Kyler Murray is one of the most unique talents at the quarterback position that the game of football has ever seen. Very few quarterbacks ever have possessed his combination of foot speed, arm strength, and refined throwing ability. Being a former number one overall pick he has been far from a bust thus far but has not quite lived up to his full potential. As he just turned 27 years old and has not yet been paired with the right coach and/or supporting cast around him either. The Cardinals this past 2024 season with Kyler Murray at the QB1 spot were an interesting team that was in the playoff race up until the very end of the season. The Cardinals in week 1 of the season held a double-digit lead on the road vs the Buffalo Bills who came within a possession of making the Super Bowl, before narrowly losing that contest. The Cardinals in week 2 of the season destroyed a Los Angeles Rams team who made the playoffs and who were the 2nd best team in this year’s NFC playoffs and were the only team to give eventual Super Bowl Champion Eagles trouble in the postseason. The Cardinals lost by one possession the following week to the Detroit Lions who if they had stayed healthier could have easily made the Super Bowl. The Cardinals throughout the remainder of the season continued to put up very strong performances against playoff caliber competition such as losing by 1 point to the Vikings, losing by 4 points to the Los Angeles Rams, and beating the Los Angeles Chargers. The problem with Arizona this past season and why they indeed missed the playoffs despite consistently going toe to toe or beating teams who did make the postseason was consistency and still a lower ceiling as a result of having a rebuilding roster in large part surrounding Murray. The Cardinals lost by double digits twice to the Seattle Seahawks who did not even make the playoffs, and the team also lost to the Carolina Panthers who finished the year 5-12. The way Arizona looked against playoff teams as I previously alluded to, there is no reason they should have gotten swept by Seattle and they certainly should not have lost both games by double digits either. The Panthers were a tough out this season but Arizona was the superior team all season and there is no reason they should have lost to Carolina. That inconsistency combined with the inability to close out games where they led by multiple possessions against playoff teams who won 13-14 regular season games and/or threatened to make the Super Bowl. As that is what happened with Arizona twice this season against the likes of the Bills and Vikings. However rather than this being the year that Arizona won the Super Bowl it was more-so a season to see if Kyler Murray and head coach Jonathan Gannon are indeed both the future of the organization. The Cardinals lack of talent as they still have a rebuilding roster in large part showed against the likes of playoff contenders if not Super Bowl contenders, Detroit, Green Bay, and Washington. Where the Cardinals lost each of those games by either 3-4 possessions vs Green Bay and Washington, while trailing the entirety of the game vs the Detroit Lions although they still only lost by one possession.
Heading into next season the team will have to make some key offseason acquisitions if they wish to go from being a fun borderline playoff caliber team to a legitimate Super Bowl contending team. One of the concerns this past season was indeed the offensive line play and upgrading the unit should be a point of emphasis this offseason. I have conducted an analysis of the team’s offensive line which can be found below. I have assigned each player a subjective grade that indicates how strong of players I deem them to be in totality factoring in yearly statistical output and subjective grades that were given to them by Pro Football Focus.
Starters
LT – Paris Johnson Jr – B to B+, 2023 first rounder
LG – Evan Brown – C+ to B-, free agent
C – Hjalte Froholdt – B-
RG – Will Hernandez – C+ to B-, free agent
RT – Kelvin Beachum – C+ to B-, free agent
Key Reserves
G – Trystan Colon – C+ to B- in limited snaps, free agent
G – Isaiah Adams – C to C+ in 400+ rookie snaps, 2024 third round pick
T – Jonah Williams – C to C+, 2019 first round pick
T – Jackson Barton – C, free agent
Arizona Offensive Line Rankings
Pass Blocking Grade – 4th
Run Blocking Grade – 13th
Pass Blocking Efficiency – 5th
Sacks Allowed – 5th
Kelvin Beachum played the majority of the snaps for the team at the right tackle spot this past season and is a free agent entering this offseason as well. Beachum is an average caliber offensive lineman as throughout the course of his career his statistical output and subjective grades that were assigned to him can be described as such. He has been graded as below average to well below average in terms of run blocking grade in every season he has played in the NFL including this past 2024 season. Beachum can be very effective as a pass protector but is inconsistent as in 7 of 13 seasons he has ranked above average in terms of pass blocking efficiency while obviously ranking below average in that same department in the remaining seasons. Beachum being an average to a below average caliber offensive lineman is evidenced by the fact that his overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus the past two seasons has been (46/58) in 2023 and (54/87) in 2024. As stated previously Beachum is a free agent entering the offseason and the team should perhaps find a right tackle who is an upgrade and/or re-sign Beachum but utilize him in a reserve role. At the remaining tackle spot at left tackle the Arizona Cardinals had Paris Johnson Jr play the majority of snaps for them at that position. Paris Johnson Jr who was a 2023 first round pick had a meager rookie season where he ranked in the mediocre range among starting tackles but improved on it greatly in year 2. As a rookie, Johnson Jr in over 1000 snaps ranked (38/58) in terms of pass blocking efficiency and (48/58) in terms of run blocking grade. In year 2, Johnson Jr, in over 800 snaps ranked (27/87) and (22/87) in those same departments. The Cardinals are optimistic he can continue to improve going from a mediocre player in year 1, to being an above-average starter to a well above-average starter in year 2, to hopefully blossoming into a star in year 3 onwards. At the left guard spot Evan Brown played the vast majority of snaps for the team and was effective in doing so. Brown has been inconsistent but at times very effective in his NFL career. In 4 seasons starting in the NFL at either guard or center Evan Brown has ranked above average to well above average in terms of pass blocking efficiency on 2 of 4 occasions. While ranking slightly below average in the remaining two seasons. As a run blocker, Brown graded as above average to well above average in that department in 1 of 4 seasons but below average in that department the remaining 3 seasons he has started in the NFL. Brown as an inconsistent starting offensive lineman for the Cardinals this past season is also a free agent entering this offseason just like his teammate Kelvin Beachum. Similar to his teammate Beachum, the team should look to retain him at the right price and/or bring him back in a reserve role. At the center spot Hjalte Froholdt started every game for Arizona this past season and was effective in doing so. Froholdt has been a starter at center since 2022, where he really struggled ranking last among all starters in terms of pass blocking efficiency. In 2023 he did improve, however ranking (19/40) among all starting centers in terms of an offense grade. In 2024 he took a big step forward ranking (7/43) in terms of an offense grade among all centers with qualified snaps. Froholdt is still inconsistent but offers the Cardinals some high-end production at the position similar to the previous three starting offensive lineman for Arizona. The right guard spot was the biggest concern for Arizona on the offensive front this past season as that position was effected by injuries and did not have one player field the majority to the vast majority of snaps for the team. Will Hernandez started the season at right guard for Arizona but was only able to play 5 total games before suffering a season ending knee injury. Will Hernandez, like the remaining starters for Arizona, offers the team some high-end capabilities but is inconsistent for the team. Hernandez in 7 seasons as starter has ranked above average in terms of pass blocking efficiency in 5 of 7 occasions. Hernandez in terms of run blocking grade has ranked as above average in 3 of 7 instances. Even when Hernandez performs at an above average rate his production is still far from elite as he has never ranked in the top 10 in terms of pass blocking efficiency or run blocking grade on even one instance in his career. After Hernandez suffered a season ending injury in week 5 of the season, guards Trystan Colon and Isaiah Adams proceeded to fill his spot at the position for the remainder of the season. Colon was solid when he played, ranking slightly below average in terms of pass blocking efficiency, but above average in terms of run blocking grade. 2024 third rounder Isaiah Adams was effective for Arizona as a rookie this past season ranking above average in terms of run blocking grade but below average in terms of pass blocking efficiency.
Looking at the 2nd set of data that comprises the ranks of the Arizona offensive line, one would certainly surmise that the Cardinals line is among the better if not the best lines in professional football. However, that can be a bit misleading as Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is perhaps the most mobile quarterback in the NFL today and avoids many sacks and pressures as a result. Sacks and pressures that are factored into the sacks allowed metric, the pass blocking efficiency metric, and the pass blocking grade metric. The Cardinals in terms of pass protection are closer to average than outstanding if you factor in Murray evading sacks and pressures. As you can see from the evaluation of each substantial player on the Arizona offensive line it is comprised of just 4 average caliber starters and a standout at left tackle but who is certainly not elite as of yet. The Cardinals have the 4th most cap space entering the offseason and upgrading the offensive line should be one of the biggest points of emphasis heading into the 2025 season.
I conducted a similar analysis of the Cardinals key skill position players which can be found below.
