The Arizona Cardinals have missed the playoffs the previous three seasons and in eight of the previous 9 years total. Regardless of that latest lack of success, expectations needs to be rising underneath head coach Jonathan Gannon, and there’s good purpose to imagine they’ll 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 an enormous step ahead for a rebuilding staff, and it isn’t onerous to view them as able to taking one other step ahead in 2025.
There are, in fact, some huge X-factors concerned with that.
Probably the most distinguished of these X-factors is beginning quarterback Kyler Murray.
After lacking vital time throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons to damage, Murray was lastly wholesome in 2024 and gave the Cardinals a full-season’s value of video games. There was hope that he may begin enjoying 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 occasions, he was excellent. However for greater than $45M, the Cardinals must be getting nice play from him if they’ll compete. They aren’t all the time getting that. Till they do, their ceiling goes to be restricted.
Murray does have some intriguing targets within the passing sport, however the huge query is whether or not or not he has sufficient of them.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has celebrity potential however is coming off an up-and-down rookie season. He may actually use one other big-time goal on the opposite aspect of the sphere to take a few 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 critical big-play potential, however depth is a priority.
