Cardinals’ Offseason Priorities: Rebuilding Around Kyler, Harrison Jr., and a Top-10 Pick
The Arizona Cardinals aren’t headed to the postseason this year. Sitting at 3-10, they’re officially out of the playoff picture. But while this season hasn’t delivered wins, it has brought clarity: this is a team in full rebuild mode, and the 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a pivotal turning point.
Arizona owns the No. 8 overall pick and has a chance to reshape the roster in several key areas. The question isn’t just who they’ll draft - it’s where they’ll focus. Let’s break down the Cardinals’ most pressing needs and how they might approach them come draft day.
Offensive Line: Protecting the Franchise
If Arizona wants to get back to competing in the NFC West, it has to start in the trenches. The offensive line has been a weak spot all season, and the numbers tell the story.
Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett have been sacked a combined 45 times. That’s not just a stat - that’s a signal flare for the front office.
Veteran guard Will Hernandez, a steady presence on the line, could be headed to free agency. At 30 years old, his future in Arizona is uncertain. If he walks, the Cardinals will need to fill a major hole - and even if he stays, depth and youth are needed across the board.
The run game hasn’t helped much, either. Arizona hasn’t had a single running back eclipse 300 yards on the season. If head coach Jonathan Gannon wants to build a physical, balanced offense, this unit has to be rebuilt from the inside out.
Bottom line: whether it’s protecting Murray or opening up lanes for the ground game, the offensive line has to be a priority with one of their early picks.
Wide Receiver: Finding a Running Mate for Marvin Harrison Jr.
The Cardinals made a splash in the 2024 draft by selecting Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 overall - and he’s lived up to the hype. With 40 catches for 594 yards and four touchdowns, he’s already flashing WR1 potential. But even the best need a partner.
Trey McBride has emerged as a reliable target at tight end, and Michael Wilson has shown flashes, but Arizona still lacks a true second threat on the outside. Look around the league - the most dynamic passing attacks feature multiple weapons.
Think Chase and Higgins. Hill and Waddle.
Amon-Ra and Jameson.
Harrison has the talent to be a game-breaker, but getting him some help could unlock another level of this offense.
Running Back: Replacing the Workhorse
James Conner was a bright spot in 2024, racking up over 1,000 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. But with Conner now on injured reserve and his long-term durability in question, Arizona needs to start thinking about the future at running back.
There’s no shortage of talent in this year’s draft class. Whether it’s a big-name like Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love or other early-round prospects like Justice Haynes, Jonah Coleman, or Nicholas Singleton, the Cardinals have options. What they don’t have - at least right now - is a tone-setter in the backfield.
Gannon wants balance. That means finding a back who can take over games, keep defenses honest, and take pressure off Murray. Expect Arizona to take a hard look at this position in the first three rounds.
Linebacker: Depth and Durability Needed
Defensively, the Cardinals have some pieces to work with, but the linebacker corps needs reinforcements.
Akeem Davis-Gaither has been a steady presence, leading the team with 85 tackles and contributing across the board - tackles for loss, pass breakups, turnovers, you name it. Mack Wilson, before landing on injured reserve with a rib injury, was also productive with 60 tackles and six pass deflections in just eight games.
But injuries have thinned the rotation, and in a division loaded with offensive firepower - from San Francisco’s Swiss Army knife attack to the Rams’ creative schemes - Arizona needs more playmakers at the second level.
Adding a versatile, sideline-to-sideline linebacker who can cover, blitz, and stop the run would go a long way toward stabilizing this defense.
Quarterback: Is Kyler Still the Guy?
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.
Kyler Murray was the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. Arizona has built around him, paid him, and committed to him. But the results have been inconsistent, and injuries have only added to the uncertainty.
There’s no denying the talent. Murray can make every throw, extend plays with his legs, and when he’s locked in, he’s electric. But the Cardinals haven’t seen that version of him consistently enough - and in a division where you’re facing quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford and Brock Purdy, you need a difference-maker under center.
With a top-10 pick in hand and a quarterback class that could be deep, the Cardinals have a decision to make. Do they double down on Murray and build the roster around him? Or do they start fresh and take a swing at a new franchise QB?
That answer may not come until draft night - but it’s the question that will define Arizona’s offseason.
The Road Ahead
The Cardinals aren’t far removed from their last playoff appearance in 2021, but the road back to contention won’t be easy. The good news?
They’ve got foundational pieces in place - Harrison Jr., McBride, and potentially Murray. They’ve got cap space and draft capital.
And they’ve got a coaching staff that’s shown flashes of promise.
Now, it’s about execution. The 2025 draft will be critical in reshaping this roster, and if Arizona can hit on the right picks - especially in the trenches and at the skill positions - they could start climbing the NFC West ladder sooner than expected.
The rebuild is real. But so is the opportunity.