How the Cardinals compare to the other 7 teams searching for a new head coach
I thought it would be interesting to try to pinpoint how attractive the Cardinals' head coaching job is compared to the seven other teams that are searching for their new head coach.
I have broken it down into 5 categories:
1. NFL Report Card Rankings
MIA - 1
ATL - 3
LV - 4
BAL - 13
TEN - 16
NYG - 20
CLE - 30
ARI - 32
Arizona Cardinals Report Card 2025 | NFLPA
| Category | Grade | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment of Families | D+ | 29th | ||
| Food / Dining Area | D− | 30th | ||
| Nutritionist / Dietician | B | 22nd | ||
| Locker Room | F− | 32nd | ||
| Training Room | D− | 32nd | ||
| Training Staff | C | 31st | ||
| Weight Room | F | 31st | ||
| Strength Coaches | C+ | 31st | ||
| Team Travel | B | 20th | ||
| Head Coach | A | 8th | ||
| Ownership | D− | 30th | ||
2. Off-Season Outlook Regarding Cap Space and Draft Capital as complied and ranked by nfl.com:
LV - 2
TTEN - 3
NYG - 6
ARI - 7
CLE - 8
BAL - 12
MIA - 21
ATL - 32
- Cap space ranking: No. 17 | Draft capital ranking: No. 8 | Average: 12.5
- Team needs: OT, WR, RB, IOL, LB
The Cards are in line to finish well behind their counterparts in the NFC West and extend their drought without a playoff win to 10 seasons -- so they'll enter the offseason with major questions. First, after the 2025 additions of Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell failed to translate to wins, how much will the Cardinals want to spend on a team that's not ready to compete now? Second, how will they use their first-rounder -- currently slated to be sixth overall, which would mark their third time in the past four drafts making a top-six pick -- to set this roster up for the future?
And then there is the most consequential question surrounding the Cardinals: What will they do at quarterback? Specifically, should they continue with Kyler Murray, who is ending the season on injured reserve after a five-game stint in which he averaged less than 200 passing yards, or seek to trade or release him? A trade seems unlikely, given his new team would owe Murray $42.5 million in cash in 2026 and then another fully guaranteed $19.5 million in 2027 -- that's far from the kind of cheap prove-it deal you want when taking a flier on a change-of-scenery veteran. Releasing Murray would give the Cardinals $54.7 million in dead money to deal with, while gaining them just $1.5 million in cap space. Then again, this could be the offseason for Arizona to do a hard reset, and moving on from Murray might be part of that, regardless of the cap consequences.
3. 2025 Roster Rankings:
BAL - 1
ARI - 17
LV - 23
MIA - 24
SATL - 26
NYG - 27
TEN - 28
CLE - 31
17. Arizona Cardinals
Biggest strength: Interior defensive line. Their biggest weakness last season has become their biggest strength. After finishing 2024 ranked 28th and 20th in pass rush win rate (33.3%) and run stop win rate (29.8%), respectively, Arizona now has potential. Standout veterans Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell were signed to anchor the interior, with recent first-round picks Darius Robinson (2024) and Walter Nolen III (2025) adding upside. Justin Jones, L.J. Collier, Dante Stills and Bilal Nichols will compete for depth roles. -- Clay
Biggest weakness: Off-ball linebacker. Kyzir White (second among Arizona defenders in snaps played in 2024) was not re-signed, which leaves journeymen Mack Wilson Sr. and Akeem Davis-Gaither, along with fourth-round rookie Cody Simon, as the most notable options. This group will have to step up, considering the team's impressive DT/edge group. -- Clay
X factor for 2025: Edge Josh Sweat. Which version will the Cardinals get? Will it be the Sweat who had 2.5 sacks in Super Bowl LIX for the Eagles and who beat his blocker repeatedly with above-average pass rush win rates in 2021, 2022 or 2023? Or will he be the 2024 regular-season Sweat, who had a below-average 11% pass rush win rate at edge to go with 8.0 sacks? -- Walder
Nonstarter to know: Edge rusher Baron Browning. Browning has never played a full season since entering the NFL in 2021 and had only two sacks and 18 pressures last season, which he split between Denver and Arizona. Browning will get a chance for plenty of playing time this season in an edge rusher rotation made up of Sweat and a lot of "maybe" players. -- Schatz
Do you have any confidence with MO at the helm?
ReplyDeleteNo.
DeleteAt least the AZ fans got to finally see a good game last night on that usual slippery field. As far as opening rankings, I would move AZ to last based on the owner alone. Yes the Dolphins have a QB problem and cap hell too, but South Beach will always attract free agents. Not sure who Clay was giving AZ a strength at DL. That front seven sucks. Campbell will retire, Tomlinson only shows up occasionally and Nolan appears head for injured all the time, the rest are just backups to play with the only difference maker in Sweat.
ReplyDeleteCoach
I would take Vance J, only if he brings D. Webb as OC and Jim Leonard as DC. Although Doubt Denver would allow all to leave. If Davis Webb would want Garrett Nussmeier or Carson Beck in the second rd learning from Jacoby for 1 yr then we would have some hope.
Kill the Davis Webb OC talk. He’s never called a regular-season play. Not one. We already wasted years on “upside” hires—enough.
ReplyDeleteThis is a trash job. You don’t experiment here. You hire adults who’ve actually done the job.
Be honest about working for Bidwill. We’ll get a better staff than the one we fired. That’s it. Stop begging for kids learning on the job
Based on your logic, of the list of coaches currently interviewing, you are limiting the candidates of this experience for the worst opening in football to 2 coaches, Harbaugh and McCarthy. Harbaugh isn’t walking through that door.
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ReplyDeleteI can sum up the HC we need in one sentence: someone who manages the GM and Bidwill—not the other way around. That's what Bruce Arians did.
Delete61 is 100% correct. the new HC basically has to also be the director of football operations.
DeleteYep. If they hire another ass kissing HC, Cards losing history will repeat itself. The reason BA didn't get a HC offer before the Cardinals was the reason he was so successful in AZ.
DeleteMcDaniels would have a great starter kit here in Arizona with McBride Harrison and Wilson. He does need a speed receiver in his scheme . Watching the playoffs shows how stagnant our offensive scheme has been. Frustrating we dont have him coming in this week.
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