Arizona Cardinals Key Skill Position Players
WR1 – Marvin Harrison Jr, B+ to A- thus far, 2024 4th overall pick
WR2- Michael Wilson – C
WR3 – Greg Dortch – C, free agent
TE1 – Trey McBride – A to A+
HB1 – James Connor – B+
HB2 – Emari Demercado – B to B+, in limited snaps thus far
The skill position unit of the Arizona offensive attack this past season was led by rookie standout Marvin Harrison Jr and third year player Trey McBride who had a breakout season. Marvin Harrison Jr was drafted 4th overall in the 2024 NFL draft had a strong rookie campaign that he will look to build upon next year and going forward. Appearing in all 17 games, Harrison Jr accounted for 62 receptions and 885 yards while being graded (24/110) in terms of an offense grade among all qualified wideouts. That is almost as well as you can expect a rookie wide receiver to perform and he will be a star if not a superstar at the position for Murray to throw the ball to for years to come. Trey McBride at the tight end spot who was a second-round pick in the 2022 draft has emerged as one of the premier tight ends in the NFL over the past few seasons after really struggling as a rookie. In 2024, the tight end was 2nd among all tight ends in receptions and 2nd among all tight ends in yards, while being graded (2/45) among all qualified tight ends in terms of offense grade. McBride is still a young developing player and has improved in every year thus far and perhaps he can make the leap next year to being the best tight end in professional football instead of being #2 in that department. The remaining skill position players of the Arizona Cardinals left much to be desired however as they all ranked in the average to mediocre range among NFL players. The team’s 2nd leading wide receiver behind Harrison Jr was Michael Wilson who was a 2023 third round pick who has amassed yards in the 500-yard range in each of his first two NFL seasons. Wilson as a rookie in 2023 had 565 yards on 38 receptions with Pro Football Focus grading him (56/102) in terms of an offense grade among wide receivers and missing 4 games. In Wilson’s second season in 2024 he had 47 receptions for 548 yards only missing 1 game with Pro Football Focus now grading him (83/110) in terms of an offense grade among qualified wide receivers. Wide receiver Greg Dortch served as the third leading wide out this past season, accounting for over 300 yards and 37 receptions in doing so. Dortch’s production during the 2024 season mirrored that of previous seasons where he produced yardage in the 300–400-yard range. In the three seasons where Dortch has logged substantial snaps he has been graded as below average every single year in terms of an offense grade according to Pro Football Focus as well. Elijah Higgins served as the team’s secondary tight end to McBride in 2024 and in 2023 where he failed to cross the 200-yard mark in either season and was graded as below average by Pro Football Focus both years as well. The running back spot for the Arizona Cardinals is led by James Connor who has been very productive at times in his career but inconsistent however and his high-end production is also not quite elite. The past two seasons Connor has accumulated over 1000 yards on the ground and has been graded as a top 5 running back in the NFL in both years in terms of an offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Prior to that Connor was inconsistent dating back to his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers where in the previous 6 seasons he was graded as below average on two occasions and failed to ever have 5.0 yards per attempt on a season as well. Connor is a good to a very good but not a great halfback who will be turning 30 years old next year as well. Behind Connor at the halfback spot is Emari Demercado who in limited time in the NFL has been highly effective at times. Demercado in the 2024 season had only 24 carries but for an astounding 9.3 yards per attempt. Dermercardo was also effective in 2023 as a rookie where he averaged 4.9 yards per attempt on 58 attempts. He was graded in the average range in both seasons played thus far albeit in limited snaps on both occasions. It remains to be seen if he can be a high-level complementary running back to James Connor, the way David Montgomery is to Jahmyr Gibbs for the Detroit Lions, and in the way Justice Hill is to Derrick Henry for the Baltimore Ravens. Demercado is certainly capable of being that but has yet to prove it as of yet. The Cardinals have other running backs who provide some depth behind their top two players such as Michael Carter and Deejay Dallas who have been effective at times for the team.
The liability of Arizona’s skill player grouping stems from the lack of impact receivers outside of stars Harrison Jr and McBride. With the Cardinals having the 4th most cap space in the NFL this upcoming offseason, a big point of emphasis should be to add another receiver who is capable of giving them high level production. As Wilson and Dortch were just mediocre besides Harrison Jr and McBride this past season. Given Murray’s elusiveness as a quarterback, the offensive line, although it is pretty average, should not be emphasized as much as adding another receiver should be emphasized.
