Cardinals' Positional Chaos

By Walter Mitchell

It's difficult to imagine that in year four of an NFL rebuild, the Arizona Cardinals continue to be mired in chaos at the following positions: QB, WR, RG, RT, NT, RDE, ED, ILB and CB.

Let's take it, Cardinals' fans, one position at a time.

QB

After striking out with Colt McCoy, Josh Dobbs, Kyler Murray and 2023 5th round pick Clayton Tune, the one QB who showed impressive upside in the passing game, Jacoby Brissett, is holding out of OTAs due to contract concerns. 

Meanwhile, surprise veteran UFA QB addition, Gardner Minshew and 2026 3rd round pick, Carson Beck, are taking the majority of the snaps during OTAs. 

Perhaps part of the holdup with Jacoby Brissett's contract situation could be linked to the Cardinals' potential interest in former Cincinnati Bearcats' QB Brendan Sorsby who is appealing the NCAA ruling that he is ineligible to play this season for Texas Tech due to a sports gambling addiction. 

If Brendan Sorsby winds up in the NFL's supplemental draft this June, in light of how extensively the Cardinals scouted Sorsby at Cincinnati last year, would they put in a 1st or 2nd round bid for him? 

If the Cardinals are locked in on Brendan Sorsby, then it would behoove them to bid a 1st rounder because it's very likely that a playoff contender that would be picking late in the 2027 NFL Draft --- one who needs a QBOF --- would find it opportunistic to bid on Sorsby.

Would the New York Jets be willing to bid their 1st round pick on Brendan Sorsby? Who knows? But it would seem unlikely at this point. 

If no team bids a 1st rounder, would the Jets bid a 2nd rounder? That feels more likely. 

If the Cardinals wind up with the winning bid on Brendan Sorsby, then it's likely that they would then try to trade Jacoby Brissett. Because then they could employ Gardner Minshew and his guaranteed $51M as a bridge QB to Brendan Sorsby and Carson Beck.

Current QB status: totally up in the air

WR

With Michael Wilson's emergence as a potential WR1, it's difficult to say whether he and the team will be able to agree on a contract extension before the season begins. Does one 1,000-yard season warrant him WR1 money? 

Would Michael Wilson be as productive without Jacoby Brissett? 

Will Marvin Harrison Jr. reclaim the WR1 position? If so, will he want to be paid WR1 money after this season? If the Cardinals are more inclined to pick up his 5th year option, as they have with Paris Johnson Jr., will Marv hold out and/or demand a trade?

Which WR this season is going to play slot WR? Are the Cardinals ever going to have a go-to slot WR, which is in vogue in today's NFL? Slot WRs under Kyler Murray were not given a whole lot of targets other than on bubble screens and occasional crossers. Jacoby Brissett could change all of that given his height and ability to throw over the middle. 

Carson Beck could feed the slot as he did with freshman phenom Malachai Toney to the tune of 109 receptions (#1 in USA) for 1,211 yards and 10 TDs. 

Current WR status: WR1 up in the air, uncertainty as to whether Marv will break out this season and there is no clear slot WR.

RG

In 2023 the Cardinals had a great thing going with Will Hernandez. It was just awful that Will suffered an ACL tear while at the peak of his dominant level of play. in his contract year, no less.

The RG position has been in flux ever since, despite the Cardinals having used 4th and 3rd round picks on RB candidates in Jon Gaines II and Isaiah Adams. Gaines was set back by a knee injury his rookie season and Adams looked to be making solid strides until the Cardinals lost Klayton Adams as his coach.

For the sake of stability and depth, the Cardinals signed veteran guard Matt Pryor --- but then addressed the position in the 2nd round of this year's draft when they selected Chase Bisontis of Texas A&M. Bisontis is a bruiser who needs to improve his blocking techniques and self-discipline. 

Current RG status: Up in the air.

RT

The Cardinals woes at RT began when they made the ill-advised decision to switch Paris Johnson Jr. to the right side his rookie season. Not only did that decision delay his progress as an NFL LT, it left a void that they tried unsuccessfully to fulfill with 2024 UFA Jonah Williams. Williams came with medical red flags and in two seasons with the Cardinals was only able to play in 15 of a possible 34 starts while on a 2-year $30M contract.

The Cardinals drafted RT Christian Jones from Texas in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL Draft but oddly wound up playing him more at LT in pre-season games where he struggled mightily until he suffered a knee injury last pre-season. Too bad the Cardinals have yet to see how Chrisitan Jones could play at RT, where he played well with the Longhorns opposite Kelvin Banks Jr. at LT.

Josh Fryar of Ohio St. who played very well at RT for the Buckeyes was added as an undrafted rookie but he too has spent more time at LT thus far than RT. Paris Johnson Jr. believes that Josh Fryar can be a stud NFL RT.

But it looks like the starting job this season belongs to UFA Elijah Wilkinson, who started 17 games for the Atlanta Falcons last season in place the injured and now retired Kaleb McGary. Wilkinson is a polarizing player whom some believe can be a dominant player at RT and others believe is too undisciplined ang technically flawed.

