With actual football still months away, Arizona Cardinals fans are focused on the draft, free agency, the schedule release, rookie camps, minicamp and finally, training camp in July.
Part of the lengthy offseason is assessing where your favorite team stands among its division rivals, among its conference, in the NFL overall. What is your team’s trend? Up? Down? Stagnant?
The Arizona Cardinals, from some national outlets, are feeling the love about the 2025 season. In fact, Sharp Football Analyst, in its post-2024 season power rankings, labeled the Cardinals as a potential “hot sleeper pick” for next season. Sharp's post-free agency power rankings have the Cardinals at 17, ahead of Seattle at 20, but behind the Los Angeles Rams at 9 and the San Francisco 49ers at 11.
There is still plenty for Arizona to do, especially in the already difficult and likely improving NFC West. The Cardinals are coming off an 8-9, non-playoff season. Arizona hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2021.
The defending NFC West champion Rams (10-7) look to be loading up for a Super Bowl run. No one played the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles tougher than the Rams in the playoffs.
The Seahawks (10-7) likely upgraded at quarterback by signing Sam Darnold after trading Geno Smith to the Raiders. The 49ers (6-11) were in the Super Bowl after the 2023 season then were hit by a spate of devastating injuries last season. Gotta figure the Niners will be improved.
What experts say about the Cardinals:
From Sharp Football Analyst (post-2024 season assessment): The Cardinals had a promising second season under Jonathan Gannon, pushing for the playoffs before losing five of their last seven games. Arizona still has work to do on both sides of the ball, but this coaching staff has shown an ability to get more out of a roster than expected.
“Their draft capital is limited, but the Cardinals are currently fourth in available cap space. Depending on how this offseason goes, Arizona could be a hot sleeper pick this summer.”
Sharp's assessment post-free agency: "It remains to be seen how it will work out, but the Cardinals at least spent to improve their pass rush, bringing back Baron Browning before signing Josh Sweat to a massive deal. Given what happened to the 49ers in free agency, the NFC West looks wide open."
From NFL.com: “There’s still a lot to like about the Cardinals’ trajectory under Jonathan Gannon, who doubled the team’s win total from Year 1 of his tenure in Year 2. The Cards started hitting their stride in December 2023, pulling off a couple inspired road victories (in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia), and they carried over those good vibes into this past season, starting 6-4 to climb to the top of the competitive NFC West.
“This past December didn’t go according to plan — with four losses to competitive teams and a win over the lowly Patriots — and Arizona dropped out of the playoff picture.
“Assuming James Conner has another year as the team’s warhorse and Marvin Harrison Jr. can take a step up, there should be offensive growth.
“But for Gannon to truly elevate his team in his third season, Arizona’s defense must make major strides forward. That side of the ball is his bread and butter, and the Cardinals have been more heel than loaf there over the past two years.”
It will be interesting to see where the Cardinals are ranked after the draft. Plenty can happen before September, and in the NFL it usually does.