Running back James Conner 'ecstatic, grateful, blessed' to be staying with Cardinals

Bob McManaman, Arizona Republic

March 15, 2022 at 7:13 PM·6 min read

Only one NFL running back – the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor (18) – rushed for more touchdowns last season than the Cardinals’ James Conner (15).

Now that Chase Edmonds has left as an unrestricted free agent to join the Dolphins, presumably propelling Conner into even more of a prominent role than he had in 2021, how many touchdowns can No. 6 account for in his second year in Arizona?

“The sky’s the limit,” Conner said Tuesday, a day after signing a three-year, $21 million contract extension. “I’m just looking to make plays, whether that be running or receiving and having a year in this offense now … any way I can get that ball in the end zone and help us win games.

Jan 9, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) celebrates after scoring against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic

“You’ve got to be athletic to do that. I’m just going to sharpen all my skills. I know what (head coach) Kliff (Kingsbury) expects. I know what James Saxon, my running backs coach, expects. I’m just looking to bring my best self.”

What will be intriguing is if the Cardinals decide to bring in another running back to compliment Conner the way Edmonds did.

Conner led the team with 752 rushing yards on 202 carries. He also had 37 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns. Edmonds, limited to 11 full games due to injuries, finished second with 592 rushing yards on 116 carries – a 5.1 average – and three touchdowns. He caught 43 passes for 311 yards.

He provided more of a slash and dash element to Kingsbury’s offense as opposed to the physical, pounding running style of Conner. Kingsbury had previously said he hopes the Cardinals could bring back both players, but is there a need for a new, No.2 running back behind Conner?

Conner isn’t so sure, pointing to the two other primary running backs already under contract in third-year pros Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward. Benjamin, the former standout from Arizona State, only had 34 carries last season for 118 yards and a touchdown. Ward only had nine carries for 33 yards.

Arizona could look for another young running back in next month’s draft to pair with Conner or offer as a change-of-pace rusher. Conner’s not so sure that’s necessary.

“Man, Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward, those guys are playmakers,” he said. “I’m a team-first guy, so whatever the team wants to do as far as bringing another back in, if they feel we have a better opportunity of winning that way, then we’re going to welcome it.

“But as far as right now and what we got with Chase leaving, those two young guys right there have huge, bright futures. They’re tremendously gifted and talented football players, but also good people as well.”

Conner, who turns 27 in May, was asked how he can help Benjamin and Ward find their footing to get them ready for potential larger roles, should that be the case.

“Just continue to play my role, be that veteran in this RB group and lead by example, come to work every day,” he said. “I’ll drop the gems on those guys when I can. I’ll look to help them wherever it’s needed, but my main thing is just lead by example.”

As for what it’s like to assume the fulltime No.1 role in the backfield with quarterback Kyler Murray, Conner took it in stride.

“My mindset coming in is just working harder,” he said. “I’m going to work even harder than I did last year to be the best athlete I can be and score touchdowns and just help this team win ball games. That’s the main focus – just to work hard, be in shape and just give my all.”

Like tight end Zach Ertz, who also returns to the Cardinals on a three-year deal, Conner said he and his agent didn’t really feel the need to test the free-agent market. He realized midway through last season that Arizona was where he wanted to stay and the quicker a deal got done, the better.

“We had ideas where the market could be, ranges and whatnot, but I’m satisfied, I’m happy, I’m ecstatic, I’m grateful, I’m blessed, all of that with this deal that I have in Arizona and the contract I just signed,” he said. “I’m not worried about the market no more, I’m just focused all in on Arizona and I’m happy to call this place home.”

Though there have been some offseason distractions surrounding Murray’s demand for a contract extension, Conner said Murray has the locker room’s full support and he doesn’t anticipate any issues moving forward.

“Kyler’s a phenomenal person, man. Everybody knows how talented he is,” Conner said. “He’s going to be just fine. I know everything is going to work out. I was talking with him after I got my deal and even before. K1 will be just fine. He’s our QB. We love him, we embrace him, all that, and he knows that. I know he’s back there working (in Texas) and champing at the bit to get back to State Farm (Stadium) and just play his best football. I’m confident in him.”

Notes: Hopkins restructures contract

The Cardinals have cleared $7.1 million in salary cap space by getting star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to convert an upcoming $10.65 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

The restructuring will allow the Cardinals to spread out Hopkins’ cap hit equally over the remaining three years of his contract as opposed to having all the money hit the salary cap this year.

Dec 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) reacts to a penalty against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic

The move lowers Hopkins’ cap hit to $18 million. He becomes the third known Arizona player this offseason to rework his contract to help free up more space for the Cardinals to restock their roster, following restructures agreed to by outside linebacker Devon Kennard and left guard Justin Pugh.

Hopkins missed seven games this past season due to a hamstring and knee injury but caught 42 passes for 572 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns.

• The Cardinals will receive three compensatory picks in this year’s draft after losing five specific players to free agency a year ago. In return for letting Haason Reddick, Kenyan Drake, Dan Arnold, Patrick Peterson and Angelo Blackson depart, Arizona will gain a sixth-round pick (No.215 overall) and two more in the seventh round (Nos. 256 and 257), per the NFL.

• Former Cardinals insider linebacker Jordan Hicks, who was released by the team last week with a year left on his contract, has agreed to terms with the Vikings on a two-year deal, according to multiple reports. Hicks finished second on the team with 116 tackles last season.

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: RB James Conner 'ecstatic, grateful, blessed' to be staying with Cards

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Notes: Hopkins restructures contract

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