Jonathan Gannon maintained the company line in his latest press conference by saying that the Arizona Cardinals will “do what the best thing we think is to win the game,” rather than turning an eye toward the future.
In the locker room, Calais Campbell echoed that message. Finishing strong in a lost season, Campbell said, “says a lot” about a team and “can build confidence” moving forward.
The reality, though, is that the Cardinals' final five games no longer matter — at least not from a perspective of wins and losses. They were eliminated from playoff contention on Nov. 30 — six weeks before the start of the wild-card round. Only four other teams can say the same.
So, at a time when the Cardinals hoped to be making their playoff push, it is instead time to turn some attention to the offseason, when Monti Ossenfort will take another crack at building a playoff-caliber roster.
Here are the Cardinals’ five biggest needs.
Quarterback
After seven years, a 38-48-1 record and zero playoff wins, Kyler Murray’s tenure in Arizona is likely over. Per ESPN, Gannon told reporters Friday that Murray's foot injury isn't progressing and that he would not be returning this season. The biggest question is whether the Cardinals will be able to trade Murray, or if they’ll have to cut him and take on a painful $57.7 million dead cap hit.
In Murray’s place, Jacoby Brissett has stabilized the offense, but he is a journeyman backup, not a long-term elixir. At 20-40, his career record tells the story.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) leaves the field at halftime during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.
Given that equation, there is no bigger question facing this organization — perhaps outside of the future of the coaching staff — than its quarterback position. That becomes especially true if Gannon is retained, along with massive pressure to produce a winning season in 2026.
The free agent options are thin, as they often are at quarterback. The same goes for the trade market, which is headlined by Mac Jones. Then there’s the draft, where Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson are the two quarterbacks most likely to be early first-round picks. Dante Moore could be, too, but he’s widely expected to return to college.
The job for Ossenfort will be parsing those options, now that he has the opportunity to choose his own quarterback for the first time in his tenure.
Offensive guard
When asked this week why the Cardinals’ offensive line has regressed this season, Gannon pushed back.
“Regression how?” he said, before asking a reporter, “Based off of what?”
The numbers answer that question.
The Cardinals have allowed a 38.1% pressure rate this season, up from 28% a year ago. In the run game, they’re generating 1.68 yards before contact per attempt, down from 2.21 last year.
The play at guard has been a key reason. Evan Brown had a career year at left guard last season but has taken a significant step back. Will Hernandez has dealt with multiple injuries and struggled when healthy. Isaiah Adams has not taken a step forward in Year 2, ceding right guard to Hernandez in October.
Arizona Cardinals guard Evan Brown (63) moves to block Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse (93) during the second half, Oct. 19, 2025, in Glendale.
Really, both of those spots are needs entering the offseason. The Cardinals could potentially add one guard and enter training camp with a competition between Brown and Adams. Plus, sixth-round rookie guard Hayden Conner will be in Year 2 and could push his way into that competition.
Right tackle
Based on Pro Football Focus’ grading system, every member of the Cardinals' offensive line has been worse this year than last year. Along with guard, that’s been especially evident at right tackle.
Jonah Williams is set to hit free agency after an injury-plagued two years in Arizona. Given that he has struggled even when healthy this season, it seems unlikely that the Cardinals would re-sign him. Meanwhile, 36-year-old Kelvin Beachum has not looked up to speed in place of Williams.
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sam Okuayinonu (91) gets blocked by Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. during the second half, Nov. 16, 2025, in Glendale.
The Cardinals are set at left tackle, with Paris Johnson under team control for two more years, assuming they exercise his fifth-year option. But they need to find his bookend on the other side of the line.
Interior defensive line
Given the Cardinals’ recent investments in their defensive line, it’s a massive disappointment to see that group once again on the list of offseason needs. Many of those investments, though, have fallen short.
First, the good: When healthy, 2025 first-rounder Walter Nolen has looked like a game-breaking player. And Campbell has been excellent all season, against both the run and pass.
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Calais Campbell (93) pushes off Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen (70) as Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs with the ball, Nov. 23, 2025, in Glendale.
Unfortunately, the bad is a much longer list. At 39, Campbell has said he is likely retiring after the season. The rest of the Cardinals’ recent free agent additions on the defensive line — Dalvin Tomlinson, Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones — have all been underwhelming. And then there’s Darius Robinson, the 2024 first-round pick who recently acknowledged, “I’m not who I thought I was.”
Both Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis pushed back on that, with Gannon saying that Robinson has played the best football of his career over the past month. But with a career pressure rate of 3.4%, it’s hard to disagree with Robinson’s assessment, at least as a pass rusher.
So, if Campbell indeed retires, the Cardinals have one proven, above-average interior defensive lineman in Nolen. At a position that typically requires a six-man gameday rotation, that’s a concern.
Inside linebacker
The Cardinals made a bold bet at linebacker last spring.
Rather than replacing Kyzir White, they slid Mack Wilson Sr. to the ‘Mike’ linebacker role and made a pair of low-cost moves to paper together the other inside linebacker spot — signing Akeem Davis-Gaither to a two-year, $10 million contract and drafting Cody Simon in the fourth round.
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) weaves past Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the first half, Sept. 25, 2025, in Glendale.
The plan has not worked out. Wilson has been less effective as the Mike than he was last season, when he could align all over the defense, maximizing his versatile skill set. Davis-Gaither has struggled, especially in coverage and as a tackler. Simon has shown flashes but does not yet look ready for a starting job.
Put it all together, and the Cardinals could get away with running it back with this group. But in an ideal world, they would acquire a true Mike and move Wilson back to the role in which he excelled a year ago.
Honorable mention: Wide receiver
Michael Wilson’s emergence has shown that the Cardinals do not need a new No. 2 wide receiver. And between Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Wilson, they have plenty of high-level pass catchers. But this group could use a true downfield vertical threat to help open up defenses as the third receiver. The good news: That prototype can typically be found late in the draft.
