The 2025 NFL Draft is officially over, but it will continue to send a ripple effect through rosters throughout the remainder of the offseason.
The Arizona Cardinals loaded up on defense in the draft after having one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2024. Their selections have sent clear messages to players on the existing roster.
Arizona Cardinals send clear messages to these three players with draft selections
Sean Murphy-Bunting
After just one season in Arizona, Sean Murphy-Bunting may have lost his starting role. Murphy-Bunting had an inconsistent season in 2024, leading the team in interceptions but blowing coverages in key moments.
The Cardinals drafted Will Johnson in the second round: a signal that Murphy-Bunting’s starting role may be lost. Then, they doubled down by selecting Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke in the fifth round. After those two picks, Arizona’s cornerback room is looking fairly crowded. Murphy-Bunting still has two years left on his contract, so he’s likely staying on the Cardinals’ roster this season. Still, he’ll have to fight to get on the field.
Darius Robinson
Darius Robinson’s spot on Arizona’s roster is not in danger. The Cardinals spent a first-round pick on the defensive lineman just a year ago, so they’re surely committed to developing him. But after the selections of Walter Nolen in the first round and Jordan Burch in the third, combined with Arizona’s moves in free agency, Robinson is not guaranteed to see significant playing time.
The Cardinals will have a deep rotation across the defensive front. If Robinson wants to be a primary member of that rotation, he’ll have to remind Jonathan Gannon why he was a first-round pick.
Kyler Murray
The message: “It’s on you to fix the offense.”
The Cardinals did almost nothing to help Kyler Murray out on offense. They used six of their seven picks on defense, drafting an offensive guard in the sixth round. After the draft, they added a few undrafted free agents to fill out the offensive side of the roster.
While this team could have used a field-stretching receiver, most of the offense’s struggles over the last few seasons have stemmed from Kyler Murray’s inconsistency. At his best, Murray is a top-ten quarterback in the league. He just seems to let the quality of his play slip near the end of each season. That won’t be an option in 2025. It’s time for Kyler Murray to step up, and the Cardinals clearly believe that he can.