The Arizona Cardinals enter 2026 as the most fascinating rebuild in football — and not in a good way. After releasing Kyler Murray and receiving zero compensation, the Cardinals are paying him $35.5 million to play for Minnesota while they head into camp with Jacoby Brissett as QB1. ESPN gave Arizona a D for its offseason, the second-worst grade in the entire league. Here's everything you need to know.
The Quarterback Wasteland
The Cardinals released Kyler Murray this offseason, eating dead cap to move on from the former No. 1 pick. Then they did almost nothing to replace him. Jacoby Brissett, signed previously as a backup, is the projected starter. Gardner Minshew is also on the roster. The long-term hope? Third-round rookie Carson Beck, drafted at No. 104 overall. Beck turns 24 this season and is far from a sure thing. The Cardinals' handling of the quarterback position drew the harshest criticism from ESPN: "They seemed eager to part ways with Murray, even though he likely would have been their best option for 2026." Brissett is a solid leader who won't lose games single-handedly, but he also won't win them. The ceiling with this QB room is 7 wins.
Free Agency and the Draft
The biggest addition in free agency was guard Isaac Seumalo — a solid interior lineman but hardly a franchise-altering move. The draft was headlined by running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall — a pick that ESPN disliked because drafting a running back that high is almost always a reach, especially for a team with so many other holes. Chase Bisontis was added later to bolster the offensive line. Kaleb Jackson came in the third round. The draft class was graded as one of the worst in the league. The Cardinals also re-signed several depth players but failed to make any significant additions at wide receiver, edge rusher, or cornerback.
Roster Outlook
Marvin Harrison Jr. is still here and remains the centerpiece of the offense. James Conner provides veteran leadership in the backfield alongside Love. Budda Baker anchors the secondary. But the roster is thin everywhere else. The offensive line is below average. The pass rush lacks an elite threat. The secondary is unproven beyond Baker. This is a roster that needs another 2-3 offseasons of competent drafting to be competitive.
2026 Schedule
The Cardinals open with three straight road games: at the Rams, at San Francisco, and at the Giants. Their home opener finally comes in Week 5 against Detroit. The schedule includes a late bye (Week 14) and divisional games spread throughout the season: at Seattle (Week 9), vs. the Rams (Week 10), and the season finale at home against San Francisco. Arizona also travels to Kansas City (Week 11) and hosts the Eagles (Week 13). With Brissett at QB and a thin roster, 4-13 is a realistic projection.
Camp Outlook
The only real competition is at quarterback between Brissett, Minshew, and Beck. If Beck shows flashes in camp, the Cardinals might be tempted to start him early for evaluation purposes. The biggest camp question: can this offensive line keep Brissett upright? Arizona is in a true rebuild, and 2026 is about developing young talent, not winning games.
Tyler Harlan
Tyler Harlan covers sports with an eye for rotations, trends, scheduling spots, and the game context that often gets overlooked.