Kurt Warner proved last season that he still has a lot left in the gas tank.  Warner still has a lightning quick release and he has uncanny touch on passes despite not having a rifle.  But Warner’s greatest asset is that he’s a leader on the field and you could see that in the Super Bowl last season when he almost brought the Cardinals all the way back against the Steelers.  Look for Warner to have another outstanding season for the Cardinals in 2009.  Lefty Matt Leinart might still be the QB of the future for the Cardinals but he will be holding a clipboard until Warner slows down.  Leinart often looks a little puzzled on the field so here’s to hoping that Warner can teach him a few tricks before he retires.  Brian St. Pierre (a Ken Whisenhunt favorite) will battle lefty Tyler Palko for the #3 job in training camp.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  B+

31-year old Neil Rackers was not too accurate last season for the Cardinals and they need him to improve as they can’t afford to leave many points on the field this season.  Rackers played in all 16 games for the Cardinals last season and he connected on 21 of 30 (70%) field goals last season.  He also made 47 of 48 extra points last season for the Cards.  It’s beginning to look like Rackers’ big season in Arizona a couple of years ago was a fluke.  Rackers has now played in 118 games in his NFL career and he has made 164 of 217 field goals (75.6%).  He has also connected on 209 of 213 extra points (98.1%) in his career to date.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C-

The Arizona Cardinals have two young players with some upside and a veteran signed away from the Steelers.  It will be interesting to see how much production the Cardinals get out of this position.  24-year old Leonard Pope is a huge man at 6′8″, 258 pounds and he can cause mis-matches especially near the goal line. He played in 13 games for the Cardinals last season and he caught 23 passes for 238 yards (10.3 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  The Cardinals still expect more out of Pope and it will be interesting to see if he can improve or not.  Pope has now played in 29 games in his NFL career and he has caught 39 passes for 399 yards (10.2 avg) with 5 TD grabs.

23-year old Ben Patrick was a rookie last season and he didn’t get a lot of playing time.  Still, he showed some promise as a receiver and the Cardinals hope he can improve.  Patrick played in 8 games last season for the Cardinals and he caught 7 passes for 73 yards (10.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

32-year old Jerame Tuman was brought in from the Pittsburgh Pipeline and he’s a good run blocker.  Tuman played in 6 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 1 pass for 9 yards and it was a TD.  Look for Tuman to get a lot of playing time in 2008 for the Cardinals on running downs.  Tuman has now played in 120 games in his NFL career and he has caught 43 passes for 500 yards (11.6 avg) with 7 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C-

The Cardinals have a very potent WR corps and teams better watch out for these guys.  24-year old Larry Fitzgerald is a big guy at 6′3″, 226 pounds and he has a great set of hands.  Fitzgerald played in 15 games for the Cardinals last season and he caught 100 passes for 1,409 yards (14.1 avg) with 10 TD grabs.  Fitzgerald might even have a better season in 2008 if Anquan Boldin doesn’t give it his all this season due to a dispute over his contract.  Fitzgerald has now played in 60 games in his NFL career and he has caught 330 passes for 4,544 yards (13.8 avg) with 34 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 16 times for 55 yards (3.4 ypc) in his career.

27-year old Anquan Boldin is also a very physical receiver as he stands at 6′1″, 217 pounds and like Fitzgerald he has a good set of hands.  Boldin is fearless when going over the middle but it sometimes gets him injured.  Boldin played in 12 games for the Cardinals last season and he caught 71 passes for 853 yards (12.0 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  He also carried the football 1 time for 14 yards last year.  Look for Boldin to increase his numbers in 2008 as he will be playing with dollar signs going through his head.  Boldin has now played in 68 games in his NFL career and he has caught 413 passes for 5,458 yards (13.2 avg) with 29 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 24 times for 130 yards (5.4 ypc) in his career.

The Cardinals expect 2nd year receiver Steve Breaston to battle for the #3 WR job during training camp.  He played in all 16 games last season and he only caught 8 passes for 92 yards (11.5 avg).  He also carried the football 2 times for 8 yards (4.0 ypc) last year.  Breaston is a outstanding special teams player but he looks to be ready to help out on offense too.

27-year old Jerheme Urban stepped up last season and he should challenge Breaston for the #3 WR job in 2008.  Urban played in 10 games for the Cardinals last season and he caught 22 passes for 329 yards (15.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Urban will also have to hold off rookie Early Doucet if he wants to get a few grabs in 2008.  Urban has now played in 21 games in his NFL career and he has caught 35 passes for 597 yards (17.1 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

22-year old Early Doucet reminds a lot of people of Anquan Boldin and the Cardinals hope he can be that good.  Doucet played in 10 games (9 starts) for LSU last season and he caught 57 passes for 525 yards (9.2 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Doucet should have a good career with the Cardinals but he will have to earn his way up the depth chart starting in training camp.  Doucet played in 47 games (23 starts) at LSU and he caught 160 passes for 1,943 yards (12.1 avg) with 20 TD grabs.

32-year old Sean Morey is part of the ex-Steeler pipeline to Arizona.  He is a great special teams player who can help out a little bit on offense.  Morey played in 15 games with the Cardinals last season and he caught 8 passes for 131 yards (16.4 avg).  He also carried the football 1 time for 13 yards last season.  Morey will likely get most of his playing time on special teams unless the Cardinals suffer a few injuries at WR.  Morey has now played in 62 games in his NFL career and he has caught 11 passes for 168 yards (15.3 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A+

Veteran Terrelle Smith will likely be the starting fullback for the Cardinals in 2008 and his game is blocking.  Smith stands at 6′0″, 250 pounds and he lives to pound linebackers in the running game.  Smith played in 16 games (10 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he carried the ball 1 time for 3 yards.  He also caught 7 passes for 59 yards (8.4 avg) last season.  Don’t look for Smith to get the ball much in 2008 as he never does.  Smith has now played in 123 games (78 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 58 times for 185 yards (3.2 ypc).  He also has caught 65 passes for 330 yards (5.1 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.

Tim Castille was on the practice squad last season but the Cardinals like him a little bit.  He is a little smaller than Smith as he is 5′11″, 234 pounds but he might cut into Smith’s time a little bit in 2008.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C