With a very competitive NFC West Division, the Arizona Cardinals once again will look to prove some doubters wrong, and surprisingly take the division right under the LA Rams' horns.
In a division that is also balanced and tough, the team needs both its returning players and its newcomers to come together as one to accomplish the goal of bringing a winning culture back to the desert.
Having these four players on the squad will definitely help further enhance the team if they can shine in 2025, with their natural football talents and their born leadership.
Let's take a look at the four players who could help the Cardinals' win the division.
4 Arizona Cardinals who may shine in 2025
Max Melton- Cornerback
Melton returns to the Cardinals this season for his sophomore year with a clear path ahead of him to being a star player in 2025. The Cornerback was one of the 12 rookies in Arizona's 2024 draft class besides Harrison Jr. who showed flashes of brilliance.
Due to his high potential and amazing cover skills, Melton now has a chance to win one of the two startng cornerbacks spots on the outside because of Sean Murphy-Bunting being out for the year. Melton did enough in his rookie year to be able to win one of these jobs this year. These numbers prove it as he allowed only two receptions on nine attempts in a victory over the Bears.
Dadrion Taylor- Demerson- Safety
Taylor-Demerson may be an exception to his potential role with the Arizona Cardinals in 2025. Drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round in 2024, he was all over the field making play after play and really just quarterbacking the whole defense. According to PFF, the young man earned a 75.5 grade for 2024, ranking him number 3 on the Cards' defense.
This year, his role may be reduced with star safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thomson ahead of him on the depth chart. Therefore, he will have to be very patient when it comes to earning playing time as this was the case last year.
In both of his last two contests, Taylor-Demerson participated in 35% of snaps, despite a healthy Baker and Thompson. He is someone that needs to be on the field because of his run stopping abilities, his excellent man/press cover skills and his ability to sit back in zone coverage.
Marvin Harrison Jr. - Wide Receiver
How can one not read this article and go, why isn't the son of a Hall of Famer with the same last name on the list? Harrison Jr. had a rocky rookie season, but also showed the skills which made the Cardinals take him at number four overall in the 2024 last year's draft.
An example would be in a win over their divisional rivals, the LA Rams, when he burst for 130 yards and showed the Rams why it would be a nightmare to face him twice a year in the NFC West.
He would go off again in a road comeback victory over the Miami Dolphins where he would total 111- yards and display some wicked tough catches and eight touchdowns.
It was a benchmark set by Paris Johnson Jr. The sixth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft played ok but wasn't consistent enough of a No. 6 overall pick. Last year was a different story as he worked on becoming a more consistent version of himself and became the franchise cornerstone he was selected to become.
Mack Wilson Sr.- Linebacker
The six year veteran is hoping that the third's time the charm by playing with the Arizona Cardinals. His first season in Red and White last year produced 75 combined tackles, 3.0 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles in 16 games in 2024.
While it's a small sample size, Wilson Sr. brings a veteran presence to a realtively young roster and also has the advantage of learning two other defensive playbooks back when he was with both New England and with Cleveland.
He could be in line to be the starting middle linebacker for the birds with Kyzir White departed, and also with the versatlity he displayed on this defensive scheme. He can rush the passer effectively and also is disruptive in pass coverage.
Overall, Wilson is a smart football player with a high iq and the ability to use that iq to actually do it on the football field.
With last year in the rear view mirror, the Arizona Cardinals look to improve this season on both offense and the defense. These 4 players on this list are expected to shine in 2025 barring any injuries or setbacks during training camp.