The Arizona Cardinals are going through one of the roughest phases in their franchise history. They have made it to the playoffs just once (2021) in the last nine seasons since 2015, when they appeared in the Conference Championship game against the Carolina Panthers. They finished their previous season with an 8–9 record, placing third in the NFC West division and missing out on another playoff berth by a decent margin.
Arizona showed above-par performances in the offensive backfield with their tight ends, with rookie Trey McBride having a memorable season with 1,146 receiving yards from 111 receptions. The Cardinals also finished among the top ten rushing offenses, led by James Conner. However, they also have various concerns to address to secure a playoff berth in the upcoming season.
Arizona Cardinals' biggest needs in the 2025 NFL Draft
Offensive line
According to Cardinal Wire, the Cardinals need immediate starters on the offensive line. Arizona allowed 30 sacks in 2024 and ranked fifth but also lost 220 yards, ranking 26th in the NFL in yards lost.
Arizona has a few pieces in place, like left guard Will Hernandez and right tackle Kelvin Beachum, but the interior line remains a major weakness. Guards Josh Jones and Lecitus Smith scored a subpar PFF grade of 56.3 and 53.7, respectively, and the team will need to find immediate upgrades.
Linebacker
According to Sports Illustrated, the Cardinals ranked 27th in the league in pressure rate. Their starting guards Will Hernandez and Evan Brown had injury concerns last season but are back with the team after re-signing new contracts. However, their performance remains a concern for the Cardinals.
Wide receivers
2024 first-round pick, Marvin Harrison Jr. has established himself as their first-choice wideout but they could not utilize his potential in his rookie season. The Cardinals have Michael Wilson as another slot receiver and Greg Dortch as the third option. Hence, they can add more depth from the draft to their wide receiver department.
Who should Arizona Cardinals select in the 2025 NFL draft?
Heading into the NFL Draft, the Cardinals have approximately $37.5 million in cap space and seven draft picks, including the No. 16 overall, with no compensatory picks.
Round 1- Pick 16
Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. and Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker appear as the top potential targets for Round One (#16) for the Cardinals.
Round 2- Pick 47
Meanwhile, Ohio State’s offensive lineman Donovan Jackson and James Madison’s defensive lineman Mike Green appear as the top potential targets (#47) for Round Two.
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FAQs on Arizona Cardinals Team Needs
A: The Cardinals hold six picks in this year's draft: Number 16, 47, 78, 115, 152 and 225.
A: The Cardinals essentially need a good offensive lineman, wide receiver to pair up with Marvin Harrison Jr. and a solid linebacker from this year's draft.
A: The Cardinals have recorded the most losses by a franchise in NFL history with 812 regular season losses, as of April 2025. The team's all-time win–loss record (including regular season and playoff games) at the conclusion of the 2024 season was 600–822–41 ( 593–812–41 in the regular season, 7–10 in the playoffs).
