Stock Exchange: Which Cardinals Are Up, Down After Week 4?
There have been a ton of positives to focus on for the new Arizona Cardinals under Jonathan Gannon in spite of a 1-3 record after one month of football.
There are plenty of players who have seen their stocks rise this season and they're worth having a conversation about.
Unfortunately, some are still adjusting and/or struggling this season. Naturally, their stocks are down or neutral.
That's exactly what we're here to discuss today. With a month's worth of football to look at, there's more than enough for us to discuss.
Here's the guys whose stock is trending up, down, and staying neutral after four games.
Stock Up
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Dobbs
Dobbs has been one of the biggest surprises across the entire league in the best way possible and it feels like with each passing week he gets better and more comfortable with the Cardinals.
Against the 49ers, Dobbs completed just shy of 70% of his throws for 265 yards and two touchdown passes. Dobbs also tallied 48 yards on the ground on 12 carries. It was a stellar performance against a ferocious defense.
So long as Dobbs continues to play the way, the Cardinals will continue to find themselves competing in every outing.
Michael Wilson
Publisher Donnie Druin boldly claimed before the season that Wilson would end the year as the Cardinals' number-one receiver. Through the first month of the season, he appears to be trending that way.
Wilson has been everything the Cardinals could ask for and has had back-to-back great performances after a two-touchdown effort vs. the 49ers. Wilson is looking like a star in the making.
Dennis Gardeck
Gardeck recorded the Cardinals' lone sack against the 49ers and brings his total to four on the season. Those four sacks are good for the team lead and it's time for people to recognize Gardeck's play.
In a new defense under Jonathan Gannon, there have been few players who have adapted as quickly as Gardeck has. The stock is trending way up and Gardeck may be sniffing Pro Bowl potential.
The Offensive Line
Paris Johnson Jr. has played as advertised, but the offensive line as a whole has played very sound football. The unit communicates with each other and feeds off their respective strengths. It has turned into a formidable front.
Against one of the best pass rushes in football, the Cardinals' offensive line allowed just one sack and have surrendered just three sacks since week one. It's a unit that as a whole is being greatly slept on.
Stock Down
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Marco Wilson
Wilson was looked upon to be the Cardinals' number-one corner entering the season. While he carries that moniker on the depth chart, his play has yet to reflect such a claim.
The Cardinals' defense has shown signs of major growth, but Wilson is one of the weaker links who gets picked on throughout games. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had just one incompletion on 21 attempts and although there was a lot of underneath passing, there were several deep throws where coverage was spotty at best and Wilson wasn't too far behind.
I'm not ready to give up on Wilson yet, but he is trending downward.
Stock Neutral
Kei'Trel Clark
Clark is still learning the game so it isn't fair to put the rookie on the stock-down list, however, he does have a lot to work on.
There have been flashes of confidence and potential from Clark that leaves us believing in him. His performance vs. the Niners wasn't one that would instill confidence, but there's hope that he can build off of it and get better.