It's possible that if Wilkinson struggles, then Josh Fryar, Matt Pryor or UFA addition Osi Udoh could take over that starting job.

RT Current Status: up in the air.

NT

What a revolving door it has been for the Cardinals at NT for the past three seasons. Every 3-4 defense starts with having a NT who commands a double team. 

The most successful NT the Cardinals have had was Roy Lopez who is just a little undersized for the position but wins with quick penetrations. He is now back after playing for the Lions last season.

The Cardinals struck out big-time with 2025 UFA Dalvin Tomlinson who they signed for 2-years $29M and $13.5M guaranteed. 

This year they have not only brought back Roy Lopez, they signed UFA NT Andrew Billings of the Chicago Bears who is a wide-bodied space-eater. And PJ Mustipher, who showed good flashes on ability last season returns.

Current NT status: should be stronger this season.

RDE 

In 2023 the Cardinals selected 3-4 DE Dante Stills of West Virginia who showed flashes as a rotational interior pass rusher. 

After the Cardinals moved on from RDE starter Leki Fotu following the 2023 season, they addressed the RDE position in the 2024 draft when they used their #27 pick on Darius Robinson of Missouri.

Robinson's rookie season was marred by a calf injury that he suffered in training camp. Then last season his DLC Derrick LeBlanc was replaced by 1st year NFL coach Winston DeLattiboudere III of the University of Minnesota. The coaching change may have been one of the reasons why Darius Robinson struggled so badly last season. He did show some flashes of what he is capable of toward the end of last season and this year he needs to take a giant leap forward under the supervision of new DLC Pete Kwiatkowski who was the Texas Longhorns' DC and outside linebackers coach for the past 4 seasons.

In the 2026 NFL Draft the Cardinals added depth at RDE by taking Kaleb Proctor of Southeastern Louisiana in the 4th round.

Current RDE status: depends a great deal on Darius Robinson's growth.

ILB

The Cardinals have been starting good leaders at MLB, in Kyzir White and Mack Wilson Sr., but they have struggled in that role, particularly in pass coverage and off-tackle run support. 

At WLB the Cardinals drafted the super speedy Owen Pappoe in the 5th round of the 2023 draft but sat him behind Josh Woods who graded as the worst player on the defense. The next season they signed Mack Wilson Sr, to play the WLB and he was solid in run support but struggled in pass coverage. Then in 2025 they signed UFA Akeem Davis-Gaither to start at WLB, yet he too struggled.

In 2025 the Cardinals drafted Rose Bowl and 2024 Natty defensive MVP Cody Simon of Ohio St., who figures to start at MLB or WLB this season.

For depth, competition and special teams' boosts the Cardinals signed Jack Gibbens of the New England Patriots and they drafted Karson Sharar of Iowa in the 6th round. 

Current ILB status: still up in the air.

ED

After regrettably passing on Will Anderson Jr. in his first draft, Monti tried to compensate by moving Zaven Collins to SOLB and reaching for an injured B.J. Ojulari in Round 2. albeit with Brian Branch still available. Zaven, until last season, has been solid against the run, but has not generated many sacks. Ojulari flashed with 4 sacks as a rookie but sadly suffered an ACL and MCL injury that cost him his second season. 

In 2024 the Cardinals selected edge rusher Xavier Thomas from Clemson in the 5th round. While made a few dazzling chase downs of scrambling QBs and seemed to get consistent pressure on the QB in pre-season games, he was cut during the season last year and was picked up by the Houston Texans.

In 2024 with the Cardinals in the playoff hunt and still ranking as one of the lowest teams in sacks, Monti traded for Baron Browning who has flashed speed off the edge, but has only registered 4 sacks with Cardinals, despite the team re-signing him to a 2-year $15M extension that is worth up to $19.5M in incentives and $10M in guaranteed salary. Add those figures to the 2-year $14M extension that Monti agave Zaven Collins that gave him $11.25M guaranteed. 

Facts are so far, signing Baron Browning and Zaven Collins to 2-year contracts worth $29M combined, $21.25 of which has been guaranteed has only led to 10.5 sacks combined over the past two seasons. And, even worse, this past season, Browning and Collins were two of the worst tacklers on the NFLs worst tackling defense. Browning scored a 27.3 tackling grade, with Collins at 38.8. Sad to say, but this is like Terrell Suggs kind of "stealing" from Browning and Collins. 

There are those of us who still believe that Zaven Collins could be one of the most physical and productive MIKE linebackers in the NFL.

In 2025, the Cardinals drafted Jordan Burch from Oregon in Round 3 and while he looked promising during the pre-season as an edge rusher, in 504 snaps as a rookie, he had only 16 QB pressures. 1 sack and 18 tackles (9 solo), with, here's the good news, only 1 missed tackle. 

In the 2025 free agency, the Cardinals landed one of the top edge rushers in Josh Sweat, who was coming off a 3-sack performance in helping the Eagles win the Super Bowl over the Chiefs. Sweat agreed to a 4-year $76M contract with $38M guaranteed. Last season, Sweat would turn in the only Pro Bowl worthy performance among his defensive teammates. At least anyone not named Calais Campbell.