Overall, on the offensive side of the ball in 2024 and heading into 2025 the Cardinals are in pretty good shape as quarterback Kyler Murray, tight end Trey McBride, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr, and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr all rank among the more talented players at their respective positions. Arizona was 12th in the NFL in points scored this past season with Pro Football Focus grading them as the 6th best offense in professional football as well. On the offensive side of the ball the Lions and Eagles are the standard of the NFC, if not the NFL and the Cardinals should seek to replicate their formula for success. All three teams have tier 2 quarterbacks who on the high end can produce with anyone but are not necessarily tier 1 talents as a result of them not being able to perhaps carry a team and them also having holes in their game. The holes in their game are Goff’s lack of mobility and inability to overcome weaker offensive line play, Hurts lack of raw elite foot speed or raw elite arm strength, and Murray’s lack of height. All three teams have more than one skill position player who is elite as well. The difference between Detroit/Philadelphia and Arizona is that the first two teams have reliable #2 wide outs who can give them high end production, as well as the first two teams having elite offensive lines. Whereas Arizona gets mediocre production from their second wide out spot and has an average caliber offensive line. Ranking 4th in the NFL in cap space heading into this offseason, the Cardinals should 100% add another wide out to complement their first two star receivers and to replicate the Lions and the Eagles in that regard. Although Arizona should consider upgrading the offensive line, Murray is perhaps the most mobile quarterback in the game today. So, the Cardinals likely won’t need an offensive line like Detroit and Philadelphia has in order to be as potent on offense as those two teams. Instead of investing in the offensive line to such a large extent, the Cardinals should look to bolster the defensive side of the ball to match the likes of Detroit and Philadelphia in that regard.
On the defensive side of the ball the Arizona Cardinals struggled in the 2024 season which is alarming given head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defensive background. The Cardinals ranked 15th in the NFL in points allowed and were graded as the #23 defense in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. If the Cardinals wish to join that group with the likes of the Eagles and Lions with regards to being an elite NFC team capable of winning the conference, they will need to upgrade the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles finished the 2024 regular season being graded as the #1 defense in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus and also finished 2nd in the NFL in points allowed as well during the regular season. The Detroit Lions before they suffered massive injuries on the defensive side of the ball ranked 1st or 2nd in defense grade as well according to Pro Football Focus. The Cardinals as aforementioned rank 4th in the NFL in cap space entering this offseason cycle. In addition to making key additions on the offensive side of the ball, they should also look to upgrade the defense as well. After conducting a position-by-position analysis of the team on the defensive side of the ball I found some key takeaways.
S1 – Budda Baker – 1064 snaps – (10/104) defense grade
S2 – Jalen Thompson – 941 snaps – (34/104) defense grade
S3 – Dadrion Taylor-Demerson – 258 snaps, (17/104) defense grade
At the safety position the team got high level production from all three players who logged substantial snaps for the team a season ago. Safety Budda Baker logged over 1000 snaps and graded (10/104) in terms of a defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Safety Jalen Thompson in over 900 snaps graded (34/104) in terms of a defense grade. Safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson graded (17/104) in 258 snaps as a rookie 4th round pick in 2024. All three players are under contract for next season but will have to prove it again next year. Taylor-Demerson only had snaps as a rookie, Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson have been inconsistent throughout their careers as well. As Baker and Thompson have had multiple seasons where they logged below average defensive grades despite performing at an above average to a well above average clip for the most part including in 2024.
CB1 – Starling Thomas V – 817 snaps, (78/128) defense grade
CB2 – Garrett Williams – 778 snaps, (5/128) defense grade
CB3 – Sean Murphy-Bunting – 725 snaps, (95/128) defense grade
CB4 – Max Melton – 565 snaps, (100/128) defense grade, 2024 second round pick
At the cornerback position the team had 4 players log substantial snaps for the team. Those 4 players were Starling Thomas V, Garrett Williams, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Max Melton. Thomas V logged the most amount of snaps for the team with over 800 snaps he played in 2024. Thomas V an undrafted player in 2023 draft had a very weak rookie season but improved in year 2. In year 1 Thomas V graded (78/80) in terms of a defense grade according to Pro Football Focus in nearly 500 snaps. In year 2 Thomas V graded (78/128) in terms of a defense grade according to Pro Football Focus in over 800 snaps. The Cardinals should look to upgrade their #1 CB spot as Thomas V is a below average to a well below average player at the position. The corner who logged the 2nd most snaps for the Cardinals in the 2024 season was Garrett Williams who was highly productive for Arizona as he graded (5/128) among all corners in terms of a defense grade in almost 800 snaps. Williams was a 2023 third round pick who had a weak rookie campaign but played exceptionally in his second season. The Cardinals number three cornerback was Sean Murphy-Bunting who was a 2nd rounder in 2019 who has been mostly a bust thus far in the NFL. Murphy-Bunting has graded below average in terms of a defense grade in 5 of 7 seasons. In the two seasons where he graded above average in that department, he graded barely above average one year and played very few snaps the other year. 2024 second round pick Max Melton served as the Cardinals number four cornerback this past season but struggled as a rookie. Melton ranked (100/128) in terms of defense grade among cornerbacks in the over 500 snaps he played.
