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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/Beetle-Persona on 2026-02-17 15:56:24+00:00.

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Real disappointment for a hopeful season

Division: NFC West

Record: 2-14 (0-6 Divisional) 4th Place NFC West

  • Home (1-8)
  • Away (2-6)

Playoff: Won’t you let an innocent Cardinal be?

Opening

Welcome to another 32Teams/32Days Series. I thought last year would be my last time writing one of these but Cardinals fans are hard to find and writers even harder. So you get the B Team.

This season has been nothing short of the worst in memory, from pre-season expectations*,* performances and interviews it has been awful. The Cardinals found ways to sink deeper and deeper in all aspects and truly cap off an era of failure. [Link to last years white up]

General Season Review

We leave quite an impression, 3-14 to be exact 🎶

Coming off a disappointing season where the Cardinals held an advantage before the bye only to choke it away and fall out of the playoff hunt at 8-9, losing to all NFC Wildcard holders. Many hoped the 3rd season of the Gannon rebuild would be the final step towards the goal of playoff football for the only the 2nd time in a decade.

Heavy investment in the defensive side of the ball brought encouragement to those who highlighted the teams weakness last season and drafting Walter Nolen and Will Johnson alongside signing Josh Sweat sparked hope.

The regular season started to a worrying set of performances with the Cardinals barely getting past an anaemic Saints and woeful Panthers squad. Teams considered on the “easy” side of the schedule troubled the Cardinals greatly and from there the visible flaws began to make themselves known. The defence known for being study became a liability in the 4th quarter bleeding points in close matchups, whilst the offense continued it’s trend of stalling out in key moments. Paired with a massive injury bug and you have the recipe for a disastrous season as the Cardinals went on to win only 1 of their last 15 games (MNF @ Cowboys) and end on a 9 game losing streak.

This season ended up being one of the if not the worst season in Cardinals franchise history, an impressive feat considering the franchise has existed since 1898. What started as a hopeful rebuild has turned into a nightmare where a second rebuild is on the horizon.

2025 Season Statistics

Stats Via ESPN

Offensive Stat Line

Stats Value Average League Ranking 2024 Ranking
Total Yards 5,538 325.8 19th ⬇️ 11th
Total Passing Yards 3,955 232.6 7th ⬆️ 18th
Total Rushing Yards 1,583 93.1 31st ⬇️ 7th
Field Goals 25/33 24th ⬇️ 7th
Touchdowns Passing 29 8th ⬆️ 23rd
Touchdowns Rushing 9 29th ⬇️ 8th
Points Scored 355 20.9 23rd ⬇️ 12th
Turnovers 21 18th ⬇️ 16th
Inceptions/Giveaways 11 14th ⬆️ 18th
Fumbles Lost 10 26th ⬇️ 12th

Don’t be fooled by the fancy passing stats, they only appeared as the run game collapsed throughout the season. With poor offensive play calling and injuries to numerous key players, all stats took a dive as the Cardinals struggled to score and compete.

Defensive Stat line

Stat Value Average League Ranking 2024 Ranking
Yards Allowed 6,081 357.7 27th ⬇️ 21st
Passing Yards Allowed 3,923 230.8 24th ⬇️ 14th
Rushing Yards Allowed 2,158 126.9 25th ⬇️ 20th
Points Allowed 488 28.7 29th ⬇️ 15th
Inception Takeaways 10 22nd ⬆️ 25th
Fumble Recoveries 9 12th ⬆️ 16th

Despite significant investment into the defence little has been achieved. Complete regression across board as the Cardinals set records of points against divisional rivals for all the wrong reasons and 7+ games where the defence conceded 30+ points. Injuries are not a good enough excuse.

The Cardinals finished bottom 10 in defence for the third season under DC Rallis, Despite the positive 2024 season. Unacceptable considering his and Gannon’s defensive experience.

2025 Free Agency/Re/Signing/Leaving

  • Simi Fehoko WR
  • Dalvin Tomlinson DE
  • Mykal Walker LB
  • Jake Curhan OT
  • Akeem Davis-Gaither LB
  • Josh Sweat DE
  • L.J. Collier DT
  • Jacoby Brissett QB
  • Zay Jones WR
  • Evan Brown G
  • Joey Blout S
  • Aaron Brewer LS
  • Evan Brown OL
  • Calais Campbell DL
  • Greg Dortch WR
  • Baron Browning OLB
  • Jaylon Jones CB
  • Royce Newman OL
  • Travis Vokolek TE
  • Mykal Walker ILB

The Cardinals focused on the defensive side of the ball, looking to reinforce the trenches that had lacked depth in the previous season. Most of these selection where either let downs or depth players who cannot face too much blame for the poor performances on the field.

The Cardinals splash signing came with Eagles DE Josh Sweat re-joining his former DC in Arizona. Signed to a 4 year, $76 million deal after his Super Bowl victory. Sweat had 8 sacks in the 2024 season and hoped to capitalise with his former DC Gannon where he had 11 sacks in 2022.

Sweat commanded a big price tag but earnt his wages with an impressive 12 sack season with 4 force fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Dalvin Tomlinson was another significant signing. After his career season in Cleveland boasting some of the best run blocking grades, Arizona struck a 2 year deal worth $29 million for the DE services.

Despite high hopes Tomlinson put up poor stats across the board and largely proved a bust in the Cardinals defence. Was age a factor or poor coaching? Who knows but his future with the team will be in doubt in the offseason.

Draft Day 2025

Another young defensive star to revamp a defence?

1.16 Walter Nolen III, Ole Miss, DT.

Nolen III was seen a steal for Arizona with many analysts having him in their top pass rushing players. The young DT had 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss during his year with Ole Miss and the only concerns was about his rawness and maturity going into the NFL.

Nolen like many players this season fell victim to the injury plague missing all of the pre season to a calf injury leaving him out until week 9 against the Cowboys. Despite the set backs Nolen burst onto the scene with an impressive display of pressure with 4 tackles and a sack in the win against Dallas. However in the following weeks Nolen would leave games early with more injuries and eventually be put on IR in week 16 with a knee injury.

Only participating in 6 games makes it hard to evaluate Nolen, he has the qualities wanted for the defence but availability is the best ability. We can only hope his knee injury recovers by next season.

2.47 Will Johnson, Michigan, CB.

Will Johnson was seen to many as a top 3 CB in the 2025 class, missing most of 2025 with turf toe and reported knee complications created doubts around Johnson’s longevity as a NFL player. As such Johnson had one of the biggest slides in the draft, going from a top 10 pick all the way to pick 47 where the Cardinals snatched him up.

As with many Cardinals players this season when Johnson played he played well, taking on star WRs like Olave (Hit) and Chase. Johnson has shown himself to be a day 1 starter, however injuries throughout the season limited his appearances as Johnson struggles with hip and back injuries before suffering a knee injury in the season finale with reports saying he’ll be healthy going into the offseason.

Johnson ends with 10 starts and 12 games under his belt. While people will highlight his injury risk getting such a talented player in the 2nd round negates all bust risks as his upside is just too good to pass on. Regardless if he succeeds or not, drafting Johnson was the right call.

3.78 Jordan Burch, Oregon, DT.

Another defensive weapon selected by Ossenfort. Burch was another experienced player to attack the QB, with Sweat, Campbell and Nolen on the roster where Burch would fit was the question. Burch played in 12 games for the Cardinals putting up modest numbers (23 tackles and 1 sack).

Burch will find a place in the Cardinals defensive front as more shifts come in the offseason.

4.115 Cody Simon, Ohio State, LB.

Another Ohio State rookie selected by …

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