The versatility that he brings, you know, obviously the motor and the violence, the coverage ability to run, obviously a complete player, super smart,” Gannon said. “I’m not gonna lie, that hurt us. As a starter that was playing real well, that was done for the year, but other guys stepped in and maximize their opportunities. I really like what some other guys did in there, and we’ll have…