The Arizona Cardinals have missed the playoffs the previous three seasons and in eight of the previous 9 years total. Regardless of that current lack of success, expectations ought to be growing below head coach Jonathan Gannon, and there may be good motive to consider they will compete for a playoff spot, and maybe even for the NFC West title, in 2025.
Projected win complete: 8.5 (BetMGM)
Outlook: After successful simply eight video games complete over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the Cardinals matched that complete with eight wins in 2024. It was a giant step ahead for a rebuilding group, and it isn’t arduous to view them as able to taking one other step ahead in 2025.
There are, after all, some large X-factors concerned with that.
Essentially the most outstanding of these X-factors is beginning quarterback Kyler Murray.
After lacking vital time through the 2022 and 2023 seasons to harm, Murray was lastly wholesome in 2024 and gave the Cardinals a full-season’s price of video games. There was hope that he might begin taking part in just like the top-tier quarterback the Cardinals are paying him to be, however they solely noticed spotty glimpses of that participant.
He was good. At instances, he was superb. However for greater than $45M, the Cardinals have to be getting nice play from him if they’ll compete. They aren’t at all times getting that. Till they do, their ceiling goes to be restricted.
Murray does have some intriguing targets within the passing recreation, however the large query is whether or not or not he has sufficient of them.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has famous person potential however is coming off an up-and-down rookie season. He might actually use one other big-time goal on the opposite facet of the sphere to take a number of the strain away from him.
Tight finish Trey McBride is a rising star at his place and has a brand new long-term contract extension to maintain him in Arizona.
Between the 2 of them, the Cardinals have some severe big-play potential, however depth is a priority.
