Arizona Cardinals new head coach Mike LaFleur arrived to change the offense. However, there were issues facing him right away. The offensive line was a sieve, key receivers hurt, both starting running backs spent a season on IR, and the QB room was in disarray.

Some folks like a challenge. LaFleur must have seen something because here he is.

RELATED: CARDINALS ADD QB IN NEW MOCK DRAFT

The league meetings have been going on all week in LaFleur’s backyard at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. On Tuesday, the meeting concluded.

The three-day event included numerous owners, GMs, and coaches. Topics included the impasse with the referee’s association, Olympic flag football, proposals on rules, and going to an 18-game schedule.

While LaFleur’s wife wasn’t busy tending to the needs of guests with trays of finger sandwiches, the fact that the majority of the NFL’s decision makers were in his new hometown was a big deal. And obviously, the subject of Kyler Murray came up. It is interesting to see that both Murray and former Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa both signed one-year deals for the veteran minimum.

The 18-game proposal was brought up and then tabled. The players’ association had requested that discussions be tabled so that they can “find their footing” on the subject.

As far as the referee situation is concerned, the league had a two-day symposium scheduled last week. The NFL Referees’ Association was in attendance for the Tuesday meeting, then cancelled the Wednesday event. The league had discussions of what they want to do going forward.

As far as the Cardinals go, during downtime, LaFleur opened up a bit about his team’s quarterback room to ESPN.

First off, LaFleur stated he likes the guys on the roster in the room and is satisfied with what he inherited:

“We like where we’re at right now.”

Currently, veteran Jacoby Brissett is the expected starter, but free agent signee Gardner Minshew will have every opportunity to become the starter based on training camp. LaFleur also mentioned backup Kedon Slovis.

“I think every room, if we can improve it, we’re going to try to improve it. That’s the quarterback room all the way down to the kicker room.”

When asked if the team will be drafting a young QB in this year’s NFL draft, he said:

“That’s what we owe to those guys and the organization and the fan base and everyone is to always improve that room. So, if we feel like there’s a guy to improve it, we’re going to keep doing it. We like where we’re at right now. If there’s a guy to add, we’re going to add.”

Everybody knows that coaches and GMs are not going to give away any pertinent information before an event such as the draft, so the Hollywood talk LaFleur gave is nothing new and nothing to discuss. LaFleur did discuss Alabama QB Ty Simpson, but of course was non-committal when asked and said he “was a good dude.” The Cardinals spent 18-minutes with Simpson during their meeting at the Combine.

As far as Murray, LaFleur quipped:

“Sometimes it’s time for change for both sides. Like I’ve said about Kyler, a lot of respect for him. Wish him the best. Did some good stuff here. Again, wish him the best. Will never wish ill will on anybody”

When asked what he wanted in any quarterback, LaFleur stated that a good signalcaller must have toughness, the ability to sit in the pocket without being distracted, and be a natural thrower.

Of course, Minshew was involved in this year’s free agency period, which saw quite a few crucial signings, especially along the offensive line. LaFleur’s thoughts on the free agent class:

“The competition, the depth. I’ve already said a few times that’s kind of a common theme right now, we brought in guys with experience.”

GM Monti Ossenfort was able to help the offense tremendously with the signing of RB Tyler Allgeier, who is an NFL-starting caliber back, a true WR3 with Kendrick Bourne, and four veteran offensive linemen. What Ossenfort did was lessen the needs of the offense prior to the draft.

“You don’t have to go out and reach for anything now [in the NFL draft] because of what Monti [Ossenfort] and the team did in terms of bringing in guys that have played a lot of football in this league. And in enough competition where they can go in every single day and work and compete against each other.”

That may or may not mean that Arizona will take a young QB in the upcoming draft, slated for April 23-25. LaFleur did offer some final thoughts about the QB room:

“Let’s call it what it is: The quarterback position is the most important position in all of sports. We know that. We will continue to be until we figure out how to have the most perfect room possible. I like where we’re at right now, but like we said, if there’s a guy to add, we’re going to add [him].”