PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 31: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Cardinals’ 2024 season was inconsistent, with the offense stalling at times and the defense struggling to stop teams throughout the year. They went 8-9 in head coach Jonathan Gannon‘s second season, but struggled despite having quarterback Kyler Murray healthy for the entire season after missing part of 2023 recovering from an ACL tear.
The team had a great season from rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who had 885 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. The offense continues to be a work in progress for the Cardinals, and the defense still needs to come together if they have hopes of making the playoffs next season.
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The Cardinals started their offseason by extending their tight end, Trey McBride, after his first 1,000-yard season with the team. The team also signed free agents like defensive end Josh Sweat, defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, defensive tackle L.J. Collier, quarterback Jacoby Brissett and wide receiver Zay Jones. The only notable losses from the Cardinals were outside linebacker Julian Okwara and wide receiver Zach Pascal.
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The Cardinals had the 16th overall pick in the NFL Draft, where they selected defensive tackle Walter Nolen out of Oregon. Nolen adds to their many additions to their defensive line, which was horrible against the run in 2024. The other big selections from the Cardinals were cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackle Jordan Burch, linebacker Cody Simon, cornerback Denzel Burke and guard Hayden Conner.
The Cardinals’ defense will need to establish its new identity in 2025, along with the offense, if the team wants to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The Cardinals have the 27th most challenging schedule in the NFL, according to Fox Sports, and open their season against a rebuilding Saints team in New Orleans. The Cardinals’ most formidable opponents will likely come against their divisional rivals, the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers, all of whom have improved this offseason. The Cardinals will also face tough games against the Packers, Texans, and Buccaneers, all of whom were playoff teams a season ago.
The Cardinals start the season with +6000 odds of winning the Super Bowl and +2800 odds of winning the NFC championship—the Cardinals open week one as 5.5-point favorites against the Saints on the road in New Orleans.
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