The Arizona Cardinals are sitting at 3-6 after their loss to the Seahawks in Seattle, and with the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline closing in, the front office has a decision to make. After already making two trades, Arizona could keep selling. But there’s also a path where the Cardinals do something a little less predictable and add pieces instead.
One name that fits that idea is Jacksonville wide receiver Brian Thomas. Trade buzz has followed the third-year wideout, who flashed big-time production in 2024 with 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The concern is obvious: Thomas has dealt with drops and uneven play over the past two seasons. Even so, his speed would give Arizona something it badly needs in the passing game.
The Cardinals have struggled to create explosive plays downfield this year, and Thomas could stretch the field in a way this offense currently lacks. If he landed in Arizona, his age would also line up nicely with Michael Wilson and Trey McBride, giving the Cardinals a trio that would average just 25 years old.
Another possible target is Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis Smith Jr., a move that would be about adding juice to the pass rush. His regular-season numbers haven’t jumped off the page, but his postseason run in 2024 did.
Over four playoff games, Smith Jr. posted four sacks and nine total tackles while helping Philadelphia win a Lombardi Trophy. He’s only 25, and pairing him with defensive tackle Walter Nolen could give Arizona a young, disruptive duo up front.
With Philadelphia sitting at 2-7, the Cardinals might not have to pay a steep price to get him.
Tight end Michael Mayer might be the most natural fit for what Arizona wants to do offensively. Head coach Mike LaFleur comes from two seasons as an offensive coordinator under Sean McVay, and McVay has long leaned on 12 and 13 personnel.
Those groupings are built around tight ends, and LaFleur has kept that trend going in Arizona. Through nine games, the Cardinals’ 13 personnel usage sits at 27%, which ranks second in the NFL.
Trey McBride is already a star, and Elijah Higgins has been solid enough as the second tight end. Add Mayer, and Arizona could suddenly have one of the league’s best tight end tandems.
That kind of setup would also help the run game, especially with Jeremiyah Love now in the fold. The Raiders are a competitive team that has taken losses against several strong opponents, and if they decide to retool, Mayer could be available.
He’s the most proven player on this list, which means Las Vegas would likely ask for plenty.
The final option is a quarterback swing: Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. Arizona could try to pry him away in an in-division deal for a traits-based passer with speed, a rocket arm, and real running ability.
Milroe was drafted last year and has been stuck behind Sam Darnold and Drew Lock in Seattle, with his only game action coming in the preseason. He played well in the 2025 preseason but struggled in 2026.
The Cardinals’ current quarterback room features Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck, both more pocket-oriented than Milroe. That makes him an interesting developmental bet, and because Lock has been a quality backup for Darnold, Arizona probably wouldn’t have to give up much.
It’s the kind of low-risk, high-upside move a front office can justify.
Of course, standing pat would not be a disaster either. Holding onto draft capital and continuing to develop young players has its own appeal. But if Arizona decides to make a move, these are the kinds of players that could help shape what comes next.
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Cardinals Offense Faces Immediate Heat After First Post-Brissett Letdown
The first game after the Jacoby Brissett trade did not give the Cardinals much of a cushion, as Arizona fell 17-3 to Seattle and spent most of the afternoon searching for any kind of offensive rhythm. Gardner Minshew handled the quarterback duties and moved the ball in stretches, but the unit never turned those drives into points, leaving the defense to absorb too much of the pressure in a game that quickly tilted toward the Seahawks.
For a team trying to steady itself after a major roster move, the margin for error is already thin, and the postgame mood reflected that urgency. Mike LaFleur addressed the offenses underperformance afterward, and the next step is obvious enough: Arizona has to find a way to be sharper and more efficient before this one-game stumble starts to feel like a pattern. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Sweat Just Put Arizonas Trade Deadline Focus On One Decision
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For Arizona, the situation now sits at the intersection of roster planning and contract reality. Sweat is on a four-year deal with no guaranteed money left beyond this season, which only adds to the uncertainty around his future and makes the next move feel like more than a simple deadline rumor. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Defense Smothered Arizona In A Win Fans Will Debate
Seattles 17-3 win over Arizona at Lumen Field was the kind of game that left both sides with plenty to unpack, but the Seahawks defense set the tone from the start. Arizona never found much room to breathe, settling for a single field goal while Seattles pass rush kept coming with sacks from Byron Murphy, Demarcus Lawrence and Dante Fowler Jr., turning the afternoon into a grind for the Cardinals offense.
The bigger debate may linger over the officiating, which drew plenty of second-guessing along the way and added another layer to a game that never felt fully settled. For Arizona, the frustration was less about one missed opportunity than the larger picture of an offense that struggled to answer a physical Seattle front, leaving the Cardinals with more questions than comfort after a divisional loss that felt even more lopsided than the final score. [Read more 🡒]