NFL Season Outlook: 3. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have fallen apart since starting the 2021 NFL season 10-2. After finishing 2022 with a 4-13 record due to an injury to Kyler Murray, the 2023 season was eerily similar. Even with a healthy Kyler Murray, the Cardinals have not done enough to justify them competing for a playoff spot in 2024. However, there are still some pieces that Cardinals fans should be excited about for the upcoming season.

Projected Record: 4-13-0 (Last in NFC West)

Draft Picks

The Arizona Cardinals have sneakily been building through the draft over the last three years. Trey McBride was drafted 55th overall in 2022, BJ Ojulari had a decent rookie season in 2023 and has a solid base to work off of in 2024. Late Note: Ojulari tore his ACL in training camp and will miss the entire 2024 season.  Paris Johnson Jr didn’t have a great rookie season, but with more reps he should continue to improve. The last three games of the season didn’t see Johnson allow a single sack.

In 2024, the Cardinals had WR Marvin Harrison Jr fall into their laps at 4 and added Darius Robinson at pick 27. The Ohio Statewide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the best wide receiver prospects in recent memory. There is no way that they could fumble this pick. As for Darius Robinson, he’s a jack of all trades type of player. He isn’t the best athlete, and there isn’t anything he does exceptionally well, but if he develops, he could be an impact player for Arizona.

As bad of a program as Rutgers football has been over the past eight years, Max Melton was one of the reasons why the Scarlet Knights finished over .500 for the first time since 2014. His speed is his best attribute, and he’ll look to be the best cornerback on the Cardinals depth chart.

Much like I’ve said with other teams, I don’t expect the entire draft class to start off strong. Marvin Harrison Jr. will have the best impact from 2024, but is it enough to push the Cardinals over the hump?

Free Agency Boosts

The Cardinals had one of the worst run defenses in the league in 2023. Their attempt to fix this in Free Agency looks promising. Alongside Darius Robinson, the Cardinals have signed Mack Wilson in an attempt to do better in the trenches. Sean Murphy-Bunting

However, most of the Cardinals boosts came on the offensive side of the ball. Jonah Williams has had a couple rough seasons, but the move to the desert is a fresh start. Working with Paris Johnson Jr. should make both of them better.

Zay Jones could be a decent addition to a Wide Receiver core that looked decimated after Hollywood Brown and Marquise Brown left in Free Agency.  They’ve made some level of boost everywhere, but is it going to show on the field? I’m unsure.

The Schedule Problem:

The Cardinals have—in my eyes—one of the tougher schedules in the NFL this season. The NFC West is not a cakewalk, even with the Rams seemingly on the decline. The NFC North is a tough division as well, with the Lions and Packers definitely in the playoffs, and the Bears trending upwards. The Cardinals will also face the AFC East, which—apart from the Patriots—is full of difficult competition. Games against Washington and Carolina will be the best on the season for Arizona, and while the results may not show on the field, the Cardinals will be one step closer to returning to the Playoffs.