Arizona Cardinals’ Budda Baker remains centerpiece for defense
The Arizona Cardinals remade their defense this offseason, adding five or six new starters. Despite those moves, Budda Baker remains a key piece.
CBS Sports analyst Leger Douzable predicts the Arizona Cardinals will finish 12-5 and win the NFC West.The Cardinals’ success hinges on quarterback Kyler Murray’s performance in key games.
We’ve seen some bold predictions for the Arizona Cardinals in the upcoming season, but one CBS Sports analyst might have provided the boldest take yet on Kyler Murray and company in 2025.
Leger Douzable recently predicted that the Cardinals would go 12-5 this season and win the NFC West.
That’s pretty bold.
Douzable cited the team’s culture for his lofty projection for the Cardinals.
“One thing I know for sure about watching tape, this team plays extremely hard,” he said. “And I talked to (head coach Jonathan Gannon at the ownership meetings. I said, ‘Coach, how hard was it to get everybody on the same page to play with that effort.’ And he was like, ‘It wasn’t hard. Actually, it was hard. But when everybody believes in a plan, that’s how you build a culture.’
“And they have the right culture. … They revamped the defensive line. That was the biggest issue on this team. Those guys played hard, but they didn’t have the talent. Now with Walter Nolen, now with Josh Sweat, let’s not forget, Darius Robinson missed a good portion of the season last year, but he played really well in the back end.”
🫡🫡🫡 really like what Johnthan Gannon has been building in AZ. Watch out for the Cardinals this year https://t.co/2AVEs3JLb3
— Leger Douzable (@LegerDouzable) May 18, 2025What odds say about Arizona Cardinals‘ win total, division title chances
We recently looked at several win total predictions for Arizona in the upcoming season and the most any other analyst or writer had Gannon’s team getting was 10.
FanDuel Sportsbook‘s over/under win total odds for the Cardinals this season is set at 8.5 wins (+100 for over 8.5/-120 for under 8.5).
As for winning the division, FanDuel has Arizona third in its odds to win the NFC West, which Douzable predicted.
The Los Angeles Rams are at +170 in those odds, while the San Francisco 49ers are at +175.
The Cardinals are at +410, ahead of the Seattle Seahawks, who are at +500.
Kyler Murray key for Arizona Cardinals in 2025
Arizona’s season depends on Kyler Murray performs, Douzable said.
“It comes down to Kyler Murray, because this team was leading the division,” Douzable said. “But then you go to that Minnesota game, the Carolina game, he didn’t play well. He has to play well in those big spots. I’ve got this team winning the division.”
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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