Way too early Power Rankings! Where do the Arizona Cardinals stand?
By Sion Fawkes
2022 was not the Arizona Cardinals year. But is there hope for this franchise roughly 365 days from the next Super Bowl? Let’s go exploring.
The Arizona Cardinals went from, at worst, a middle-of-the-road NFL team to a group hanging out near the league’s basement. They definitely aren’t going to fare well in any power ranking in the near-future, and spoiler alert, your Redbirds are in the bottom five in my Way Too Early Edition.
As for the rest of the NFC West, the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers aren’t faring so badly. That said, the Redbirds got some serious ground to make up. So without further ado, let’s check out who ranks where, and how far behind the rest of the NFC West the Redbirds find themselves.
Where do the Arizona Cardinals stand in the way too early Power Rankings?
32 – Houston Texans
The Texans are basically starting over with a familiar face in DeMeco Ryans leading the charge. Before anything, this team needs a marquee quarterback.
31 – Indianapolis Colts
We knew the Colts were a mess when Jim Irsay hired Jeff Saturday as the interim coach. Like Houston, they need a quarterback to at least stir some fan interest.
30 – Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have a lot of young talent on defense. But they may be playing a backup quarterback with smallish receivers for a while.
29 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The biggest question – Who will replace Tom Brady? And will his successor lead the team back to their winning ways? There are far more questions than answers in the Bay Area.
28 – Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders will join the Who will play quarterback? discussion once they (likely) release Derek Carr. Then there’s the fact Josh McDaniels is still in the driver’s seat. It could get ugly in Vegas.
27 – Chicago Bears
The Bears may have the first overall pick, but they also have a potential franchise quarterback. If they build around Justin Fields, don’t be surprised if they’re in playoff contention next season.
26 – New Orleans Saints
The Saints have talent, but once again, they’re a team without a quarterback. However, they are closer to contention than most quarterback-needy teams.
25 – Atlanta Falcons
2023 should be a building year for the Atlanta Falcons. Look for them to get younger and experience some more growing pains. But they may see a light at the end of the tunnel come 2024.
24 – Denver Broncos
Can Sean Payton turn this team around? Or better yet, the offense? Like the Bears, Denver is closer to contention than most of us may think. That defense is good.
23 – Carolina Panthers
The Panthers were a team that made the most out of a weak roster. Or seemingly weak. With Frank Reich in charge, they could turn things around sooner than later.
22 – Tennessee Titans
Lots of questions surrounding the Titans. Is Ryan Tannehill still the guy? Will Derrick Henry start showing signs of aging? The Titans can literally go either way next season.
21 – Washington Commanders
For three years, I’ve been high on the Commanders and for three years, they’ve failed me. They are yet another team on this list who needs a quarterback before they become serious contenders.