HC: Mike LaFleur
OC: Nathaniel Hackett
DC: Nick Rallis
ST: Michael Ghobrial

QB Gardner Minshew II, RB Tyler Allgeier, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Devin Duvernay, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, OT Elijah Wilkinson, OT Oli Udoh, G Isaac Suemalo, G Matt Pryor, DL Roy Lopez, DL Andrew Billings, LB Jack Gibbens, S Andrew Wingard, LS Casey Kreiter

QB Kyler Murray, RB Emari Demercado, RB Michael Carter, WR Greg Dortch, WR Zay Jones, TE Pharaoh Brown, OT Jonah Williams, OT Kelvin Beachum, G Will Hernandez, C Evan Brown, DL Calais Campbell, DL Dalvin Tomlinson, DL Bilal Nichols, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB Channing Tindall, CB Darren Hall, S Jalen Thompson, LS Aaron Brewer

RB Jeremiah Love (1.03), G Chase Bisontis (2.34), QB Carson Beck (3.65), DL Kaleb Proctor (4.104), WR Reggie Virgil (5.143), LB Karson Sharar (6.183), OT Jayden Williams (7.217)

QB: Jacoby Brissett
RB: Jeremiyah Love (R)
WR: Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR: Michael Wilson
WR: Kendrick Bourne
TE: Trey McBride
TE: Tip Reiman
LT: Paris Johnson Jr.
LG: Isaac Suemalo
C: Hjalte Froholdt
RG: Chase Bisontis (R)
RT: Elijah Wilkinson

DL: Darius Robinson
NT: Roy Lopez
DL: Walter Nolen III
EDGE: Josh Sweat
LB: Mack Wilson Sr.
LB: Cody Simon
EDGE: Zaven Collins
CB: Will Johnson
S: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
S: Budda Baker
SCB: Sean Murphy-Bunting
CB: Denzel Burke

Click here for the full depth chart for the projected 53-man roster.

No one is expecting the Cardinals to contend in the loaded NFC West this season, but if they do, it’ll likely be based on the offense surprising with star power at running back (No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love), wide receiver (if Marvin Harrison Jr. can make a Year 3 leap and Michael Wilson plays like he did at the end of 2025), and tight end (First-team All-Pro Trey McBride). The big question mark is at quarterback with Jacoby Brissett seeking a new contract as the projected starter after replacing Kyler Murray last season, so maybe the door will be open for third-round pick Carson Beck—who has been putting in 13-hour days at the facility this offseason. No matter who is under center, look for the offense to lean on Love and Tyler Allgeier in new head coach Mike LaFleur’s outside-zone scheme to control the ball and keep games close.

Defensively, Arizona is very strong on the backend, but they are still waiting for someone to emerge up front for a group that does have a solid rotation with Roy Lopez back after a year in Detroit and Andrew Billings also brought in to help replace veterans Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson. The problem is the lack of a true difference-maker anywhere in the front seven combined with standout safety Budda Baker—subject of trade talks in recent years—now entering his age-30 season, so we’ll see if 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson, 2025 first-round pick Walter Nolen III, or someone else can step up as a possible impact player.

Unfortunately, the potential season-ending knee injury for fourth-rounder Kaleb Proctor could leave the defense with zero rookie contributors based on their projected 53-man roster, which is kind of difficult to fathom for a team that is coming off a 3-14 season.

The expectation is that 2025 second-round pick Will Johnson has one of the starting spots locked up, but Arizona could realistically utilize a bunch of combinations at cornerback with Denzel Burke, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Max Melton, Garrett Williams, and Kei’Trel Clark all making starts in their careers. While my initial belief was that Melton would win the other outside job and Williams would start in the slot, it sounds like Murphy-Bunting—after missing all of last season with a knee injury—is the favorite inside, and Burke apparently has the upper hand to start across from Johnson based on OTAs. Whatever the starting trio ends up being, it’s a rare battle with too many good options for them all to see significant snaps.

If Burke does indeed earn a starting job this summer, he will be looking to build on a season where he made eight starts as a sixth-round rookie—and his confidence appears to be back after some inconsistency at Ohio State. At his best, Burke has natural stickiness and the ability to match opponents in press coverage, and he’ll be tested versus a gauntlet of a schedule for Arizona over the first 11 weeks.

Jeremiyah Love essentially enters the league as a household name and should quickly become one of the NFL’s best running backs, but Bisontis could be a big part of his success, too. After mostly playing left guard for the Aggies, Bistontis—who we had as our No. 20 overall prospect—is slated to start at right guard, and his athleticism should be showcased out in space as he leads the way for his rookie teammate.

As stated, the Cardinals schedule is about as tough as it gets through late November—so the Giants will be an ideal measuring stick for them to begin October. If they lose that one, Arizona could very well be 0-11 with the Chargers, Seahawks (twice), 49ers, Lions, Rams (twice), Broncos, Cowboys, and Chiefs being the other opponents before things lighten up down the stretch.

Maybe the Cardinals will surprise with star power at the skill positions, a better offensive line than given credit for, and definite talent in the secondary—but it’s tough to win in the NFL with a questionable quarterback room, and the team is still waiting on some early-round investments to emerge on defense.