GLENDALE –Not many teams in the NFC feel as confident as the Arizona Cardinals after its free agency. The front office addressed many defensive issues by signing Pro Bowlers like Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell to fill in the holes from last season. The Cardinals spent big money and are rolling into the NFL draft in one week to cap off what they would consider a successful offseason to contend.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated released a post-free agency power rankings, where he didn’t share the same optimism as the fans in the Valley. Orr placed Arizona 24th on his list and last behind every NFC West team.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon talks with quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Jan. 7, 2024. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Orr on Cardinals placement at 24th:
“Let’s see this Cardinals team bolster its defensive interior via the draft and complete an offseason that at least makes me think Arizona could make a surprise run at the NFC West. I’m not putting anyone there on the chopping block even though it is Jonathan Gannon’s third season. He’s improved each of his first two years but now needs to create a team that is Kyler Murray–proof and relevant when the run game gets shut down and pulls the plug on the rest of the offense.”
Josh Sweat speaks to members of the media at the Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe on March 13, 2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Orr doesn’t trust franchise quarterback Kyler Murray to carry the load when the run game isn’t working. The Cardinals boasted one of the best run attacks in the league in 2024, ranking seventh in the NFL. The air raid wasn’t as successful, being 18th in the league with 214.1 passing yards per game.
Murray led Arizona to the 12th-best scoring offense last season, with the 11 teams ahead of them making the playoffs. The offense is enough, with the emergence of superstar tight end Trey McBride and second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is expected to break out for a monster season.
Monti Ossenfort, general manager of the Arizona Cardinals, attends the team’s training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 29, 2023. Syndication: Arizona Republic
The roster still has holes that General Manager Monti Ossenfort can address in the NFL draft. Regardless, Orr doesn’t believe in this Cardinals team, having them behind teams like the Jaguars, Patriots, Raiders, Bears, and more who finished behind Arizona in 2024.
The past few years have been an embarrassment for the franchise, finishing with four wins twice. Regardless, last year was a step in the right direction, and this offseason could be the final step for Arizona to make it back to the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Arizona Cardinals bring back familiar face to the desert with one-year deal
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
