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Why did the Cardinals sign James Conner? Demand for the team’s backyard, change of scenery fueled a year back for RB



The Cardinals have drawn a lot of attention for the players they brought in during the 2021 NFL free agency period. They’ve won one of the biggest accolades in JJ Watt, and they’ve added AJ Green and Rodney Hudson (via commercial) to reinforce their offensive behavior.

A signing they made later in the season flew under the radar. They added James Conner in mid-April, shortly after the initial wave of free agency. He was expected to be a key addition to their comeback, but he exceeded expectations.

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Conner is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career. He has been a major weapon for the Cardinals, supporting both their high-octane cross-over attack and their viable dash attack. The team has three quality behind-the-scenes weapons this year at Conner, running back to Chase Edmonds and full-back Kyler Murray.

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Why did the Cardinals sign James Conner

The Cardinals brought Conner to visit because the 6-1,233-pound run back matched what they were looking for in their offense. The Republic of Arizona There are details:

The Cardinals told Conner they liked his style of play and his athletic, downhill approach was exactly what they needed to help compliment the smaller, more skilful Chase Edmonds.

Arizona wanted Conner to be their gymnast, downhill athlete. All Conner had to do was fall in love with the Cardinals.

And he did.

Why James Conner Signed with Cardinals

Conner says he joined the Cardinals for one reason: He believes the team is “on the upswing.”

“I just feel in the right place at the right time,” Conner said mid-April after signing. “[The] Here comes the opportunity and just contributes to something that I believe is on the rise. “

Conner also admitted that he wanted to “change the landscape” after spending so much time in Pennsylvania. He grew up in the state and attended college in Pitt. He was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

In total, Conner played for eight years in Steel City. He thinks moving on to a new challenge will help him stay young again.

“I feel completely new,” Conner said. “I have to get out of here [to Arizona]. That’s my vibe, you know I love the sun and just be out here. “

Another key factor for Conner? He felt that the Cardinals had a plan for him.

“I feel accepted,” he said. “I feel like they trust me, just like I trust them.”

That belief doesn’t seem to come from the Steelers. Conner has scored solid numbers in 2020 – 721 yards, six touchdowns, 4.3 yards per take – but his inconsistency has led Pittsburgh to leave him and invest a first draft pick on Najee Harris.

The fact that James Saxon is the team’s running back coach probably doesn’t affect Arizona. Saxon coached Conner with the Steelers in 2017 and 2018, followed by Conner’s only Pro Bowl season. He hit 1,470 script yards (973 dashes) and a total of 13 TDs that year. Maybe Conner thought reuniting with Saxon could make him explode.

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James Conner contract

The Cardinals were able to get Conner for cheap. They signed him to a one-year, $1.75 million contract on April 13 after he stayed in the free agency market for almost a month.

Conner did better than his contract; Spotrac.com his estimated market value at two years and $4.1 million. He’ll be a free agent after this season, so he’ll have a chance to cash in on his strong year.

Will James Conner re-sign with Cardinals?

Conner hopes to re-sign with the Cardinals. He talked about his desire to stay in the desert in a recent interview with Republic of Arizona.

“Gosh, I want to win a Super Bowl here,” Conner said. “I love the weather and everything the team is going on and my teammates here and the coaching staff. I don’t understand why not, why I wouldn’t want to be here. We have it all. resources and everything we need to succeed.

“First, we’ll only take a week. love for the Cardinals, so we’ll see what happens.”

The feeling is almost certainly mutual given how important Conner was to Arizona’s red zone violation.

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James Conner’s stats 2021

Conner has emerged as the Cardinals boss back in 2021. He started the season in rotation with Chase Edmonds, but Conner has emerged as a mid-way ball carrier at the start of the season. . He averages 13.8 takes per game compared to Edmonds’ 8.4.

While Edmonds gets more work, he’s also missed most of his last four games dealing with a high ankle sprain. That gives Conner a lead for yards and a 14-1 lead in touchdowns.

Conner’s stats over 12 matches:

Statistical total
Carries 166
Quick plunge 630
Urgent TD twelfth
Number of cards per carry 3.8
Receptions 20
Get the yard 209
Get TDs 2
Beach every reception 10.5

Conner’s 14 touchdown totals were tied with the Bengals’ Joe Mixon to finish third in the NFL among non-midfielders. The duo trails only Jonathan Taylor (18) and Austin Ekeler (16) in that category.





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