The Arizona Cardinals showed up near the bottom of ESPN’s latest roster rankings, landing tied for 29th as the calendar turns toward the 2026 training camp. That puts them in the third-worst spot in the league, and it’s another reminder that outside of a few bright spots, this roster still comes with a lot more uncertainty than certainty.
ESPN did at least give Arizona one clear calling card. The Cardinals’ biggest strength is at tight end, and it all runs through Trey McBride, who has developed into one of the NFL’s top playmakers at the position.
The problem is that the rest of the roster doesn’t get the same kind of treatment. ESPN labeled quarterback as the Cardinals’ biggest weakness, pointing to the departure of Kyler Murray and the likelihood that Jacoby Brissett opens the season as the Week 1 starter.
Brissett put up volume numbers in 12 starts last season, throwing for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns, but Arizona’s habit of throwing at a league-high rate was tied in part to how often it was chasing games. Brissett also finished 24th among 28 qualified quarterbacks in QBR at 41.2.
There is at least one player on offense ESPN flagged as a possible swing piece for 2026: wide receiver Michael Wilson. His season split told a very different story depending on the stretch.
In Weeks 1-10, Wilson averaged just 0.8 yards per route run, which made him one of the least efficient receivers in the league. From Week 11 on, though, his production jumped to 2.6 yards per route run, which ranked 12th among wide receivers in that span.
With Marvin Harrison Jr. out for much of that time, Wilson’s role becomes one of the key questions as Arizona tries to figure out who can be part of its long-term core.
ESPN’s nonstarter to know was edge rusher BJ Ojulari, with trade rumors already floating around Josh Sweat and Baron Browning and Zaven Collins combining for only 3.5 sacks last season.
That’s the bigger picture for Arizona right now: McBride is a proven weapon, there’s hope around the receivers, and the rookie running back is intriguing. Beyond that, the roster is mostly a collection of questions, not answers.
The Cardinals were tied with the Atlanta Falcons at 29th, while the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins were listed as the league’s two worst rosters. The real question is whether McBride is the only thing keeping Arizona from being mentioned with those bottom-two teams.
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Darius Robinson Knows What Must Change In Crucial Cardinals Year 3
Darius Robinsons second NFL season gave the Cardinals a better look at what the defensive end can become, and now the next step is about turning that progress into something steadier. Arizona kept defensive coordinator Nick Rallis in place and added Pete Kwiatkowski to work with the defensive line, giving Robinson a familiar framework as he heads into a third year that carries real weight for his development.
Robinson has talked about needing to sharpen his self-scouting, knowing what he does well and what still needs work, then attacking both faster. He has also put extra offseason focus on pass rush and using his hands, and with training camp set to open July 22 at State Farm Stadium, the Cardinals will soon find out whether that work shows up when the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Real BJ Ojulari Question To Answer
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His next stop is the third annual Sack Summit in Las Vegas, a pass-rush gathering that brings together some of the leagues most decorated edge players for hands-on work and development. Ojulari has sounded upbeat about where he stands physically and how he is approaching the coming season, which is exactly the kind of sign Arizona wants to hear as it sorts out what his role and future might look like. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Sweat Is Finally Getting The Respect Cardinals Fans Wanted
Josh Sweat is getting a little more national shine after a season that made him one of the Cardinals most important defenders. The edge rusher landed at No. 78 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list after piling up 12.5 sacks in his first season in Arizona, a performance that helped validate what Cardinals fans saw every week: a pass rusher who can change games with his speed and relentlessness.
The respect has come from more than just voters, too. Tristan Wirfs, Bryce Young and Derrick Brown all singled out Sweats motor, length and disruptive style, the kind of praise that tends to follow players who make life miserable for offenses. He was still left out of the Pro Bowl, and there was some offseason uncertainty around him, but Sweat remains in Arizona and is expected to anchor the pass rush again this season. [Read more 🡒]