GLENDALE – The arrival of Mike LaFleur gives the Cardinals a new coaching era, but it should not give general manager Monti Ossenfort unlimited time. If Arizona fails to make meaningful progress, the questions about Ossenfort’s roster construction will become unavoidable.
Arizona general manager Ossenfort discusses the upcoming NFL Draft during a press conference at Dignity Health Arizona Training Center in Tempe on April 16, 2025. © Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Arizona Cardinals have changed coaches, changed quarterbacks and changed direction. Now, the spotlight should turn toward the person responsible for building the roster. Monti Ossenfort entered Arizona in 2023 with a massive rebuilding project. He deserves credit for accumulating draft capital and reshaping the roster, but four seasons into his tenure, the Cardinals still need to answer the most important question: Where is the sustained foundation?
Arizona owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Ossenfort speak to the press from the Arizona training center in Tempe after the decision to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5, 2026. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Arizona has already moved on from several notable investments. The 2024 class produced 12 selections, including Marvin Harrison Jr. and Darius Robinson, while the organization entered 2026 needing another reset at quarterback. That matters because draft picks are ultimately the currency of roster construction. If highly drafted players consistently fail to become long-term starters, the problem eventually becomes bigger than coaching.
Arizona general manager Ossenfort watches training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 28, 2025. © Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Cardinals’ 2025 season ended 3-14, and the organization responded by moving into the Mike LaFleur era. A new system can explain some growing pains, but it cannot erase the evaluation of Ossenfort’s personnel decisions. The standard for an NFL general manager is straightforward: getting and developing a franchise quarterback to maximize his potential, or consistently build enough talent around the position to create a sustainable contender.
You must do one of two things as a GM: Find a franchise QB and maximize his ability, or nail free agency/the draft.
Monti Ossenfort has done neither, and it’s why he will be out of a job come January. https://t.co/nFzctGg06Z
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) August 30, 2026
That makes 2026 a defining season. The Cardinals do not necessarily need to win the NFC West, but they need visible evidence that the roster is improving. Young draft picks must become legitimate contributors. The quarterback situation must stabilize. Free-agent additions must matter. If those things do not happen, Arizona’s next major decision may not be about another roster reset; it may be about who gets to build the next one. If Arizona fails to make meaningful progress, the questions about Ossenfort’s future with the Cardinals will become unavoidable.
Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
