Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Lloyd Trade Gives Cards 2nd Chance to Improve Offense

Today's breaking news about the Brandon Lloyd trade has consumed the NFL. While everyone is looking right, Arizona needs to break left.

What's left from the Lloyd trade? Mike Sims-Walker. 

Immediately following the announcement that the St. Louis Rams added Lloyd to their unimpressive group of wideouts, Sims-Walker tweeted his good-byes to the people of St. Louis.

https://twitter.com/#!/MikeSimsWalker/status/125715741692530688

I huffed and puffed as to why the Cardinals should acquire Lloyd, to no avail. Now, the Cardinals get a second chance to improve their struggling offense. 

There's no question that Sims-Walker has struggled this year in the Rams offensive system. He caught 11 passes for 139 yards and no touchdowns in five games this season. To make matters worse, the Rams deactivated him this past Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. 

Sims-Walker is not the only disappointing figure in St. Louis, however. The entire Rams offense has been ineffective this season.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford has tossed a measly three scores this year—only Kerry Collins has recorded fewer touchdowns, and he hasn't played since September 25 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Despite the slow start, Sims-Walker has proven he can be effective in the passing game. He has put up solid numbers in the past and can do it with the Cardinals.

The Rams, however, mistakenly brought Sims-Walker in to be Bradford's primary wideout. It didn't work. Sims-Walker is Goose, not Maverick.  

Arizona can learn from the Rams' miscasting of Sims-Walker and sign him for what he is: a strong compliment to a clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver like Larry Fitzgerald.

The wide receivers currently on Arizona's roster are underperforming. 

The Cardinals starting wide receiver Andre Roberts has caught 12 passes for 125 yards over the team's first five games. Unacceptable.

Early Doucet is third on the depth chart and has outplayed Roberts—but not to any significant degree. Doucet has 21 catches for 309 yards and a touchdown this season. Almost a third of Doucet's receiving yards came in one game against the Minnesota Vikings where he caught 8 passes for 92 yards. 

Kevin Kolb needs more than what Roberts and Doucet are giving each Sunday.

With the acquisition of Sims-Walker, the Cardinals can spark their anemic offense. If not, they will remain one dimensional behind running back Beanie Wells.