Mike LaFleur's Best Chance to Succeed with Cardinals?

By Walter Mitchell

In my opinion, Mike LaFleur's optimum chance to succeed with the Cardinals is by finding the best veteran QB who fits his "supreme toughness and back of pocket ability to throw dimes to all areas of the field" to run his highly sophisticated offense. 

A few weeks ago, I heard that the Cardinals liked Jaguars' DC Anthony Campanile a great deal. However, they were not fully on board with his choice for OC, Shane Waldron. 

Before anyone immediately agrees that Shane Waldron would not have been a good choice for OC, it's important to understand the following:

1. Shane Waldron is a Sean McVay offensive protégée who served as McVay's passing game coordinator from 2018-2020, succeeding Matt LaFleur in that role. In 2019, he was also named the Rams' QB coach, succeeding Zac Taylor. 

2. In 2021, Waldron was hired as the Seahawks' OC, succeeding Brian Schottenheimer. 

Seattle Seahawks (2021–2023)

• Overall Record: 25–26
• Playoff Record: 0–1
• Highlights: Waldron helped quarterback Geno Smith win NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2022 and guided an offense that consistently ranked in the top 10 for big plays and completion percentages.

3. In 2024, Waldron was hired as the Bears' OC.

Chicago Bears (2024)

• Overall Record: 4–5
• Highlights: Hired in 2024 to work with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, Waldron was dismissed by head coach Matt Eberflus after nine games due to offensive inconsistencies, ultimately ranking near the bottom of the league in total offense at the time of his firing.
• Note: The word from the Bears' players was that Shane Waldron's offense was too difficult to absorb so quickly, especially for rookie QB Caleb Williams. 

4. In 2025, Liam Coen, also a Sean McVay protégé, hired Shane Waldron to be his passing game coordinator with the Jaguars. When Waldron was the passing game coordinator with the Rams, Coen was the assistant WR and QB coach.

* Note: Jaguars' rookie OC Grant Udinski, with Shane Wadlron as passing game coordinator and Spencer Whipple as QB coach, did a highly commendable job of helping Trevor Lawrence have his best season in several years. 

2024 Trevor Lawrence 2-8 - 60.6%. 2,045 yards, 11 TDs, 7 ints., 85.2 RTG

2025 Trevor Lawrence 13-4 - 60.9%.4,007 yards, 29 TDs, 12 ints., 91.0 RTG

Shane Waldron's record in NFL as a play calling OC: 29-31

Thus far, Mike LaFleur's record as a play-calling OC: 11-23.

Shane Waldron's work with Geno Smith:

2021 1-2, 68.4%, 702 yards, 5 TD, 1 int. 103.0 RTG

2022 9-8, 69.8%, 4,282 yards, 30 TDs, 11 ints.,100.9 RTG - CPOY, Pro Bowl

2023 8-7, 64.7%, 3.624 yards, 20 TDs, 9 ints., 93.2 RTG - Pro Bowl

Conclusion --- Shane Waldron's best work has been with veteran QBs.

The same could very well pertain to Mike LaFleur.

QB records on Mike LaFleur's teams:

Veteran QBs:

Matthew Stafford: 31-17 

Jimmy Garoppolo: 22-18

Total: 53-35 (59%)

Younger QBs:

Nick Mullins: 5-11

C.J. Beathard: 2-10 (SF 3rd round pick, 2017)

Zack Wilson: 8-14 (NYJ 1st round pick, 2021)

Total: 15-35 (30%)

Potential Veteran QB Options with the Cardinals in 2027

* Jacoby Brissett

* Baker Mayfield

* Mac Jones

* Kirk Cousins

* Davis Mills

* Tanner McKee

* Jarret Stidham

* Will Levis

Why Carson Beck could be a good fit at some point in his NFL development:

* Experience in NFL-type ball control offenses.

* Work ethic and competitive drive

* Toughness in the pocket

Questions:

* Arm strength (can he get it back to his Georgia days?)

* Reads over the middle on Level 2 and 3 passes?

* QB1 in NFL?

How long would it likely take for Mike LaFleur to develop a rookie QB?

Most likely 3 years, because of how multi-dimensional and nuanced his offense is.

When LaFleur's next young QB struggles, fairly, or not, comparisons will be drawn to LaFleur's struggles with Zack Wilson. Much like Shane Waldron, fairly, or not, was given the blame for not getting Caleb Williams off to a better start. 

Mike LaFleur gushes about QBs who have lengthy experience in the NFL. He coached some dandies.

Curiously, as recently reported by Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic, during OTAs, Mike LaFleur chose not to give Carson Beck any significant reps with the 1st or 2nd teams. Gardner Minshew got the vast majority of the 1st team reps, while Kedon Slovis got the vast majority of the 2nd team reps. 

What's bizarre about this decision is that Gardner Minshew is not an ideal physical fit in LaFleur's offense and has been injury prone, ending up on the IR the last two seasons --- and neither is Kedon Slovis --- while the two QBs on the roster who are the stronger physical fits in Jacoby Brissett (contract holdout) and Carson Beck (#65 pick in 2026 NFL Draft) got no significant reps during OTAs. 

It just makes one wonder where Mike LaFleur's head is. 

The decision to put Carson Beck on the back burner, given the QBs LaFleur had playing above him, makes absolutely no sense.

Can the Cardinals' Front Office and Fans Afford to Be Patient Through the Process of Developing of a Young QB?

It's hard to imagine. 

Not with the Cardinals having the worst record in the NFL over the past 4 years, tied with the Tennessee Titans at 19-49. 

Not while season tickets sales and fan confidence continue to plummet.

Not when the owner claimed, "I want to win."

Best Chances for Mike LaFleur to Succeed?

1. Find the veteran QB asap who is the correct super-tough, back of the pocket passer to maximize the strengths of the offense, as Sean McVay did with Matthew Stafford. Meanwhile give Carson Beck all of the 2nd team reps with occasional 1st team reps.

2. Do whatever it takes to employ the correct DC, defensive coaching staff and aggressive, fast, defensive personnel to perform a one-eighty away from their current "caution and cushion" embarrassment of a defense. 

3. Put the special back into special teams.