The Arizona Cardinals’ offseason maneuvers sent several strong messages about the 2025 season.
1) We need to improve our defense.
The action: Arizona used its first five draft picks on defense and the bulk of their free-agent moves were on defense. (Narrator: We agree. Just look at last year’s mediocre defense.)
2) Our offense doesn’t need that kind of help.
The action: Arizona drafted only one offensive player, Texas guard Hayden Conner in the sixth round. (Narrator: We disagree. The offense was solid but with plenty of room for improvement.)
3) The bottom line: This season is all on you, Kyler Murray. This is your time. (Narrator: This third message is the most important.)
There is a school of thought that bulking up the defense means there is less pressure on Murray. Don’t believe it. Remember, this is an unproven defense, with new faces, hoping to improve. Murray is the quarterback. The pressure is on him. Squarely.
Here’s what Kyler Murray faces
What Murray does this season could define his career. Arizona was 8-9 last season and has clear expectations about making the playoffs in 2025 … and beyond. Murray must be a major force in making that happen.
The Cardinals and their fans might be thinking this about Murray: You’re our franchise quarterback. You’re starting your seventh season. You’ve been to the playoffs only once since you were drafted No. 1 overall in 2019. That isn’t good enough. Not for a player with your talent.
Murray is in the prime of his career. He will turn 28 in August. He has been an NFL quarterback for six seasons — enough time for seasoning and reflection. Lessons should have been learned. Improvements should be implemented.
Murray’s career has been uncertain with flashes of brilliance followed by frustrating inconsistency. He has shown enough skill and moxie to know there is more there.
But under Murray, the Cardinals have just one winning season. Arizona’s record in games Murray started: 36-45-1.
Murray has envious NFL statistics, but …
Murray has completed 1,864-of-2,780 passes (67.1 percent) for 19,498 yards, 115 touchdowns and 57 interceptions. In 82 games, Murray already has the third-highest number of passing yards in Cardinals history behind Jim Hart (34,639 yards in 199 games) and Neil Lomax (22,771 yards in 108 games).
Murray ranks third in touchdown passes behind Hart (209) and Lomax (136).
The added dimension Murray brings is his running game. He ranks 12th in Cardinals’ career rushing with 3,020 yards, the career leader among Cardinals quarterbacks.
Fair or not, those gaudy numbers are overshadowed by that 36-45-1 record as a starter. Statistics are great and all, but winning is the expectation.
In 2024, the Cardinals’ offense ranked 12th in the NFL. Nine of the 11 teams ranked higher made the playoffs. The 49ers and Bengals were the exceptions.
Making or missing the playoffs shouldn’t land exclusively on the quarterback. But often that’s what happens. The quarterback is the center of attention. He touches the ball on every offensive play.
There will be no greater focus in Arizona in 2025 than Kyler Murray and how much success he has. His future in Arizona, and his legacy, might depend on it.