Red Rain Podcast 201: Cardinals' 2026 Roster Concerns and Top HC Candidates


By Walter Mitchell, Kyle Ledbetter and since61 Sam

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9I3fmTdPjs

Spotify:

Red Rain 201: Cardinals Important Roster Decisions + 3 Head Coaching Candidates We Aren't Talking About Enough - Red Rain Podcast with Walter Mitchell | Podcast on Spotify

Apple:

Red Rain 201: Cardinals Import… - Red Rain Podcast with Walter Mitchell - Apple Podcasts

2026 Players Under Contract (with projected cap figures):

QB:

* Kyler Murray --- $52.6M --- $36.8 g --- $54.7M DC

* Jacoby Brissett --- $7.2M --- $0 g --- $1.75M DC

* Kedon Slovis --- $1M

RB: 

* James Conner --- $9.8M --- $0 g --- $2.25M DC

* Trey Benson --- $1.7M

* Emari Demercado --- RFA

* Zonovan Knight --- RFA

* Corey Kiner --- $1.0M

WR:

* Michael Wilson --- $1.7M

* Marvin Harrison Jr. --- $9.6M

* Xavier Weaver --- $1.1M

* Tehjuan Palmer --- $1.0M

* Andre Baccellia --- $1.1M

* Jalen Brooks --- $1.1M

* Bryson Green --- $885K

TE:

* Trey McBride --- $8.7M

* Tip Reiman --- $1.6M

* Elijah Higgins --- $1.1M

* Travis Vokolek --- ERFA

* Rivaldo Fairweather --- $1.0M

T:

* Paris Johnson, Jr. --- $8.9M

* Josh Fryar --- $1.0M

* Demontrey Jacobs --- $1.1M

* Christian Jones --- $1.2M

* Valentin Senn --- $1.0M

G:

* Evan Brown --- $6.4M ---$0 g --- $$1.5M DC

* Isaiah Adams --- $1.7M

* Jon Gaines II --- $1.3M

C:

* Hjalte Froholdt ---$7.0M

* Hayden Conner --- $1.0M

NT:

* Dalvin Tomlinson --- $16.2M --- $0 g --- $6.8M DC

* PJ Mustipher --- ERFA

DE:

* Darius Robinson --- $3.8M

* Walter Nolen --- $4.4M

* Dante Stills --- $1.2M

* Zachary Carter --- $1.2M

ILB:

* Mack Wilson Sr. --- $4,7M

* Akeem Davis-Gaither --- $6.2M

* Cody Simon --- $1.3M

* Owen Pappoe --- $1.2M

* Austin Keys --- $1.0M

OLB:

* Josh Sweat ---$16.4M

* Baron Browning --- $9.4M --- $2M g --- $4.75M DC

* Zaven Collins --- $6.0M --- $0 g --- $1.7M DC

* B.J. Ojulari --- $2.7M --- $0 g --- $813K DC

* Jordan Burch --- $1.5M

* Elliott Brown --- $885K

* Eku Leaota --- #$1.1M

CB:

* Sean Murphy-Bunting --- $9.2M --- 0 g --- $2M DC

* Max Melton --- $2.4M

* Will Johnson --- $2.1M

* Garrett Williams --- $1.8M

* Elijah Jones --- $$1.6M

*Denzel Burke --- $1.1M

* Jaden Davis --- $1.0M

* Kalen King --- $1.0M

* Starling Thomas V --- RFA

S:

* Budda Baker ---$19.2M --- $7.8M g --- $13,877M DC

* Joey Blount --- $1,8M

* Dadrion Taylor-Demerson --- $1.3M

* Kitan Crawford ---$1.0M

ST:

* Chad Ryland --- RFA

Notable Free Agents:

* S Jalen Thomson

* DE Calais Campbell

* T Kelvin Beachum

* T Jonah Williams

* WR Greg Dortch

* DE L.J. Collier

* G Will Hernadez

* RB Michael Carter

* WR Zay Jones

* WR Simi Fehoko

TE Pharoah Brown

LB Channing Tindall

* CB Daren Hall

* TE Josiah Deguera

* P Blake Gillikin

* LS Aaron Brewer

Cap Space: $27.1M






Comments

  1. JethroBodineJanuary 14, 2026 at 5:14 PM

    Agreed. The next Cardinals HC has to have experience and tell MB and MO that he is going to do things his way. I don't see MB and MO agreeing to it though.

    As a Card fan, I am so jealous of this. The Steelers average head coach tenure since 1969 is roughly 19 years. Three head coaches in 57 years: Chuck Noll (23 years), Bill Cowher (15 years), and Mike Tomlin (19 years). Harbaugh is 63 so if they hire him, it will mess up their average but I would still like to see the Steelers hire him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJanuary 15, 2026 at 1:31 AM

      Looks like Harbaugh is prepping to sign with NYG.

      Delete
    2. Simpleman 2026January 15, 2026 at 4:51 AM

      My prediction- Flores to Steelers, Ravens will take either Stefanski, Kingsberry or McDaniel, (Mike M. could also take fallback option Lions OC), Harbaugh to Giants. Browns promote Schwartz. Joe Brady to Dolphins. McCarthy to Titans. Nagy to Raiders. Saleh to Falcons. Leaves AZ with a unproven HC for Monti & Jr. to buy cheap and control.

      Delete
    3. Since 61January 15, 2026 at 7:25 AM

      That leaves Kubiak-I'd be thrilled but will Kubiak?

      Delete
  2. Since 61January 15, 2026 at 10:08 AM

    OMG! WTF would Harbaugh work for the NY Giants over the Cards?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JethroBodineJanuary 15, 2026 at 11:12 AM

      It's his last gig. He will make bank coaching the next 5 season then move his family to the Caribbean or Hawaii. That's what I would do.

      Delete
  3. Since 61January 15, 2026 at 10:17 AM

    AZCards just posted their HC job opening on the NFL Employment Bulletin Board-
    NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! We are hiring a Head Coach for the widely viewed NFL’s worst job, decades of dysfunction under Bidwill ownership, a toxic workplace culture with poor player facilities, and major challenges in the highly competitive NFC West. We have no quarterback, a poor regressing full of holes roster, a lame-duck general manager, no cap space, and a severely limited ability to guarantee contracts. We are THE franchise trapped in a cycle of failure, resulting in the most losses in NFL history and the longest active championship drought in North American professional sports. Your Salary will low and your position coaches payroll will be close to pro bono.
    If interested, do not contact our GM, our owner makes all decisions unilaterally without much discussion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JethroBodineJanuary 15, 2026 at 11:07 AM

      LOL right but this is how it will read.

      Have you ever wanted to coach one of only 32 teams in the NFL and have the chance to win a Super Bowl? Are you tired of cold wet weather and want to bask by the pool in the sunny Arizona weather? Just an hour flight to the west coast, an hour flight to pine forests and snow skiing and Cancun is only 4 hours away. Some of the players who have graced this team are Larry Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner, Aeneas Williams, Larry Wilson and Dan Dierdorf. Be a part of history working for one of the most prominent teams in the NFL with one of the most respected owners. Run, don't walk as this is a limited opportunity of a lifetime.

      Delete

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