LB1 – Kyzir White – 1015 snaps – (84/92) defense grade, free agent
LB2 – Mack Wilson Sr – 760 snaps, (50/92) defense grade
LB3 – Krys Barnes – 205 snaps, (51/92) defense grade, free agent
LB4 – Owen Pappoe – 131 snaps, (51/92) defense grade
At the linebacker spot the team was led by four players logging substantial snaps in Kyzir White, Mack Wilson, Krys Barnes, and Owen Pappoe. Kyzir White struggled at the linebacker spot this past season as he ranked (84/92) in terms of a defense grade over 1000 snaps. White has also been inconsistent throughout the course of his career as well. As in 7 seasons he has graded as below average in terms of a defense grade 4 times. The team’s number two linebacker was veteran Mack Wilson Sr who also has been inconsistent but at times effective in his career. Wilson Sr logged 760 snaps and graded (50/92) in terms of a defense grade in the 2024 campaign for the Cardinals. This was the first season Wilson Sr logged starter snaps in the NFL. Previously Wilson Sr was more-so a rotational/backup player logging snaps in the ~200-300 range instead of the 700+ range that he logged this past season. Wilson Sr was inconsistent in logging those snaps prior to this season as well as his defense grades the previous three seasons where he logged rotational/backup player snaps were (9/89), (81/93), and (13/93). The team’s number three linebacker was Krys Barnes who logged over 200 snaps for the team and graded as below average in terms of a defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Barnes has also graded as below average in terms of a defense grade in every season he has played in the NFL thus far. The team’s number four linebacker was Owen Pappoe who gave the team some solid production in the limited snaps he appeared in. Pappoe a 5th round selection in the 2023 draft has ranked as slightly below average in terms of a defense grade in his first two seasons in the NFL. Grading as (85/178) and (51/92) in terms of a defense grade in over 100 snaps in each of his first two NFL seasons.
The teams edge rushers and their snap distribution along with the respective defense grades that they logged can be found below, similar to what I did for the linebackers and corners of Arizona as well.
ED1 – Zaven Collins – 600 snaps, (32/135) defense grade
ED2 – Julian Okwara – 286 snaps, (76/135) defense grade, free agent
ED3 – Victor Dimukeje – 157 snaps, (26/135) defense grade, free agent
ED4 – Baron Browning – 232 snaps, (106/135) defense grade, free agent
ED5 – Dennis Gardeck – 206 snaps, (32/135) defense grade, free agent
ED6 – Xavier Thomas – 208 snaps, (134/135) defense grade
ED7 – Jesse Luketa – 188 snaps, (37/135) defense grade, free agent
As you can see from the above data the Cardinals really lacked the presence of high impact players at the edge rusher position. Zaven Collins gave the team some good production as a former first round pick, but was certainly not elite by any stretch. Outside of that the Cardinals edge rushers were all just ordinary players who were just average in most part in the time they did spend on the field for Arizona this past season. These same players have all been average to mediocre for their careers as well outside of this season.
A similar story for the team’s interior defensive line talent can be told for Arizona as well. I have conducted a similar evaluation of the team’s interior defensive line talent as well which can be found below. As you can see below the Cardinals lacked strong players at the interior defensive line position as the production from almost all the players was average to mediocre. The production from these players below, which was there production during the 2024 season, correlates in large part to the production that they have seen throughout their careers as well.
