What is the story about?
You’ve
heard, by now, where expectations lie for the 2026 Arizona Cardinals. This team is not expected to be good by just about anyone outside its own building. But there are, even on this team, plenty of strengths.
So in the wake of their 53-man roster reveal, here’s a look at each position group, from best to worst.
- Tight end: Come on, this one was obvious. Trey McBride is the best tight end in football, with 126 catches for 1,239 yards last season. If you’re looking for a reason to spend your Sundays watching this team, look no further.
- Wide receiver: Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn’t yet matched his draft-day expectations, but Michael Wilson emerged as a star late last season, averaging 96.9 yards over the final eight games. Combined, they’re a serious threat to opposing defenses.
- Running back: Continuing the skill-position trend, the Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love third overall, adding a player widely seen as the best running back prospect since Bijan Robinson. Plus, Tyler Allgeier is a reliable backup.
- Safety: As long as Budda Baker remains in town, the Cardinals’ safety room will be a beacon of optimism. Baker wasn’t quite himself in 2025 as he dealt with various injuries, but he’s still the centerpiece of opposing scouting reports. The question here is whether either Andrew Wingard or Dadrion Taylor-Demerson can provide sufficient production next to Baker.
- Offensive line: The offensive line struggled for much of training camp, which was a surprise given that the left side of this unit is filled with reliable pieces. The question marks are Isaiah Adams at right guard and Elijah Wilkinson at right tackle, but the former has earned major praise from his new coaching staff.
- Cornerback: With Will Johnson and Denzel Burke entering Year 2, and Garrett Williams returning from a torn Achilles, this group could rank much higher by mid-season. For now, though, there are serious questions opposite Johnson and in the slot.
- Edge rusher: The Cardinals do not have a single edge rusher beyond Josh Sweat, who has never topped five sacks in a season. Sweat is a star, but the lack of pass-rushing presence beyond him is a major concern.
- Quarterback: With his playmaking limits, Jacoby Brissett will never be a top-10 quarterback. But he’s a reliable veteran who won’t burn the Cardinals. That’s not the case everywhere on their roster.
- Specialists: For specialists, no news is good news. That’s usually the case for punter Blake Gillikin, who is quietly one of the best in the NFL. But kicker Chad Ryland missed 24.2% of his field goals last year, the third-worst mark among NFL starters.
- Inside linebacker: Like at so many other spots, the Cardinals have one reliable linebacker (Mack Wilson Sr.) and issues behind him. For years, general manager Monti Ossenfort aimed to fill that second spot with cheap free-agent signings. With Jack Gibbens, he’s hoping the strategy finally pays off.
- Interior defensive line: The hope here is that Walter Nolen can entrench himself as a game-wrecker on the inside. But at a position where rotation is key, the Cardinals don’t have any other reliable players they can turn to. The second-best player in this group is … Dante Stills? Roy Lopez? Darius Robinson? It’s hard to get excited about that.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ranking Arizona Cardinals position groups ahead of 2026 season
