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Cardinals will 'build around the foundation we have' amid Murray rumors

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With Kyler Murray officially committing to professional football on Monday, rumors are circulating that the Arizona Cardinals will target the quarterback in April's draft, especially after new head coach Kliff Kingsbury said last year that he'd select Murray No. 1 overall if given the opportunity.

Cardinals president Michael Bidwill addressed the rumors on Tuesday, saying the team did not reach out to current starting quarterback Josh Rosen - who was selected 10th overall last year - regarding the Murray speculation.

"Josh is a smart guy, he's been around and he’s seen what happens year in and year out," Bidwill said, according to team writer Darren Urban. "There's always a lot of speculation that turns out to not be true. But moving forward, we're going to continue to build this team and build around the foundation that we have."

For now, Rosen is expected to be Arizona's long-term quarterback despite a rocky rookie campaign. Bidwill said one of the main questions during the team's recent coaching search - which ultimately landed Kingsbury - was asking candidates to outline their plan for Rosen to take a second-year leap.

Bidwill also outlined the traits he's looking for in a top draft selection.

"They've got to be an incredible athlete on the field," he said. "You want somebody, especially with the number one pick, that you can look at and say, 'This person is going to be here for eight-to-ten years and be an anchor at their position and be a real leader in our organization.'

"It's where the heart is and where the head is. Are they playing the game for money, or are they playing the game because they love the game. That's the kind of person you want with your first-round pick."

Arizona currently holds the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft.

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