The Cardinals head to Seattle with more than a Week 9 result hanging in the balance.
Arizona’s trip to face the Seahawks could end up shaping how the front office approaches the trade deadline, which arrives Tuesday, Nov. 10. The Cardinals have already made one move with Marvin Harrison Jr. and have another coming with Jacoby Brissett, but the bigger decisions may still be ahead.
At 3-5, Arizona sits in a spot where a win could change the tone fast. Beating Seattle would lift the Cardinals to 4-5 and keep them firmly in the middle of the NFC West race, even if nobody is pretending that means a run at the top of the division. With a victory, they could even leave the weekend tied for second place in the NFC West if results elsewhere break their way.
That matters because the Cardinals are still only two games back of the final NFC wild-card spot. It’s early, but a win would keep their season meaningful into November and give the organization a reason to stay patient with some of its bigger names.
That group includes Budda Baker and Josh Sweat, two players who are drawing trade interest even if Arizona doesn’t sound eager to move either one. If the Cardinals stay afloat, there’s a case for keeping the roster intact and seeing where the season goes. There’s also the reality that a strong finish in 2026 could help a general manager strengthen his standing for another year.
The schedule only adds to that argument. According to Tankathon, Arizona’s remaining strength of schedule is .463, seventh-easiest in the NFL, and that number gets softer after back-to-back games against the Seahawks and Rams.
But a loss in Seattle could swing the other way in a hurry. Falling to 3-6 would make it harder to justify holding onto players who may not fit the long-term picture, especially if trade interest picks up after Sunday.
Arizona already owns an extra second-round pick from its trade with Houston for Harrison, and a move involving Baker or Sweat would likely bring back more Day 2 draft capital. That kind of haul could matter in a rebuild, especially with the Cardinals sitting just outside the top 10 in the draft order at No. 11.
There’s also a bigger-picture angle if the losses keep coming. ESPN’s football power index gives Arizona a 62% chance to finish in the top ten of the 2027 draft order, and an 18% chance to land in the top five. If the Cardinals slide, they could position themselves for a major need or even a blockbuster trade-up for a quarterback.
No matter how it plays out, Sunday in Seattle feels like one of those games that reaches far beyond the final score. One result could keep Arizona steady. The other could send the franchise in a very different direction.
In Other News...
Cardinals Deadline Approach Is Raising Big Questions About This Roster
As the deadline nears, the Cardinals are still sorting through what kind of roster they want to be for the stretch run, and the conversation around them has only gotten louder. Arizona has already been linked to a quarterback move with Jacoby Brissett expected to be finalized soon, while head coach Mike LaFleur also said running back James Conner will not return this week, leaving the offense with more short-term uncertainty than the team would like.
The bigger question is what Arizona does with its veteran talent on the other side of the ball. The Cardinals have been seeking significant value for edge rusher Josh Sweat, and league chatter has also kept safety Budda Baker in the trade conversation as Tuesday approaches, a sign that this front office may still be weighing whether to add around the margins or take a harder look at the long-term picture. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Josh Sweat Decision That Still Isnt Simple
Josh Sweat has become one of the more interesting names to watch as the NFL trade deadline approaches, but the buzz around the Cardinals pass-rusher has not changed the basic outlook much. Arizona has every reason to treat him as part of its longer-term plans, and the contract situation only makes a move more complicated for a team that values edge help.
Even with rumors circulating, the sense around the league is that the Cardinals are not eager to deal him unless the return is substantial enough to justify it. Sweats future still feels tied to Arizona, and unless the right kind of offer materializes, this looks like one of those deadline stories that may end with the player staying put and the team keeping its pass rush intact. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Head To Seattle Already Facing A Costly Lineup Problem
The Cardinals head into their Week 9 trip to Seattle already shorthanded, with running back Bam Knight, tackle Jayden Williams and guard Jon Gaines all ruled out because of injuries. Mike LaFleur said none of the three practiced during the week, leaving Arizona to sort through its depth before the official injury report comes out after practice and to keep an eye on a few other banged-up players as well.
It is the kind of availability issue that can shape a game plan before kickoff, especially on the road against a division opponent. Seattle will be starting Drew Lock at quarterback in place of the injured Sam Darnold, but Arizona still has to piece together its own lineup on both sides of the ball, and the final answers up front could matter just as much as anything the Seahawks do under center. [Read more 🡒]