Cardinals should offer Klint Kubiak a 5-year $75M contract
By Walter Mitchell
If the Arizona Cardinals want to tip the balance of power in the NFC West, then they should offer rising superstar offensive play-caller Klint Kubiak a 5-year $75M contract.
That kind of a contract offer would put the Seattle Seahawks in some kind of pickle. If they were to match the Cardinals' offer, then suddenly Klint Kubiak would be making $5.5M more a year than head coach Mike Macdonald who is making $9.5M a year.
To be fair to Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks would likely have to increase his salary to $17 - $19M a year. That would mean that after two superb seasons as an NFL head coach, Macdonald would be making what the elite head coaches like Andy Reid, Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton are making.
Would those figures be too much too soon?
Maybe. But, maybe not, given the fact that Macdonald has turned the NFC West on its ear in about as quickly as a New York minute.
The timing of the Cardinals offering Klint Kubiak $15M a year to be head coach is potentially precious.
While the Raiders have the #1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, what Klint Kubiak needs to consider is whether 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, QB Fernando Mendoza of the National Champion Indiana Hoosiers is his preferred QB in comparison to the QBs who are on schedule to enter the 2027 NFL Draft. Most specifically, of course, with regard to QB Arch Manning of Texas.
If Klint Kubiak ever had designs for coaching Arch Manning --- especially given the ties that the Kubiaks have to the Mannings --- yes, your Arizona Cardinals could be his best chance.
Therefore, a critical component of Klint Kubiak's assessment of choosing between the Raiders and Cardinals might be just how enamored is he with Fernando Mendoza?
Another component for Klint Kubiak might be be geographical. Where would he prefer to live? Seattle? Las Vegas? Or Arizona?
This is where the Arizona Cardinals could have a distinct advantage.
Klint Kubiak is a native Texan. His father Gary and mother Rhonda live on an elaborate ranch in Plantersville Texas.
Not only could Klint Kubiak quite naturally prefer a Southwestern climate, in Arizona he would be closest to the family ranch, which is 2.234 miles from Seattle.
If Klint Kubiak is an avid golfer, that could also be a factor. Access to fabulous golf courses and the opportunity to be able to enjoy a year-round swimming pool might be highly appealing in terms of his lifestyle.
Maybe, just maybe, Klint Kubiak would be eager to live like this:
Appreciate your positive take, Walter. I’m sure Bidwill knows what it will likely take to land Kubiak and what they’re risking by holding off on LaFleur for now.
ReplyDeleteIf Kubiak declines and LaFleur withdraws (I’d almost expect that news today), the options for us start looking pretty grim.
Once again Walt, you make some excellent points. 2026 was a HC vacancy anomaly. After 19 seasons with the Steelers, Mike Tomlin gets fired and after 18 seasons with the Ravens, John Harbaugh gets canned. If I am correct, ten NFL teams sought new head coaches during the 2026 offseason and for the seemingly undesirable AZ Cardinals, the last thing they need is more competition shopping for a HC. For me its Kubiak or bust in 2026. I would rather this team promote an interim HC from within betting that there will be less HC shopping completion in 2027 with another top 3 pick (possibly the #1 overall) with a much better QB selection then hire out of desperation in 2026.
ReplyDeleteI bet he takes the Raiders job. With Brissett as QB for AZ in 26, this team could win 5 games this upcoming season screwing themselves out of getting Manning. The only way Arch would get here next spring is if Bidwill gave Peyton M. a “Tom Brady deal” and give up a sliver of ownership and make him Prez of Football.
ReplyDeleteIt just feels like nobody wishes to have Cardinals HC position. Imagine the meeting between MO/MB and LaFleur, MB, I'll give you 1M yr for 3yr (you pay for your own food from our Concession stand)....Imagine Kubiak asking for 5yr 75M deal, MB, I'll give you 5Y 7.5M deal and a Tricycle to get through the halls of State Farm stadium...I have zero faith in the MOMB squad!
ReplyDeleteRaiders HC job is highly appealing due to substantial financial flexibility (over $110 million in cap space, no state income tax), the #1 overall pick and top pick per round in the Draft, a strong young talent core, top-tier facilities (Allegiant Stadium), the influential presence of minority owner Tom Brady, and the high market value of the franchise's tickets yielding ongoing profits and income.
ReplyDeleteAZ Cards have nothing close to this except maybe a good core of young talent-who knows given their poor coaching. Both jobs are with last place division teams in competitive divisions, both divisions have outstanding coaching staffs.
Cardinals fans definitely needed a glass is half full optimism today Walter. What a shot in the arm this would be for the entire franchise. Im gonna go light a candle to St Jude.
ReplyDeleteHey Jude, don't be afraid; take a sad sone and make it better...
Delete* song
DeleteAppreciate the Beatles reference for the younger Red Rain fans. Im going to counter with if Walter was a Beatles song...Paperback writer would be his entrance music.
DeleteWalt, why exactly do you want Kubiak, is he not sabotaging his own team by doing interviews during playoffs and Super Bowl week? Isn't that the kind of bad karma you wanted to avoid with Gannon? If it is different, can you explain? You yourself stated to me, you cannot spare even 3 hours during SB week. Yet he is not going to do just one interview but two.
ReplyDeleteWell at least now that Saleh is with Titans and Kubiak will be going to the Raiders we won’t have that bad karma on us. Let’s see how those two organizations hiring bad actors by Walt’s standard pans out for them. Karma should be a female dog for them.
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