Now it appears that after one season, Josh Sweat wants to be traded to the Packers, Eagles or Bucs. Mike LaFleur said he's not "listening" to reports of trade discussions involving Josh Sweat and that Josh is missing OTAs because. as some other players do, he has an individualized way in which he trains. 

Despite the Cardinals being linked to a number of the top edge rushers in the 2026 draft, once again, the Cardinals focused on other positions. 

Current ED status for the Cardinals: mirky.

CB 

This one's the dandy.

Over Monti Ossenfort's first 3 drafts, he selected 7 CBs. He also claimed Starling Thomas V in 2023 from the Lions and his prize UFA CB signing in 2024 was Sean Murphy-Bunting, inking him to a 3-year, $22.5M contract, with $17.39M guaranteed. 

Murphy-Bunting in 2024 had significant trouble trying to play man-to-man coverage in the slot. He was opportunistic in zones. picking off 3 errant passes. However, perhaps most alarming, he was one of the worst tacklers in the NFL.

After Murphy-Bunting missing all of last season with a knee injury that he incurred while away from the team during the off-season, Monti Ossenfort welcomed him back on a restructured deal that can earn him up to $4M this season. Reports from OTAs thus far indicate the coaches have been using him - you know where - in the slot.

Let's check in on the 7 draft picks in order of selection:

* Garrett Williams (R3/2023) --- thrives in zone coverage, struggles in man and was the 189th CB in tackling last season. He's billed as a slot CB but does not fit the position in man coverage. He's at his best in the flat or deep quarter/third of the team's zones.

* Kei'Trel Clark (R6/2023) --- had done his best work on special teams. Even though he had the best CB start versus the Rams in 2024, grading in the 80s and giving up 2 completions in 5 targets for 5 yards while amassing 7 tackles, he was benched the next week. That's pretty much how the coaches have treated him for the past three years.

* Max Melton (R2/2024) --- Monti passed over Cooper DeJean and Kwamie Lassiter to then take Max Melton and in two seasons Max has been wildly inconsistent. Melton is a very talented player.

* Elijah Jones (R3/2024) --- was placed on IR as a rookie with an ankle injury. Was arguably the best cover CB in the 2025 pre-season games yet did not get any playing time until the last regular season game versus the Rams, a game in which he shined. Jones is a very talented player.

* Jaden Davis (R7/2024) --- has been called up from the practice squad a couple of times and had fared best on special teams. Has struggled to cover from the slot.

* Will Johnson (R2/2025) --- due to medical red flags and questions about his speed, the Cardinals were elated to see him available in the middle of Round 2, at pick #47. He started from day one as a rookie with a bang versus the Saints, but during the course of the season the level of his play trailed off, both as a cover CB (where recovery speed was an issue) and as a tackler. Like Garrett Williams, Will thrives in zones and struggles in man. Injuries remain a concern as he missed 5 games last season.

* Denzel Burke (R5.2025) --- absolutely won over the coaches with his aggressive style of play. Led the Cardinals' CBs with 3 interceptions and 9 pass breakups. He was arguably the most consistent CB in terms of effort and efficiency in pass coverage but struggled with tackling and graded poorly.

• PFF Overall Grade: 55.6 (83rd of 114 qualified cornerbacks)
• Coverage Grade: 61.2 (63rd of 114)
• Run-Defense Grade: 35.4 (111th of 114)

* Starling Thomas V (WC from DET/2023) --- came right in as a waiver wire claim in 2023 and over the next two seasons earned himself 22 starts. He was growing into a confident CB but sadly tore an ACL in training camp last year and spent the season on the IR. Star has a nifty package of size, physical skills (4.38 40. 36" vertical) and playmaking ability. It's ironic that he, the undrafted rookie claimed off waivers, amidst 7 drafted CBs, currently has the most starts of any, except for Garrett Williams.

Career Starts:

1. Garrett Williams --- 27

2. Starling Thomas V --- 22

3. Max Melton --- 11

4. Will Johnson --- 10

5. Kei'Trel Clark --- 9

6. Denzel Burke --- 8

7. Elijah Jones --- 0

8. Jaden Davis --- 0

What about slot CB? 

Question remains --- can any of these CBs cover Puka, CMC and JSN from the slot? Sean Murphy-Bunting?  

Current CB status: still very much up in the air

Conclusion:

Just today Dan Bickley of Arizona Sports Radio was saying about the Cardinals' 2026 QB situation, "I just want some clarity."

Exactly, Bick.

Problem is not only clarity at the QB position, but at practically half their starting positions.

What about the NFC rivals? How many starting positions are unsettled going into training camp?

LAR:

None.

SF:

1 - LG

SEA:

1 - RG

Hopefully, this season, Mike LaFleur and his coaches will provide the kind of positional clarity the Cardinals urgently need.

In my opinion, the question isn't talent --- it's the underqualified and wishy-washy coaching that Jonathan Gannon and so many of his assistants exhibited.