Jerome Miron – Imagn Images
It is entertaining to watch perennial playoff teams make a Super Bowl push in the National Football League, but seeing a Cinderella rise from the ashes to become a consistent postseason factor is truly special.
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People view the west coast as mainly Hollywood, Las Vegas — for fun times — or a region to have endless fun.
However, the passion carried for sports out west resembles the east coast and south.
Residents of Arizona are diehard fans that have seen its Cardinals make the playoffs only 11 times in its history. State Farm Stadium felt like the center of the universe in 2008 and 2009, as the Cardinals made deep playoff runs in both years. Kurt Warner guided “Big Red” to the Super Bowl in 2008 in a classic matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Arizona has not been on the playoff stage since 2021, and it will not clinch a spot this season with a 3-10 record. The NFL Draft becomes the next hope for the Cardinals to return to relevancy. Arizona has the No. 8 overall pick of the first round, yet what are the needs it must attack to compete in the NFC West?
Offensive Line
Arizona needs to make its offensive line a point of emphasis in the draft.
It could lose Will Hernandez, an eight-year veteran, to free agency at offensive guard. The 30-year-old possesses toughness at 6-foot-3, 332 pounds. Jacoby Brissett, who took over for an injured Kyler Murray, has been sacked 29 times in 10 games.
Murray suffered 16 sacks before getting injured. Jonathan Gannon would love a rushing attack, but nothing has been established all year. The Cardinals have yet to produce a running back with 300 yards rushing on the season.
Arizona has to select players that can help open the run and pass game.
Wide Receiver
Trey McBride is a quarterback’s security blanket and Michael Wilson is good; nevertheless, there is a reason Arizona selected Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 overall in the 2024 draft.
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The talented playmaker from Ohio State is perceived to be the next great one. He caught 40 passes for 594 yards and four touchdowns this year, but Harrison would truly benefit from having another playmaker opposite him.
Some of the best passing attacks in the NFL have two big play wide receivers.
Arizona needs to get Harrison some help on the outside.
Running Back
Jeremiyah Love, a running back for Notre Dame, may be the best prospect in the draft.
Justice Haynes (Michigan), Jonah Coleman (Washington), and Nicholas Singleton (Penn State) are some other backs that potentially can go high in the first three rounds. Arizona lacks a tone setter at the position, especially with James Conner relegated to injured reserve. Conner had 1,094 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on 236 carries in 2024.
A balanced attack is what wins games in the NFL, and the Cardinals need an elite rusher.
Linebacker
Arizona could use another healthy linebacker in its rotation.
Akeem Davis-Gaither leads the unit for total tackles (85). He also has two tackles for loss, four pass breakup, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Mack Wilson, a former University of Alabama standout, has 60 tackles — three for loss — in eight games. He carries six pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble. Wilson is currently on IR because of an injury to his ribs. The Cardinals need to have a formidable defense, especially with the offensive minds in the NFC West.
Quarterback
Cardinals fans want to believe Kyler Murray is the one for them at quarterback.
Arizona rolled the dice on him as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.
It has invested a lot in the native Texan, but has yet to see a return on it. Murray has had issues with injuries and remaining consistent with his play on the field. He has talent around him, but the Cardinals are tired of coming behind the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks in the division. It has quarterbacks to pick from in the draft, but we will see if Arizona goes that route.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