DL1 – L.J Collier – 588 snaps, (112/146) defense grade, free agent
DL2 – Dante Stills – 532 snaps, (76/146) defense grade, free agent
DL3 – Roy Lopez – 464 snaps, (86/146) defense grade, free agent
DL4 – Naquan Jones – 260 snaps, (51/146) defense grade, free agent
DL5 – Darius Robinson – 184 snaps, (113/146) defense grade, 2024 first round pick
DL6 – Khyris Tonga – 229 snaps, (62/146) defense grade, free agent
DL7 – Justin Jones – 100 snaps, (146/146) defense grade
DL8 – Ben Stille – 106 snaps, (115/146) defense grade
DL9 – Bilal Nichols – 173 snaps, (137/146) defense grade
As you can see from the above data the team’s interior defensive line was bereft of talent during the 2024 season. Overall, on the defensive line the team has one good to a really good player in 2021 first rounder Zaven Collins. 2024 first rounder Darius Robinson was far from a bust as a rookie this past season but was meager in his production as a rookie. The Cardinals are optimistic that Darius Robinson can emerge as an anchor for the team on the interior of the defensive line as a 2024 first rounder. Also factoring in the linebacking unit of Arizona, the Cardinals had one of the weakest front sevens in the NFL this past season and as currently constructed still have one of the weakest front sevens in the sport. The Cardinals were graded as the 30th best pass rushing team in the NFL during the 2024 campaign although they were 15th in the NFL in sacks accumulated. The Cardinals were also graded 20th in the NFL in terms of a run defense grade during the 2024 campaign. All three of those metrics indicate the Cardinals had one of the weaker front sevens in professional football this past season and as of now before the free agency and draft cycle has started, still have one of the weaker front sevens in the sport.
Overall, on the defensive side of the ball the Cardinals were a below average team this past season as Pro Football Focus graded them 23rd in the NFL in terms of defense grade and the team finished 15th in terms of points allowed as well. The Cardinals had a few standouts in their secondary in particular the three safeties along with cornerback Garrett Williams as well. 2024 second round pick Max Melton had a weak rookie year but has certainly not been a bust thus far. If Melton can begin to emerge as a strong player for Arizona in their backend as a former second round pick, then the Cardinals secondary will be one of the more formidable units in professional football next season. However, the concern for Arizona is the front seven as the team’s front seven last season and as currently constructed is one of the weakest front sevens in the NFL. The linebacking unit is mediocre and the defensive line has one standout player in Zaven Collins but who is far from elite. 2024 first rounder Darius Robinson had a subpar rookie season but has certainly not been a bust, if he can begin to emerge as a strong player for Arizona going forward then the team will have an anchor on the interior of the defensive line just like they do at the edge rusher position. However outside of those two players the Cardinals front seven is bereft of talent and is comprised of solely average to mediocre caliber players. Although the team could certainly use some patchwork on the offensive side of the ball, in particular on the offensive line and at the #2 wide out position, bolstering the talent on the defensive side of the ball and in particular the front seven should be the primary objective this off-season.
In totality, the Arizona Cardinals were a pleasant surprise during the 2024 season as they were in the playoff race up until the very end of the year and consistently went toe to toe with playoff caliber/Super Bowl caliber opponents such as the Lions, Bills, Vikings, and Chargers. The Cardinals have one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL today in Kyler Murray who is more than capable of winning a Super Bowl as an NFL starter. This off-season the team should look into upgrading the defense and the offensive line in particular. Because if Arizona wishes to compete with the likes of the Eagles and the Lions in the NFC they will need to do so. From a quarterback talent standpoint, the Cardinals are in the same realm as those two teams, from a skill position standpoint the team is one receiver away from being in the same realm as those two teams as well. The Eagles on defense finished as the #2 scoring defense and the #1 graded defense in the regular season. The Lions, when healthy on defense were in the top 5 of both those categories in the 2024 campaign before being devastated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball. The Cardinals were 15th in points allowed and 23rd in defense grade. The Cardinals rank 4th in the NFL in cap space and should look to upgrade the defensive side of the ball so they can take the leap to being in that same category on the defensive end with the likes of the Eagles and Lions. As the Eagles and Lions were the two top teams in the NFC this past season before Detroit suffered too many injuries on the defensive end. If the Cardinals can add strong personnel on the defensive side of the ball and take their defense to a top 5-10 unit next year with defensive minded head coach Jonathan Gannon calling the shots. The Cardinals I think will certainly be a playoff team capable of winning a playoff game or two. If the Cardinals wish to contend to win the NFC/Super Bowl with the likes of the Eagles/Lions next year then their defense will need to be top 5 caliber and they will need to add another receiving weapon as well.
