In many respects, the Cardinals are rebuilding. They just got rid of 2025's head coach and franchise quarterback, opting for a new direction and a bridge starter. Their cash spending reinforces this direction. Over the Cap has the Cardinals at 30th in active cash spending. But when considering all of their roster resources, the Cards are investing more in their roster than some of their divisional foes.
In an ongoing series on Substack, I am looking at total roster investments, looking at both cash and draft pick value to get a true understanding of which teams are putting the most into their on-field product. And the Cardinals are investing more than you think.
Cardinals are 2nd in NFC West roster investment
Projecting the final 53-man rosters for each team and using a draft pick valuation chart I have developed, Arizona's projected roster investments come to $460.7 million.* That outpaces the division favorite Rams as well as the 49ers, while trailing only the Seahawks' $486.1 million investment.
Considering the relatively small cash spending, they outpace the division in draft pick resources.
*This analysis was done prior to the Jacoby Brissett contract adjustment, which increases their investment by almost $10 million.
The draft pick investment
Arizona's recent struggles have put them in position to acquire a considerable amount of draft capital. And those players are littered across the roster. At running back Jeremiyah Love represents a $62.1 million investment ($35.9 million in cash because of his large signing bonus and $26.2 million in draft pick capital). Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is almost a $30 million asset, with $24.5 million of it coming from his draft pick value.
In all the Cardinals have 26 players projected to make their final 53-man roster, accounting for over $225 million in draft pick capital. And that doesn't account for those players' salaries. That is the top draft pick roster investment in the entire NFL for 2026.
Where the Cards are investing, and where they aren't
The Cardinals have almost twice as much invested in running back ($72.2 million) as any other team in the division, the Seahawks being the next closest at $39.2 million. The cost of selecting Love is quite high and requires him to be a top three back in the NFL to provide an even decent return on investment.
Defensive line is another area where Arizona has sunk significant resources. And even after the acquisition of Myles Garrett, the Rams have not matched the total investment the Cardinals have put into this area of their team. Arizona edges out Los Angeles $107.0 million to $98.3 million.
B.J. Ojulari and Darius Robinson both carry price tags north of $10 million, plus Josh Sweat and Walter Nolen representing the largest investments at $18.1 million and $18.3 million, respectively.
There are only two areas where Arizona trails the rest of the division in overall asset allocation. At $5.2 million in assets dedicated to special teams, they trail the Rams by just $100k for third place and are $4.5 million behind the Seahawks who lead the division.
And while some might say special teams is the least important position group, they also trail the rest of the NFC West at the most important position. Even with Brissett's recent contract adjustment their spending at the position is just a bit over $20 million. Seattle is the next closest at $29.8 million in asset allocation, while the Rams lead the way at $73.3 million thanks to the cash they are paying Matt Stafford plus the draft investment in Ty Simpson.
While the path may seem arduous, there is a real world where Arizona makes strides towards competitiveness this year. They have invested plenty in the roster. They just need those assets to deliver a return on investment. For players like Sweat and Nolen, there's a strong case for it. With Love, and Robinson the chances are smaller. But there is more investment in the Cardinals than one might think at first blush.
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